Athletic Park is a baseball stadium located in Wausau, Wisconsin. It is the home field of the Wausau Woodchucks baseball team of the summer collegiate Northwoods League. It hosted Wausau Minor League teams during 36 seasons between 1936-1990.
 Athletic Park in 2014 | |
 | |
| Location | 324 E. Wausau Ave. Wausau, WI 54403[1] |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 44°58′28.74″N 89°37′34.91″W / 44.9746500°N 89.6263639°W |
| Public transit |  Metro Ride |
| Owner | City of Wausau |
| Capacity | 2,500 (1946) 4,400 (1951) 2,500 (1987)[2] 7,000 (2013)[3] |
| Field size | Left Field: 316 ft (96 m) Left-Center Field: 340 ft (100 m) Center Field: 360 ft (110 m) Right-Center Field: 340 ft (100 m) Right Field: 316 ft (96 m)[1] |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1936 |
| Opened | 1936 |
| Expanded | 2013, 2015 |
| Tenants | |
| Wausau Woodchucks (1994–present) Wausau Timbers (1979–1990) Wausau Mets (1975–1978) Wausau Lumberjacks (1956–57; 1946-1949; 1936–1942) Wausau Timberjacks (1950–1953) | |
History
editAthletic Park was built in 1936. It sits in a residential area, just north of downtown Wausau, with a stone wall around the perimeter.[4] The park was the home of the Wausau Timbers of the Class-A Midwest League until 1990. Additions during the era included a roof in 1950, concessions in 1977, and clubhouses in 1981. It held seating for 3,850 people.
After the 1990 season, the Wausau Timbers moved to Geneva, Illinois and became the Kane County Cougars. The ballpark has hosted the Wausau Woodchucks of the summer collegiate Northwoods League beginning in 1994.[5]
Athletic Park was the home of Wausau East, Wausau West, and Wausau Newman high school baseball teams during the 1990s.
Between the 2013 and 2014 seasons, the ballpark underwent major renovations. The grandstand was demolished and replaced with a handicapped accessible one, including an elevator to the three levels. The new stadium opened May 30, 2014 for the Woodchucks home opener, which they lost, 6-4. The renovations were estimated at $2.7 million.[6] More took place in Phase II of 2015-2016 construction, with further improvements totaling $6.5 million.[7]
Professional baseball
editProfessional baseball Wausau teams that have played at Athletic Park include: the Wausau Lumberjacks (1936-1942, 1946-1949, 1956–57), the Wausau Timberjacks (1950–1953), the Wausau Mets (1975-1978), and the Wausau Timbers (1979-1990).[2] The teams were affiliated with the following major league franchises: the Cleveland Indians (1936 1937, 1942), the Philadelphia Phillies (1940–1941), the St. Louis Browns (1947–1949), the Detroit Tigers (1951–1953), the Cincinnati Reds (1956–1957), the New York Mets (1975-1978), Co-op (1979-1980), the Seattle Mariners (1981-1989), and the Baltimore Orioles (1990).[8][9]
The Wausau teams were members of the following professional Minor Leagues: the Northern League (1936-1942, 1956–1957), the Wisconsin State League (1946-1953), and the Midwest League (1975-1990).[8][9]
1981 Midwest League Championship
editThe 1981 the Wausau Timbers finished 84-48 and defeated the Quad City Cubs for the Midwest League Championship at Athletic Park. The team was managed by Bill Plummer and had future MLB players Ivan Calderon, Darnell Coles, Edwin Nunez, Jim Presley, and Harold Reynolds on the roster.[8][9]
Notable players
edit- Neil Allen (1976)
- Juan Berenguer (1975)
- Ray Boone (1942) 2 x MLB AS; 1955 AL runs batted in leader
- Dave Bristol (1957) MLB manager
- Bob Bruce (1953)
- Damon Buford (1990)
- Ivan Calderon (1981–82) MLB AS
- Chuckie Carr (1988) 1993 NL stolen base leader
- Darnell Coles (1981)
- Daniel Descalso (2006)
- Ryne Duren (1949) 3 x MLB AS; 1958 AL saves leader
- Joe Gaines (1956)
- Wally Gilbert (1939-1942)
- Jesse Gonder (1956)
- Edgar Martínez (1984) 7 x MLB AS; 2000 AL runs batted in leader; 2 x AL batting title (1992, 1995)
- Phil Masi (1937) 3 x MLB AS
- Bill Monbouquette (1976 MGR) 3 x MLB AS
- Pat Neshek (2000) MLB AS
- Edwin Nunez (1981)
- Wes Obermueller (1996, 1998)
- Vada Pinson (1956) GG; 2x MLB AS
- Bill Plummer (1981 MGR)
- Jim Presley (1981) MLB AS
- Harold Reynolds (1981)3 x GG; 2 x MLB AS; 1987 AL stolen base leader
- Cookie Rojas (1957) 5 x MLB AS
- Mike Tresh (1952) MLB AS
- Alex Trevino (1977)
- Omar Vizquel (1986) 10 x GG; 3 x MLB AS
- Mookie Wilson (1977)
- Ned Yost (1975) manager Kansas City Royals, 2015 World Series champion
- Greg Zaun (1990) 16 MLB seasons
- Ben Zobrist (2003) 2 x MLB AS
References
edit- ^ a b "Ballpark - Wausau Woodchucks : Wausau Woodchucks". Northwoodsleague.com. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
- ^ a b "Athletic Park Minor League History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
- ^ "Stadium Renovation - Wisconsin Woodchucks : Wisconsin Woodchucks". Northwoodsleague.com. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
- ^ Brian Gardner / gardnerphotos.com (2014-08-01). "Athletic Park, Home of the Wisconsin Woodchucks #2". Mn Artists. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
- ^ "Wisconsin Woodchucks - Get Ready for the Show! : Wisconsin Woodchucks". Northwoodsleague.com. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
- ^ "$2.7M Athletic Park renovation plan announced Tuesday - News - WSAU News/Talk 550AM 99.9FM". Wsau.com. 2013-04-16. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
- ^ "Second Phase Of Athletic Park Renovations Set". Ballpark Digest. 2015-04-16. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
- ^ a b c "1981 Midwest League". Baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
- ^ a b c "1981 Wausau Timbers - Midwest League". Thebaseballcube.com. Archived from the original on 2016-02-25. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
External links
edit- Wausau Woodchucks official website
- Athletic Park at ballparkreviews.com, Retrieved January 17, 2007