Wausau Woodchucks Explained

Wausau Woodchucks
League:Northwoods League (1994-present)
Division:Great Lakes Conference-West Division: 2019-present)
(South Division: 1998-2018
Location:Wausau, Wisconsin
Founded:1994
League Champs:2 (2001, 2003)
Series:Division
Series Champs:2 (2001, 2003)
Former Names:Wisconsin Woodchucks (1999–2021)
Wausau Woodchucks (1994–1998)
Colors:Navy blue, green, sky blue and white
Owner:Mark Macdonald
Management:Ryan Treu (GM)
Media:Wausau Daily Herald
Website:woodchucks.com

The Wausau Woodchucks are an American baseball team that plays in the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer baseball league. They play their home games at Athletic Park in Wausau, Wisconsin.

History

The team was known as the Wausau Woodchucks from 1994 to 1998, but the team name was changed to Wisconsin Woodchucks for the 1999 season, as they were the only remaining team in Wisconsin in the league at that time.

The team filled the void left by the Wausau Timbers of the Class A Midwest League, who relocated after the 1990 season to Geneva, Illinois, to become the Kane County Cougars.

In 1998 Clark Eckhoff purchased The Wisconsin Woodchucks, and Eckhoff truly made an impact on the team as well as the community as a whole. Not only did attendance dramatically increase with Eckhoff as owner, but the Woodchucks would go on to win two league championships in 2001 and 2003.

The Woodchucks' manager for the 2007–2009 seasons was Jim Gantner, a former Milwaukee Brewer who attended college at the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh. Gantner had never managed a team previously, and the Woodchucks appealed to him as he had spent time in the area at a second home.[1] Gantner became the team's president of baseball operations in 2009.[2]

On February 2, 2022, the Woodchucks announced their return as the Wausau Woodchucks, with a new logo and color scheme.[3]

Players

A number of major leaguers and other notables have played for the Wausau Woodchucks, including:[4]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Sports::Woodchucks Introduce Gantner as New Manager . June 22, 2007 . . October 24, 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070927045234/http://www.waow.com/Sports/index.php?ID=4716 . September 27, 2007.
  2. Web site: 2018-05-01 . 25 Years of Woodchucks Baseball . 2024-07-03 . Wausau Woodchucks . en-US.
  3. Web site: February 2, 2022 . Woodchucks Renovations go Full Circle with Brand Update . February 2, 2022 . Wausau Woodchucks.
  4. Web site: Alumni in the Pros . Wausau Woodchucks . February 3, 2022.