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// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhy did the West Michigan Whitecaps go to the doctor? They were feeling a little capsized.

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from West Michigan White Caps)

West Michigan Whitecaps
Team logo Cap insignia
Minor league affiliations
ClassHigh-A (2021–present)
Previous classesClass A (1994–2020)
LeagueMidwest League (1994–present)
DivisionEast Division
Major league affiliations
TeamDetroit Tigers (1997–present)
Previous teamsOakland Athletics (1994–1996)
Minor league titles
League titles (7)
  • 1996
  • 1998
  • 2004
  • 2006
  • 2007
  • 2015
  • 2025
Division titles (7)
  • 1996
  • 1998
  • 2004
  • 2006
  • 2007
  • 2015
  • 2025
First-half titles (1)
  • 2025
Second-half titles (1)
  • 2025
Team data
NameWest Michigan Whitecaps (1994–present)
ColorsNavy, medium blue, light blue, white
       
BallparkLMCU Ballpark (1994–present)
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
Lew Chamberlin and Denny Baxter
General managerJim Jarecki
ManagerRené Rivera
Websitemilb.com/west-michigan

The West Michigan Whitecaps are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. They are located in Comstock Park, Michigan, a suburb of Grand Rapids, and play their home games at LMCU Ballpark.

Franchise history

[edit]

The Midwest League came to the Grand Rapids area in 1994 upon the arrival of the former Madison Muskies. Local businessmen Lew Chamberlin and Dennis Baxter bought the Muskies and moved them to West Michigan. They were the first minor league team in the Grand Rapids area since the Grand Rapids Jets folded in 1951. The Whitecaps were affiliated with the Oakland Athletics before they joined the Tigers' farm system in 1997.

Their home ballpark is LMCU Ballpark in Comstock Park. Before the 2002 season it was known as Old Kent Park; the name was changed when the park's title sponsor, Old Kent Bank, was purchased by Fifth Third Bank. Before the 2021 season, the Lake Michigan Credit Union renamed the venue "LMCU Ballpark". The team's official mascots are Crash the River Rascal, Roxy the River Rascal and Franky the Swimming Pig.

The franchise's attendance record of 547,401 was set in 1996.

Several league and team records were set during the 2006 season. The team posted the second best record in franchise history, going 89–48, including going 23–6 in July. Michael Hollimon hit 3 home runs in one game. Cameron Maybin hit 2 grand slams in the season. Michael Hernandez became the first person in the history of the Midwest League to hit for the cycle twice. The Whitecaps went on to defeat the Kane County Cougars in four games to win their fourth Midwest League Championship.

In 2009, the team drew the attention of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine after a 4-pound (1.8 kg), 4,800-calorie hamburger called the Fifth Third Burger was placed on the menu of the team's concession stand. It was so named in part for the ballpark sponsor and part for its 1.6666 (or 5/3) pounds of meat. The Committee requested that the team put a label on the burger indicating that it was a "dietary disaster".[1] To date, more than 100 fans, or about a half of the people who have attempted the challenge, have conquered the burger and earned a commemorative T-shirt. On July 15, 2009, Travel Channel's "Man v. Food" and its host Adam Richman came to Fifth Third Ballpark to attempt to conquer the burger in an episode of the popular show. The episode aired on September 30, 2009, wherein he successfully met the challenge. In 2012, The Whitecaps installed a new scoreboard and high resolution video display screen which was installed by TS Sports out of Dallas, Texas.

On January 3, 2014, a fire started in one of the suites. It spread and caused extensive damage, close to one half of the suites and 1st base concourse were destroyed.[2] Thanks to extensive work, the park was restored and up and running by opening day.[3]

Whitecaps at home in Fifth Third Ballpark

In conjunction with Major League Baseball's restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Whitecaps were organized into the High-A Central.[4] In 2022, the High-A Central became known as the Midwest League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization.[5]

In 2025, the Whitecaps won the Minor League Baseball Organization of the Year Award.[6]

Regular season

[edit]
SeasonWLPct.
19947465.532
19956769.492
19967761.557MWL Champions
19979239.702
19988357.593MWL Champions
19996872.485
20008852.629
20016572.474
20028357.593
20036773.478
20046970.496MWL Champions
20057370.510
20068948.649MWL Champions
20078357.593MWL Champions
20087376.532
20098357.593
20106277.446
20117069.504
20127268.514
20136970.496
20148258.586
20157564.540MWL Champions
20167165.522
20179145.669
20186970.496
20194990.353
20215862.483
20227259.550
20236862.523
20246863.519
20259239.702MWL Champions

Postseason

[edit]

The Whitecaps won the best-of-five Midwest League championship six times in six opportunities. They defeated the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in 1996, the Rockford Cubbies in 1998, the Kane County Cougars twice (2004 and 2006), the Beloit Snappers in 2007, and the Cedar Rapids Kernels twice, in 2015 and again in 2025. West Michigan is 59–32 all-time in playoff games.

Oakland Athletics affiliation

[edit]
YearRecordResultsOpponents
19940–2Lost in First RoundRockford (0–2)
19953–3Lost in Second RoundKane County (2–1), Michigan (1–2)
19967–2Won ChampionshipLansing (2–1), Rockford (2–0), Wisconsin (3–1)

Detroit Tigers affiliation

[edit]
YearRecordResultsOpponents
19970–2Lost in First RoundFort Wayne (0–2)
19987–2Won ChampionshipMichigan (2–1), Clinton (2–0), Rockford (3–1)
20001–2Lost in First RoundDayton (1–2)
20023–2Lost in Second RoundDayton (2–0), Lansing (1–2)
20047–3Won ChampionshipLansing (2–1), South Bend (2–0), Kane County (3–2)
20052–2Lost in Second RoundFort Wayne (2–0), South Bend (0–2)
20067–2Won ChampionshipFort Wayne (2–1), Lansing (2–0), Kane County (3–1)
20077–2Won ChampionshipLansing (2–0), South Bend (2–0), Beloit (3–2)
20141–2Lost in First RoundFort Wayne (1–2)
20157–3Won ChampionshipFort Wayne (2–0), Lansing (2–1), Cedar Rapids (3–2)
20163–3Lost in Second RoundSouth Bend (2–1), Great Lakes (1–2)
20171-2Lost in First RoundDayton (1-2)
20182-2Lost in Second RoundGreat Lakes (2-0), Bowling Green (0-2)
20254-0Won ChampionshipLake County (2–0), Cedar Rapids (2-0)

Managers

[edit]

Since 1994, the Whitecaps have had nine managers. In 2007, former Tigers' third baseman Tom Brookens became the fifth manager in the history of the Whitecaps.

Listed here is each manager and their won/loss record:

Detroit Tigers affiliation

[edit]

Roster

[edit]
West Michigan Whitecaps roster
Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 17 Max Alba #
  • 29 Logan Berrier
  • 31 Rayner Castillo
  •  9 Charlie Christensen Injury icon
  • 20 Lucas Elissalt
  • 32 Jalen Evans
  • 37 Connor Fenlong
  • 19 Ryan Harvey
  • 15 Preston Howey
  • 21 Jojo Ingrassia
  •  5 Ben Jacobs
  • 26 Jackson Jobe * #
  • 38 Zack Lee
  • 36 Carlos Lequerica
  • 16 Carlos Marcano Injury icon
  • -- Kash Mayfield
  • 16 Joe Miller #
  • 22 Eliseo Mota
  • 39 Moises Rodriguez #
  • 18 Win Scott
  • 28 Ethan Sloan
  • 35 Brady Smith
  • 40 Luke Stofel
  • 34 Juanmi Vasquez

Catchers

  • 25 Clayton Campbell
  •  3 Edian Espinal
  • 24 Ricardo Hurtado
  •  7 Luke Shliger

Infielders

Outfielders

  • 11 Roberto Campos Injury icon
  •  9 Nolan McCarthy Injury icon
  • 13 Jackson Strong

Manager

Coaches

  • 30 Matt Malott (hitting)
  • 43 Daniel Ricabal (pitching)
  • 10 Cole Roberts (bench)

60-day injured list

  • 37 Gabriel Reyes

Former Whitecaps in the majors

[edit]

Below is a list of West Michigan Whitecaps who have played in the major leagues.

Oakland Athletics affiliation (1994–1996)

[edit]

Detroit Tigers affiliation (1997–present)

[edit]

Broadcasting

[edit]

The Whitecaps returned to "The Ticket West Michigan" for the 2024 season with radio simulcast on four stations: 106.1-FM and 1340-AM in Grand Rapids. For home games, they produce a Radio/TV Simulcast, while the road games are produced as a traditional radio broadcast. Dan Hasty is the Voice of the Whitecaps and has also filled in on Detroit Tigers Radio Play-by-Play, as well as hosting the Road to Detroit Podcast from 2019-2022,[7] as well as serving as TV broadcast voice of Men's Basketball for the University of Detroit Mercy,[8] the Grand Rapids Rise of Major League Volleyball and the Grand Rapids Gold of the NBA G-League.

[edit]

B-Roll footage of a game between the Whitecaps and South Bend Silver Hawks at Fifth Third Ballpark, was aired in Champ's Whammy! home runs scene in Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues. Officials with the West Michigan Whitecaps were unaware they would be featured in the movie and only found out after the movie was released in December 2013.[9]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Notes

  1. ↑ Doctors Have Beef With Burger ESPN, March 31, 2009
  2. ↑ MiLB Whitecaps' ballpark damaged in fire: https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-66298102
  3. ↑ WZZM Whitecaps: We will play baseball April 8: http://www.wzzm13.com/news/article/277494/2/Whitecaps-We-will-place-baseball-April-8
  4. ↑ Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Minor League Baseball Announces 2025 Award Winners". Minor League Baseball. October 6, 2025. Archived from the original on October 7, 2025. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  7. ↑ "New podcast gives Tigers' farm system a voice". MLB.com. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Dan Hasty - Voice Of Detroit Mercy MBB On 910 AM Superstation - Staff Directory". University of Detroit Mercy Athletics. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Whammy! 'Anchorman 2' features unexpected footage of West Michigan Whitecaps". M Live. Retrieved March 7, 2021.

Sources

[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=West_Michigan_Whitecaps&oldid=1364889349"