View source for Marinette, Wisconsin minor league baseball history

{{Infobox Minor League Baseball
| name             =Marinette, Wisconsin<br/>minor league baseball teams
| firstseason      =1891
| lastseason       =1914
| allyears         =1891–1892, 1914
| city             =Marinette, Wisconsin
| logo             =
| uniformlogo      =
| class level      =[[Independent baseball league|Independent]] (1891–1892)<br />[[Class C (baseball)|Class C]] (1914)
| league           =[[Wisconsin State League]] (1891)<br />[[Wisconsin-Michigan League]] (1892)<br />[[Wisconsin-Illinois League]] (1914)
| majorleague      =None
| nickname         =Marinette Badgers (1891–1892)<br />Menominee Wolverines (1892)<br />Marinette–Menominee Twins (1914)
| ballpark         =Fairgrounds Driving Park (1892, 1914)
| classnum         =
| classchamps      =
| leaguenum        =1
| leaguechamps     =1891
| confnum          =
| conferencechamps =
| divnum           =
| divisionchamps   =
| wildcardnum      =
| wildcardberths   =
}}
[[Minor league baseball]] teams were based in [[Marinette, Wisconsin]] in various seasons between 1891 and 1914. Marinette partnered with neighboring [[Menominee, Michigan]], playing as the '''Marinette–Menominee Twins''' in 1914. Marinette played in the 1891 [[Wisconsin State League]]. Marinette and [[Menominee, Michigan]] based teams played as members of the [[Wisconsin-Michigan League]] in 1892 and [[Wisconsin-Illinois League]] in 1914.
[[Baseball Hall of Fame]] member [[Hank O'Day]] played for the 1892 Marinette Badgers.
Marinette teams hosted minor league home games at the Fairgrounds Driving Park.
==History==
It was reported that a Marinette first fielded a minor league team in 1891. The '''Marinette Badgers''' became charter members of the [[Wisconsin State League]]. Marinette played in 1891 with the [[Appleton Papermakers]], [[Fond du Lac Mudhens]], [[Green Bay Dock Wallopers]], [[Oconto Log Drivers]] and [[Oshkosh Indians]] teams joining Marinette in the six–team Wisconsin State League.<ref name="auto">{{cite web | url=https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/tp/id/67846 | title=Page 16 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1891 Marinette Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>
The Marinette use of the "Badger" moniker corresponds to state history and folklore. The Badger is the mascot of the [[University of Wisconsin]]. The state of Wisconsin is known as the "Badger State" and the badger is the official state mammal of Wisconsin. Reportedly, early miners in Wisconsin were known to dig tunnels into hillsides, in which they also slept during winter months, leading to the nickname.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://statesymbolsusa.org/symbol/wisconsin/state-mammal/badger|title=Wisconsin State Animal &#124; Badger|website=statesymbolsusa.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uwbadgers.com/gameday/men-s-basketball-vs-illinois-state/mbball/2351/|title=Men's Basketball vs Illinois State &#124; Wednesday, December 29 &#124; Gameday|website=uwbadgers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eekwi.org/animals/mammals/do-you-want-be-badger|title=You are being redirected...|website=www.eekwi.org}}</ref>
Marinette won the 1891 Wisconsin State League championship. Playing under manager Jake Aydelotte, the Badgers placed first in the league standings with a record of 51–39. Marinette finished 2.5 games ahead of the second place [[Appleton Papermakers]] in the final standings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-mb12802/y-1891|title=1891 Marinette Badgers minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref>
Neighboring [[Menominee, Michigan]] began minor league play in 1892. The Marinette Badgers continued play as charter members of the Michigan-Wisconsin League, playing along with the '''Menominee Wolverines'''. The league formed and played in the 1892 season as a non–signatory, [[Independent baseball league|Independent]] level league. The [[Green Bay Bays]], [[Ishpeming-Negaunee Unions]], [[Marquette Undertakers]] and Oshkosh Indians joined the Marinette and Menominee teams as charter members.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/l-MIWIL/y-1892|title=1892 Michigan-Wisconsin League (MML) minor league baseball on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=a4cf309a|title=1892 Wisconsin-Michigan League|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>
In 1892, the Marinette Badgers placed third in the Michigan-Wisconsin League final standings. Marinette finished with a record of 45–44, playing under managers [[Joe Cantillon]], [[Mike Morrison (baseball)|Mike Morrison]] and [[Jim Donahue]]. After the season began on May 37, 1892, the Green Bay Bays won the 1892 Michigan-Wisconsin League with a 48–39 overall record in the six–team league, finishing 4.0 games ahead of Marinette. The final records were led by Green Bay, followed by the Menominee Wolverines (44–40 under manager William Lucas).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-mm12925/y-1892|title=1892 Menominee minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref> Marinette Badgers (45–44) and Oshkosh Indians (41–50). The Marquette Undertakers (20–29) and Ishpeming-Negaunee Unions (24–20) teams folded during the season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-MIWIL/y-1892|title=1892 Michigan-Wisconsin League (MML) minor league baseball Standings on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-mb12802/y-1892|title=1892 Marinette Badgers minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref>
During the season, it was reported that Green Bay president Frank W. Murphy, who also served as president of the league, supplemented his roster with players obtained from the [[Terre Haute Hottentots]] and other teams en route to winning the championship. New manager [[Sam LaRocque]] had earlier played with Terre Haute in 1892.<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=larocq001sam|title=Sam LaRocque Minor Leagues Statistics & History|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> The Michigan-Wisconsin League permanently folded following the 1892 season.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}
In 1914, minor league baseball returned. The '''Marinette–Menominee Twins''' resumed play as members of the eight–team [[Class C (baseball)|Class C]] level [[Wisconsin-Illinois League]], replacing the Fond du Lac Molls franchise in league play. Marinette partnered with neighboring Menominee, Michigan for establishing the franchise. The Marinette-Menominee Twins joined the Appleton Papermakers, Green Bay Bays, [[Madison Senators]], Oshkosh Indians, [[Racine Belles]], [[Rockford Wolves]] and [[Wausau Lumberjacks]] in league play.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?code=WIIL&class=C|title=Wisconsin-Illinois League (C) Encyclopedia and History|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>
The Marinette–Menominee Twins finished the 1914 Wisconsin-Illinois League season with an overall record of 61–59 to place fifth in the final standings. Managed by John Wickenhoefer and [[Jack Sheehan (baseball)|Jack Sheehan]], Marinette–Menominee finished 15.0 games behind the first place Oshkosh Indians in the final Wisconsin-Illinois League standings. The Wisconsin-Illinois League permanently folded after completing the 1914 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1914 Marinette-Menominee Twins Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-mt12803/y-1914|title=1914 Marinette-Menominee Twins minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref><ref name="encyc">{{cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball |editor1-first=Lloyd |editor1-last=Johnson |editor2-first=Miles |editor2-last=Wolff |edition=Third |publisher=[[Baseball America]] |date=2007 |isbn=978-1932391176}}</ref>
Marinette, Wisconsin and Menominee, Michigan have not hosted another minor league team.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=Marinette, Wisconsin Encyclopedia|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref name="encyc"/>
[[File:Milwaukee Road Depot (Marinette, Wisconsin) September 2013 01.jpg|thumb|(2013) Milwaukee Road Depot. [[National Register of Historic Places]]. Marinette, Wisconsin]]
==The ballpark==
The Marinette-based minor league teams were noted to have played home games at the Fairgrounds Driving Park. It was noted the ballpark had a capacity of 1,400, with a grandstand was built for racing. The location was at Broadway & Park Streets, which are today 13th Street & 18th Street in Marinette, Wisconsin. The site today is home to an Emerson electric plant.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/venues/v-1582|title=Fairgrounds Driving Park in Marinette, WI minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref>
==Timeline==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size: 95%;"
! Year(s) !! # Yrs.  !! Team !! Level !! League!!Ballpark
|- align=center
|1891||1||rowspan=2|Marinette Badgers||rowspan=3|[[Independent baseball league|Independent]] || [[Wisconsin State League]]||rowspan=4|Fairgrounds Driving Park
|- align=center
|1892 (1)||1||rowspan=2|[[Wisconsin-Michigan League]]
|- align=center
|1892 (2)||1||Menominee Wolverines
|- align=center
|1914|| 1 ||Marinette-Menominee Twins|| [[Class D (baseball)|Class D]]||[[Wisconsin-Illinois League]]
|- align=center
|}
== Year-by-year records ==
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Record !! Finish !! Manager !! Playoffs/notes
|- align=center
| 1891|| 51–39|| 3rd || Jake Adeylott || '''League champions'''<br />No playoffs held
|- align=center
| 1892 (1)|| 45–44|| 3rd || [[Joe Cantillon]] <br /> [[Mike Morrison (baseball)|Mike Morrison]] / [[Jim Donahue]] || Marniette<br />No playoffs held
|- align=center
| 1892 (2)|| 44–40|| 2nd|| William Lucas || Menominee<br />No playoffs held
|- align=center
|
|- align=center
| 1914|| 61–59 || 5th|| John Wickenhoefer / [[Jack Sheehan (baseball)|Jack Sheehan]]|| No playoffs held
|- align=center
|}<ref name="encyc"/>
==Notable alumni==
{{Div col|colwidth=25em}}
*[[Charlie Abbey]] (1892)
*[[Charlie Bartson]] (1892)
*[[Grant Briggs]] (1891)
*[[Harry Burrell (baseball)|Harry Burrell]] (1892)
*[[Joe Cantillon]] (1892, MGR)
*[[Jim Donahue]] (1892, MGR)
*[[George Flynn (baseball)|George Flynn]] (1892)
*[[Bill Hoffer]] (1892)
*[[Tom Letcher]] (1891)
*[[Harry Mace]] (1892)
*[[Bill McClellan]] (1892)
*[[Gus McGinnis]] (1891)
*[[Mart McQuaid]] (1892)
*[[Mox McQuery]] (1892)
*[[Mike Morrison (baseball)|Mike Morrison]] (1892, MGR)
*[[Tom Morrissey (baseball)|Tom Morrissey]] (1892)
*[[George Nicol (baseball)|George Nicol]] (1891)
*[[Harley Payne]] (1891-1892)
*[[John Reccius]] (1892)
*[[Nick Reeder]] (1891)
*[[Josh Reilly]] (1892)
*[[Jack Sheehan (baseball)|Jack Sheehan]] (1914, MGR)
*[[Earl Smith (1910s outfielder)|Earl Smith]] (1914)
*[[Ben Stephens (baseball)|Ben Stephens]] (1892)
*[[Bill Van Dyke]] (1892)
*[[Joe Walsh (AA infielder)|Joe Walsh]] (1892)
*[[Jack Wentz]] (1891)
{{Div col end}}
*[[:Category:Marinette Badgers players|Marinette Badgers players]]
*[[:Category:Marinette (minor league baseball) players|Marinette (minor league baseball) players]]
*[[:Category:Marinette-Menominee Twins players|Marinette-Menominee Twins players]]
*[[:Category:Menominee (minor league baseball) players|Menominee (minor league baseball) players]]
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
*[https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?city=Marinette&state=WI&country=US Marinette - Baseball Reference]
[[Category:Marinette County, Wisconsin]]