Fond du Lac Dock Spiders explained

Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
League:Northwoods League
Division:Great Lakes West 2019–present)
(South Division 2017–2018
Location:Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Stadium:Herr-Baker Field
Founded:2016
League Champs:1 (2018)
Division Champs:2 (2018, 2020)
Colors:Navy Blue, Lake Blue, Tan
Owner:Third Base Ventures[1]
Management:Jim Misudek
Manager:Doug Coe

The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders are a baseball team that plays in the Northwoods League (a collegiate summer baseball league). Based in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, the Dock Spiders play their home games at Herr-Baker Field on the campus of Marian University. The Dock Spiders won the 2018 Northwoods League Championship and 2020 Northwoods League Wisconsin-Illinois Pod Championship.

History

On August 15, 2016, it was announced that the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Class A Midwest League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers) had partnered with Marian University to bring the 20th Northwoods League team to Fond du Lac. The on-campus Herr-Baker Field underwent renovations to accommodate the team.[2]

A name-the-team contest was held, with the five finalists being Barn Owls, Dock Spiders, Lake Flies, Pipsqueaks and Shantymen. On November 21, the Dock Spiders name, logo and colors were officially announced.[3] [4] The team appeared in Sports Illustrated as the best attention-grabbing new baseball club name for 2017.[5] The team logo was designed by San Diego marketing firm Brandiose.[6]

In 2017, the team's inaugural season, the Dock Spiders went 38-34 (.528).[7] After posting a 16–20 record in the first half, the Dock Spiders went 22–14 in the second half to finish 3 games out of 1st place. The overall record put the Dock Spiders in a tie for the final playoff spot in the South Division; however, the Dock Spiders missed on a 3-way tiebreak with the Lakeshore Chinooks (who made the playoffs) and the Madison Mallards.[8] In 2018, the Dock Spiders compiled a 39–31 overall record (.557) to take the final playoff spot in the South Division, with split-half records of 21-13 and 18-18. In the playoffs, the Dock Spiders won road games over the Madison Mallards 17-5 [7] and the Kalamazoo Growlers 3-1 [7] to win the South Division title and advance to the championship series against the Duluth Huskies. Fond du Lac won the opening game of the best-of-3 series 3–0 at home,[7] then lost at Duluth 8-1 [7] before winning the deciding game 4-3 [7] to clinch the team's first Northwoods League title in the franchise's second season of play. In 2019, the Dock Spiders went 36–35. During the 2020 COVID-19 shortened season, the Dock Spiders claimed the Northwoods League Wisconsin-Illinois Pod Championship. They defeated the La Crosse Loggers 14–3.

Following the 2020 season, team owners Appleton Baseball Club, Inc, sold the team to Third Base Ventures, LLC, a group consisting of principal owner Craig Dickman and minority owners team president Rob Zerjav and Brad Raaths.[1]

Dock Spiders in professional baseball

NameHighest Level TeamProfessional OrganizationYears with Dock Spiders
Nick FortesMiami Marlins[9] Miami Marlins2017
Luke MangieriWest Virginia PowerPittsburgh Pirates (A)2017
Mike PascoeLansing LugnutsToronto Blue Jays (A)2017
K. V. EdwardsHudson Valley RenegadesTampa Bay Rays (A Short-Season)2017
Alex ErroLowell SpinnersBoston Red Sox (A Short-Season)2018
Mitch RaganBrooklyn CyclonesNew York Mets (A Short-Season)2018
Brandon WulffOgden RaptorsLos Angeles Dodgers (rookie)2017
Jacob KostyshockGrand Junction RockiesColorado Rockies (rookie)2017-18
Jacob VossOrem OwlzLos Angeles Angels (rookie)2018
Chris CorneliusGulf Coast League Phillies WestPhiladelphia Phillies (rookie)2017
Zac TaylorArizona League Cubs 1Chicago Cubs (rookie)2018
Cole ZabowskiGulf Coast League Tigers WestDetroit Tigers (rookie)2018
Zach BryantArizona League Cubs 2Chicago Cubs (rookie)2017-18
Ryan Loutos Memphis RedbirdsSt. Louis Cardinals (rookie)2020-21
Tim ElkoBirmingham BaronsChicago White Sox (AA)2020-21

Year-by-year records

Season Manager Overall record Split Season Records playoffs
2017 Zac Charbonneau 38-34 (.528) 1st Half: 16-20 (.444)2nd Half: 22-14 (.611) Did not make playoffs
2018 Zac Charbonneau 39-31 (.557) 1st Half: 21-13 (.618)2nd Half: 18-18 (.500)Defeated Madison 15-7Defeated Kalamazoo 3-1

Defeated Duluth 3–0, 1–8, 4-3

Northwoods League Champions

2019 Zac Charbonneau 36-35 (.507) 1st Half: 14-22 (.388)2nd Half: 22-13 (.628) Did not make playoffs
2020 Zac Charbonneau 31-17 (.645) COVID-19 SeasonDefeated Green Bay 9-4

Defeated La Crosse 14-3

Northwoods League WI-IL Pod Champions

Total4 seasons 144-117 (.551) 1st Half: 51-55 (.481)2nd Half: 62-45 (.579)Total playoffs: 6 games won, 1 game lostTotal Series: 5 series won, 0 series lost

2 Championships

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mehring. Chris. Third Base Ventures Purchases Appleton Baseball Club, Inc.. Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Minor League Baseball. December 20, 2020.
  2. Web site: New Northwoods League Team for Fond du Lac. 15 August 2016. Northwoods League.
  3. News: Fond du Lac baseball team receives a name . Zukowski . Madeline . 21 November 2016 . Kern . Taima . The Reporter.
  4. Web site: Fond du Lac Baseball Chooses Dock Spiders for Nickname. 21 November 2016. Northwoods League.
  5. 5 December 2016. Extra Mustard: How Lo Can They Go. Sports Illustrated. 125. 20.
  6. Web site: New for 2017: Fond du Lac Dock Spiders. 2016-11-21. Ballpark Digest. 2016-12-10.
  7. Web site: Northwoods League - Get Ready for the Show!. Northwoods League.
  8. Web site: Northwoods League playoffs Begin Tonight. 14 August 2017. Northwoods League.
  9. 1438984129455005700 . DockSpiders . Breaking News Nick Fortes has been called up to the Marlins active roster making him the first Dock Spiders playe... . 17 September 2021 . TweetCiteBot.