Clinton LumberKings explained

Clinton LumberKings
Founded:1954
City:Clinton, Iowa
Cap Logo:LumberKings Cap.PNG
League:Prospect League (2021–present)
Division:Western Conference – Northwest Division
Nickname:Clinton LumberKings (1994–present)
Former Names:
  • Clinton Giants (1939–1941; 1980–1993)
  • Clinton Dodgers (1977–1979)
  • Clinton Pilots (1914–1916; 1966–1976)
  • Clinton C-Sox (1960–1965)
  • Clinton White Sox (1959)
  • Clinton Pirates (1954–1958)
  • Clinton Steers (1949)
  • Clinton Cubs (1947–1948)
  • Clinton Owls (1937–1938)
  • Clinton Champs (1910–1912)
  • Clinton Teddies (1910)
  • Clinton Infants (1907–1908)
  • Clinton Minors (1906)
  • Clinton Bridegrooms (1895)
Mascot:Louie the Lumberking
Ballpark:NelsonCorp Field (1937–present)
League Champs:2 (1963, 1991)
Division Champs:6 (1991, 1993, 2010, 2016, 2019, 2021)
Owner:Community owned[1]
Manager:Jack Dahm
General Manager:Nate Vander Bleek[2]

The Clinton LumberKings are a collegiate summer baseball team of the Prospect League. They are located in Clinton, Iowa, and play their home games at NelsonCorp Field. From 1956 to 2020, they were members of Minor League Baseball's Midwest League. With Major League Baseball's reorganization of the minor leagues after the 2020 season, Clinton was not selected to continue in affiliated baseball.

The LumberKings play in the Prospect League's Western Conference – Northwest Division along with the Burlington Bees, Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp, and Springfield Lucky Horseshoes.[3]

Clinton baseball history

After beginning play in 1895, Clinton had sporadic teams in various leagues over the next few decades, as the Great Depression, World War I and World War II affected many baseball franchises. However, Clinton joined the Midwest League in 1956 and is now the oldest franchise in the league. The team has had several different major league affiliations: the Brooklyn Dodgers (1937–38), New York Giants (1939–41), Chicago Cubs (1947–49), Pirates (1954–58 and 1966–68), White Sox (1959–65), Pilots/Brewers (1969–70), Tigers (1971–75), Tigers/White Sox co-op (1976), Dodgers (1977–79), Giants (1980–94), Padres (1995–98), Reds (1999–2000), Expos (2001–02), and Rangers (2003–08), and Mariners (2009–18). In September 2018, they entered into a two-year player development contract with the Miami Marlins.[4]

Aside from its time as the C-Sox (1960–65) and the Pilots (1966–76), the team used the parent major league team's nickname before adopting the LumberKings name for the 1994 season.

The 2010 LumberKings season was the subject of the 2013 book "Class A: Baseball in the Middle of Everywhere" by Lucas Mann.[5] [6]

In 2016, led by first year manager Mitch Canham, the LumberKings won 86 games to set the mark for most in a regular season by any team in Clinton franchise history. The squad went on to sweep the Peoria Chiefs in the first round of the playoffs before defeating the Cedar Rapids Kernels in a thrilling three-game series. Game three of the Western Division final ended with a Ricky Eusebio walk off hit to win 1–0 in extra innings. The LumberKings would fall, however, in the Midwest League Championship in four games to the Great Lakes Loons.

In addition to playing host to the franchise record setting LumberKings (86-54), the LumberKings transformed their ballpark overnight following game two of the Midwest League Championship to become a football field. The LumberKings played host to Camanche High School Football in the inaugural "LumberBowl." Camanche hosted Williamsburg High School in the game on September 16, 2016. The Raiders of Williamsburg defeated the Indians 55–7.

Following the 2020 season, the LumberKings were cut from the Midwest League and affiliated baseball as part of Major League Baseball's reorganization of the minor leagues.[7] They later joined the Prospect League, a collegiate summer baseball league, for 2021.[8]

NelsonCorp Field

The home park for the LumberKings is NelsonCorp Field in Clinton, Iowa. The stadium was built in 1937 as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project[9] and named Riverview Stadium, due to its location on the banks of the Mississippi River. It was renamed Alliant Energy Field in 2002 and renovated in 2005–2006 to a capacity of 4,000. It was renamed to Ashford University Field in 2011 and NelsonCorp Field in 2019. The Dimensions are: LF – 330, CF – 401, RF – 325.[10] [11] [12] [13]

No-hitters

Clinton has tossed 25 no-hitters. The list includes the following no-hitters:[14]

Date Pitcher(s) class=unsortableOpponent !class=unsortableScore
Decatur 6–0 (7 innings)
Paris 1–0
Quincy 3–0 (7 innings)
Fox Cities 10–0 (7 innings)
Quincy 2–0 (7 innings)
Quad City 3–0 (7 innings)
Quincy 2–0 (7 innings)
Waterloo 2–1 (7 innings)
Quad Cities 2–0 (6 innings)
Waterloo 0–1 (7 innings)
Wausau 1–0 (7 innings)
Wisconsin Rapids 7–1 (7 innings)
Wausau 2–0 (7 innings)
Burlington 4–1 (7 innings)
Danville 9–0
Appleton 2–0 (7 innings)
, Chris Fye Burlington 11–0[15]
Peoria 5–3
Burlington 3–0
Lansing 7–0 (Perfect Game)
Kane County 4–0 (7 innings - G2)
West Michigan 10–0[16]
Lansing 1–0 [17]
, Kody Kerski, Troy Scott Cedar Rapids 1–0[18]
, Joey Strain, Lukas Schiraldi, Matt Walker Beloit 2–0

Playoffs

Clinton LumberKings of the Midwest League
SeasonQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinals
1987 – –
1991 – W, 3–0, Madison
1993 – L, 3–1, South Bend
1998 –
1999 – –
2000 – –
2003 –
2004 –
2005 –
2007 –
2008 – –
2010 L, 3–2, Lake County
2011 – –
2012 –
2013 – –
2016 L, 3–1, Great Lakes
2019 L, 3–0, South Bend
Clinton LumberKings of the Prospect League
SeasonDivision ChampionshipConference ChampionshipProspect League Championship Series
2021 –
2023 – –

Notable alumni

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Board of Directors. Clinton LumberKings. milb.com. July 7, 2017.
  2. LUMBERKINGS ANNOUNCE NEW GENERAL MANAGER . lumberkings.com. 9 February 2024 . February 11, 2024.
  3. Web site: 2024 Prospect League Standings – Prospect League Baseball. www.prospectleague.com. 2023-11-16.
  4. Web site: Clinton, Miami Announce New Player Development Contract. Ballpark Digest. September 20, 2018. September 20, 2018.
  5. News: McAlpin. Heller. Farm Team Saga 'Class A' Hits It Out Of The Park. 29 January 2014. NPR. May 9, 2013.
  6. Web site: Class A .
  7. Web site: Full MLB Press Release: MLB cuts Clinton LumberKings. December 9, 2020. December 15, 2020. Clinton Herald.
  8. Web site: Reichard. Kevin. Clinton LumberKings join Prospect League. January 13, 2021. January 14, 2021. Ballpark Digest.
  9. News: Fund-raising campaign will support L-King efforts . 15 April 2020 . Clinton Herald . 11 March 2020.
  10. Web site: General Information - Clinton LumberKings Ashford University Field. Clinton LumberKings.
  11. Web site: History - Clinton LumberKings Content. Clinton LumberKings.
  12. News: LumberKings to call NelsonCorp Field home . May 28, 2019 . . May 28, 2019 . en.
  13. News: New for 2019: NelsonCorp Field . May 28, 2019 . Ballpark Digest . August Publications . May 27, 2019.
  14. Web site: No Hitters . Midwest League Archives.
  15. Web site: Burlington Braves at Clinton Giants, June 6th, 1989 . Midwest League Archives.
  16. Web site: Shipers hurls complete-game no-hitter. MiLB.com.
  17. Web site: Lansing vs. Clinton - July 17, 2013 - Midwest League Box. Midwest League.
  18. Web site: Clinton pitcher goes from no-hitter to Tommy John in two weeks. Steve. Batterson. The Quad-City Times. 13 May 2015 .

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