| Wisconsin Rapids Twins | |
| Firstseason: | 1963 |
| Lastseason: | 1983 |
| City: | Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin |
| Past Class Level: | Class A |
| League: | Midwest League |
| Pastnames: |
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| Pastparks: | Witter Field |
| Pastmajorleague: |
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| Leaguechamps: | 1973 |
The Wisconsin Rapids Twins were a Class A Minor League Baseball team that existed from 1963 to 1983, playing in the Midwest League. Affiliated with the Washington Senators (1963) and the Minnesota Twins (1964-1983), they were located in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, United States. They played their home games at Witter Field. The franchise evolved from the Wisconsin Rapids White Sox of the Wisconsin State League (1940–42, 1946–53).[1] For the 1984 season, the franchise became the Kenosha Twins, moving to Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Despite the fact that they existed for 21 seasons, the Twins were Midwest League Champions only once, defeating the Danville Warriors 2 games to 1 and winning the 1973 Championship, after having lost to the Appleton Foxes in the 1967 Championship Series.
They played their home games at Witter Field, located at 521 Lincoln Street in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. Built in 1928,[2] it served as the home park for multiple minor league teams: the Wisconsin Rapids White Sox (1941–42; 1946–53) of the Class-D Wisconsin State League.[3] The League folded after the 1953 season,[4] leaving Witter without professional baseball until a new team in the Class-A Midwest League started play. The Wisconsin Rapids Senators (1963) and Wisconsin Rapids Twins (1964–1983) would play for the next two decades.[5] Following the 1983 season, the franchise moved to Simmons Field in Kenosha, Wisconsin.[6]
Today, the park is home to the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters of the summer collegiate Northwoods League, who began play in 2010 .[3]
The player to win the first Triple Crown in Midwest League history played for the Twins – Elmore "Moe" Hill. In 1974, he led the league with a .339 average, 32 home runs and 113 RBI.
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 50-71 | 9th | Joe Christian | |
| 1965 | 60-61 | 6th | Ray Bellino / Pete Appleton / Ray Bellino | none |
| 1966 | 59-63 | 6th | Ray Bellino | |
| 1967 | 70-46 | 2nd | Ray Bellino | Lost League Finals |
| 1968 | 62-57 | 4th | ||
| 1969 | 49-75 | 9th | Tom Videtich | none |
| 1970 | 59-60 | 6th | ||
| 1971 | 42-78 | 10th | ||
| 1972 | 70-56 | 4th | Lost in 1st round | |
| 1973 | 68-53 | 2nd | League Champs | |
| 1974 | 80-48 | 1st | Lost in 1st round | |
| 1975 | 71-58 | 3rd | ||
| 1976 | 67-63 | 5th | ||
| 1977 | 66-72 | 6th | Jim Rantz / Carlos Pascual / Spencer Robbins | |
| 1978 | 62-76 | 5th | ||
| 1979 | 60-72 | 6th | ||
| 1980 | 77-64 | 3rd | Lost in 1st round | |
| 1981 | 68-65 | 4th | ||
| 1982 | 56-82 | 11th | ||
| 1983 | 71-67 | 5th (t) | ||