Wausau Timbers
{{Infobox Minor League Baseball
| name = Wausau Timbers
| firstseason = 1975
| lastseason = 1990
| allyears =
| city = Wausau, Wisconsin
| logo = WausauTimbers90.jpg
| caplogo =
| class level = Class A
| league =
| conference =
| division = North
| past league = Midwest League
| pastmajorleague = {{plainlist|
- Baltimore Orioles (1990)
- Seattle Mariners (1981–1989)
- Co-op (1979–1980)
- New York Mets (1975–1978)
}}
| pastnames = {{plainlist|
Wausau Mets (1975–1978)
}}
| pastparks = Athletic Park
| classchamps =
| leaguechamps = 1981
| conferencechamps =
| divisionchamps =
| owner = Timbers Baseball, Inc.
| colors = Royal blue, gold, white
{{color box|#002878}} {{color box|#FFCC00}} {{color box|#FFFFFF}} (1981-1989)
Orange, black, white
{{color box|#FC4C02}} {{color box|#000000}} {{color box|#FFFFFF}} (1990)
}}
The Wausau Timbers were a minor league baseball team, located in Wausau, Wisconsin. The Timbers were members of the Class A Midwest League from 1975 to 1990. The franchise was sold in 1991 and moved to Geneva, Illinois, where it became the Kane County Cougars.
History
The franchise first played 1975 in Wausau as the Wausau Mets. The club maintained an affiliation with the New York Mets through 1978. Without an affiliation the team changed its name to the Timbers and played two years as a co-op with players mainly from the Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, and Seattle Mariners. In 1981 the club signed a player development contract with the Mariners.{{Cite news|year=1980|title=Timbers, Seattle reach agreement|page=17|work=The Daily Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/274067846/}} The affiliation with the Mariners lasted nine seasons. In 1990 the club signed on with the Baltimore Orioles and played their final season in Wausau.
The Ballpark
The Timbers played at Athletic Park, 324 E. Wausau Ave. Wausau, Wisconsin {{cite web|url=http://northwoodsleague.com/wisconsin-woodchucks/more/ballpark/ |title=Ballpark - Wisconsin Woodchucks : Wisconsin Woodchucks |website=Northwoodsleague.com |access-date=2016-03-30}} Built in 1936,{{cite web|author=Brian Gardner / gardnerphotos.com |url=http://www.mnartists.org/artwork/athletic-park-home-wisconsin-woodchucks-2 |title=Athletic Park, Home of the Wisconsin Woodchucks #2 |publisher=Mn Artists |date=2014-08-01 |access-date=2016-03-30}} Athletic Park was home to the Timbers of the Class-A Midwest League (1975–1990) and previous minor league teams: the Wausau Lumberjacks (1936–1942, 1946–1949, 1956–57) and the Wausau Timberjacks (1950–1953).
The ballpark has hosted the Wisconsin Woodchucks of the summer collegiate Northwoods League, beginning in 1994.{{cite web|url=http://northwoodsleague.com/wisconsin-woodchucks/ |title=Wisconsin Woodchucks - Get Ready for the Show! : Wisconsin Woodchucks |website=Northwoodsleague.com |access-date=2016-03-30}}
Notable alumni
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
=Baseball Hall of Fame alumni=
- Edgar Martínez (1984) Inducted 2019
=Notable alumni=
- Manny Alexander (1990)
- Neil Allen (1976)
- Juan Berenguer (1975)
- Damon Buford (1990)
- Ivan Calderon (1981–1982) MLB All-Star
- Chuck Carr (1988) 1993 NL stolen base leader
- Roy Lee Jackson (1975)
- Bill Monbouquette (1976, MGR) 4× MLB All-Star
- Ed Nunez (1980–1981)
- Jim Presley (1980–1981) MLB All-Star
- Harold Reynolds (1981) 2× MLB All-Star; 1987 AL stolen base leader
- Alex Trevino (1977)
- Omar Vizquel (1986) 11× Gold Glove; 3× MLB All-Star
- Mookie Wilson (1977) MLB All-Star
- Ned Yost (1975) Manager, 2015 World Series champion - Kansas City Royals
- Gregg Zaun (1990)
{{Div col end}}
Record
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 51-77 | 8th | Owen Friend | |
| 1976 | 56-73 | 8th (t) | Bill Monbouquette | |
| 1977 | 55-83 | 7th | Tom Egan | |
| 1978 | 55-81 | 6th | Dan Monzon | |
| 1979 | 69-61 | 4th | Tom Robson | Lost in 1st round |
| 1980 | 57-82 | 8th | Marty Martínez | |
| 1981 | 84-48 | 1st | Bill Plummer | League Champs |
| 1982 | 55-84 | 12th | R. J. Harrison | |
| 1983 | 55-83 | 11th | R. J. Harrison | |
| 1984 | 70-66 | 5th | Greg Mahlberg | |
| 1985 | 52-85 | 11th | Greg Mahlberg | |
| 1986 | 73-66 | 5th | Bobby Cuellar | |
| 1987 | 57-83 | 11th | Bobby Cuellar | |
| 1988 | 52-88 | 11th | Rick Sweet | |
| 1989 | 66-68 | 8th | Tommy Jones | |
| 1990 | 49-87 | 14th | Mike Young |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.thebaseballcube.com/teams/team_10429.shtml Wausau Timbers at The Baseball Cube]
{{Midwest League}}
Category:Defunct Midwest League teams
Category:Sports in Wausau, Wisconsin
Category:Baltimore Orioles minor league affiliates
Category:Seattle Mariners minor league affiliates
Category:Defunct baseball teams in Wisconsin
Category:New York Mets minor league affiliates
Category:Professional baseball teams in Wisconsin
Category:1975 establishments in Wisconsin
Category:1990 disestablishments in Wisconsin
Category:Baseball teams established in 1975
Category:Baseball teams disestablished in 1990
{{Wisconsin-baseball-team-stub}}