Madison Mallards

The history of minor league baseball in Madison begins with the early success of the Madison Muskies. A Midwest League Oakland A's affiliate, the Muskies were competitive and gained a healthy following in the years following their 1982 origins. By 1993 the crowds had declined and the Muskies became less profitable.{{Cite news|url=https://www.buckys5thquarter.com/2014/6/15/5808674/madison-mallards-northwoods-league-baseball|title=Madison Mallards filling city's void for baseball|work=Bucky's 5th Quarter|access-date=2018-05-01}}

In 1994 the Muskies were replaced for a single season by the St Louis affiliate, Madison Hatters. 1996 began the five-year stint of the independent Madison Black Wolf, but once again low attendance and little interest plagued the team and they were forced to move to a more profitable community.{{cite web

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In 2001, area businessman Steve Schmitt introduced the Madison Mallards to Warner Park. The Mallards joined the Northwoods League, which features amateur college players playing summer ball during their off-season.{{Cite news|url=http://host.madison.com/steve-schmitt-madison-mallards/image_11508844-47ef-11df-83c3-001cc4c002e0.html|title=Steve Schmitt, Madison Mallards|first=John|last=Maniaci|work=madison.com|access-date=2018-05-01|language=en}}

On October 17, 2019, the pro shop had significant damage done to it by a suspicious fire and the police investigated it as arson. There was an estimated $150,000 in damages.{{Cite web|url=https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/crime-and-courts/potentially-suspicious-fire-destroys-pro-shop-at-madison-mallards-duck/article_e7ef6080-6757-5f8c-81b8-ed4ea7d86ad6.html#1|title=Update: Fire that destroyed pro shop at Madison Mallards Duck Pond was arson, authorities say}}

The Mallards made it to the playoffs in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2021, and 2024. They have made four Northwoods League Championship Series appearances, which resulted in runner-up finishes in 2005 and 2008. They won the Northwoods League championship in 2004 and 2013.{{Cite news|url=http://host.madison.com/sports/baseball/amateur/mallards/northwoods-league-championship-mallards-rout-huskies-to-claim-first-title/article_665fec9d-ce92-5a80-a4e1-344a48056076.html|title=Northwoods League championship: Mallards rout Huskies to claim a first title since 2004|first=Jim |last=Polzin|work=madison.com|access-date=2018-05-01|language=en}}

In 2014, the Mallards ownership group created Big Top Baseball. Big Top Baseball was a leader in summer collegiate baseball, operating four Northwoods League franchises in the state of Wisconsin at the time. Big Top Baseball owns and operates the Madison Mallards and Kenosha Kingfish and formerly owned the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters and Green Bay Bullfrogs, which were sold off during the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite news|url=http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/additional-seating-other-upgrades-at-breese-stevens-field-would-happen/article_8651406e-c05c-52bd-823d-abb428ceb30a.html|title=Additional seating, other upgrades at Breese Stevens Field would happen sooner under proposal|first=Shelley|last=Mesch |first2=Logan |last2=Wroge |work=madison.com|access-date=2018-05-01|language=en}}

The Mallards’ baseball diamond in Warner Park, built in 1982, currently seats 6,750 people.{{Cite news|url=http://host.madison.com/wsj/sports/baseball/amateur/mallards/mallards-as-team-s-standards-rise-duck-blind-grows-up/article_456d9396-0849-5690-bb60-d4d9298a6151.html|title=Mallards: As team's standards rise, Duck Blind grows up with $1 million transformation|first=Todd D.|last=Milewski|work=madison.com|access-date=2018-05-01|language=en}}

The playing surface of the field is artificial turf infield with grass outfield, and the dimensions from home plate are 308 1/3 feet to left field, 380 feet to center field, and 290 2/3 feet to right field. The 440-square-foot scoreboard, installed in 2013, is located in left-center field. 14 flat-screen televisions can be found throughout the stadium. There is a children's playground and picnic seating close to the foul lines in left field.

The Mallards routinely lead the nation in attendance among collegiate summer baseball teams, averaging over 6,308 fans per game in 2017 and 6,249 in 2018. In 2024, the Mallards had over 200,000 in attendance throughout the season.{{Cite news|url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2017/08/14/2017-summer-collegiate-attendance-by-average/|title=2017 Summer Collegiate Attendance by Average|date=2017-08-14|work=Ballpark Digest|access-date=2018-05-01|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2018/08/13/2018-summer-collegiate-attendance-by-average/|title=2018 Summer Collegiate Attendance by Average|last=Reichard|first=Kevin|date=2018-08-13|website=Ballpark Digest|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-16}}{{Cite web |last=Reichard |first=Kevin |date=2024-10-28 |title=2024 summer collegiate attendance by total - Ballpark Digest |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2024/10/28/2024-summer-collegiate-attendance-by-total/ |access-date=2024-10-28 |language=en-US}}

The club offers a promotion called the Duck Blind, a group of seats in right field that cost up to $41 and include unlimited food, soda, and beer.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theringer.com/mlb/2018/4/6/17204566/matt-chapman-oakland-as-stadium-coliseum-attendance-bay-are|title=If Matt Chapman Hits a Home Run in an Empty Stadium, Does It Make a Sound?|work=The Ringer|access-date=2018-05-01}} In 2018, the Duck Blind underwent a $1 million renovation.{{Cite news|url=https://isthmus.com/arts/sports/madison-mallards-duck-blind-suite-green-upgrade/|title=Duck Blind 2.0|last=Popke|first=Michael|date=2017-03-30|work=Isthmus {{!}} Madison, Wisconsin|access-date=2018-05-01|language=en-us}}

The Madison Mallards have adopted numerous monikers over the years, including:

The "Muskallards" nickname is inspired by the myth of Bozho, who, according to the Madison Mallards,{{Cite news|url=https://northwoodsleague.com/madison-mallards/the-muskallards-rebrand/|title=The Madison Mallards have become the Madison Muskallards|date=2024-04-29}} a Loch Ness-type monster located in Lake Mendota. The Muskallards logo is the same as the Mallards "M" logo, but instead of a Mallard tail, it now has the tail of a Muskie (hence the name "Muskallards", which is a combo of Muskies and Mallards). The colors of this rebrand consist of dark green, orange, and creme white.

The "Old Fashioneds" name is based of the Mallards attempt to build the World’s Largest Brandy Old Fashioned Cocktail, which is part of their Wisconsin Day Celebration. The team decided to honor this by rebranding as the Old Fashioneds for Wisconsin Day. The logo consists of a cherry swinging a wooden bat. The colors are red and brown.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wmtv15news.com/2023/04/26/madison-mallards-rebrand-old-fashioneds-one-game/|title=Madison Mallards to rebrand as The Old Fashioneds for one game|date=2023-04-26}}

The "Motivational Speakers" nickname pays homage to Chris Farley, a Madison native who starred in the SNL "Van down by the river" skit. The logo consists of Chris Farley's character(Matt Foley) in a semi bent down pose with his right hand pointing to the right. He is also wearing his classic look in that logo. The Jersey consists of the classic look as well (white and blue plad overshirt, white polo undershirt and a green tie).{{Cite news|url=https://www.channel3000.com/news/top-stories/mallards-to-honor-chris-farley-rebrand-as-motivational-speakers-for-july-6-game/article_94d96d18-0110-11ef-993b-4707149fc740.html|title=Mallards to honor Chris Farley, rebrand as Motivational Speakers for July 6 game

|date=2024-04-22}}

File:Madison Mallards v Duluth Huskies.jpg

File:Madison Mallards Opening Day (0602).jpg

File:Madison Mallards - Go Mallards!.jpg

• Pete Alonso
• Nico Hoerner
• Jose Trevino (baseball)
• Alec Mills
• Matt Vierling
• Phil Gosselin
• Matt Thaiss
• Danny Burawa
• Derek Fisher
• J.R. Graham
• John Hicks
• Ryan Spilborghs
• Tony Gonsolin

In 2022, Mallards general manager, Vern Stenman, made his annual request that the Madison City Parks Commission authorize eight fireworks shows after weekend games. This came to the attention of Wild Warner, a nature-advocacy group for Warner Park, as well as the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance (formerly the Madison Audubon Society), as there were concerns about the impact of the explosions on wildlife populations in the park. Most concerning was the impact on a breeding pair of bald eagles that had taken up residence on Marsh Island, an island at the center of Warner Lagoon.

The Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940 prohibits activities that interfere with nesting or fledging of bald eagles. During the month of June, when Mallards fireworks are generally scheduled to begin, eaglets may not have fledged sufficiently to fly from the nest, or to land safely. Explosive fireworks could cause eaglets to leap from the nest and fall to the ground to their deaths. After discussing the issue with the Mallards owner, he agreed to delay the first fireworks show until fledglings were confirmed to be able to fly.

Further concerns were raised about the psychological and health impacts of fireworks on local community members. The Mallards Stadium is located in an area surrounded by apartment buildings which are more affordable than the majority of housing elsewhere in Madison. The four neighborhoods closest to the stadium have high populations of military veterans, impoverished Black minorities and other minority ethnic populations, war refugees from Afghanistan and certain countries in Africa, elderly people on fixed incomes, and people with disabilities.

Pollutants released by fireworks include the gasses carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitric oxide gasses, as well as fine particulate matter known to have a negative impact on children with asthma. Black children in the United States are four times as likely to suffer from asthma as their white counterparts, and Mallards-adjacent neighborhoods have a higher concentration of Black children than anywhere else in Madison. Elderly and disabled people are also highly vulnerable to this air pollution.

The fireworks issue was discussed during a 2024 City of Madison Parks Commission meeting. Madison city alders voted 3 to 1 against stopping the fireworks shows, citing “balancing business needs against the needs of individuals.” The dissenting alder stated that he could not agree to the fireworks if they were causing harm to individuals in the community.

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.mallardsbaseball.com/ Madison Mallards] – official website
• [http://www.northwoodsleague.com/ Northwoods League] – official website
• [http://www.stadiumjourney.com/stadiums/warner-park-s1310 Stadium Journey] – Ballpark Review
• [https://madison.com/news/local/government-politics/article_032a58d0-ceee-11ef-a805-874cc4ec8c74.html]

{{NWL}}

{{Wisconsinsports}}

Category:Northwoods League teams

Category:Sports in Madison, Wisconsin

Category:Amateur baseball teams in Wisconsin

Category:Baseball teams established in 2001

Category:2001 establishments in Wisconsin