The Wausau Timbers were a
minor league baseball team, located in
Wausau, Wisconsin
Wausau ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. The Wisconsin River divides the city into east and west. The city's suburbs include Schofield, Weston, Mosinee, Maine, Rib Mountain, Kronenwetter, and ...
. The Timbers were members of the Class A
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Minor League Baseball league established in 1947 and based in the Midwestern United States. A Class A league for most of its history, the league was promoted to High-A as part of Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganizat ...
from 1975 to 1990. The franchise was sold in 1991 and moved to
Geneva, Illinois
Geneva is a city in and the county seat of Kane County, Illinois, United States. It is located on the western side of the Chicago suburbs. Per the 2020 census, the population was 21,393.
Geneva is part of a tri-city area, located between S ...
, where it became the
Kane County Cougars
The Kane County Cougars are an independent professional baseball team located in Geneva, Illinois and are members of the American Association of Professional Baseball, an official Partner League of Major League Baseball (MLB). They play their ho ...
.
History
The franchise first played 1975 in Wausau as the Wausau Mets. The club maintained an affiliation with the
New York Mets
The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...
through 1978. Without an affiliation the team changed its name to the Timbers and played two years as a co-op with players mainly from the
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive F ...
,
Texas Rangers, and
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West division. The team joined the American League ...
. In 1981 the club signed a played development contract with the Mariners. The affiliation with the Mariners lasted nine seasons. In 1990 the club signed on with the
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. As one of the American L ...
and played their final season in Wausau.
The Ballpark
The Timbers played at
Athletic Park, 324 E. Wausau Ave. Wausau, Wisconsin Built in
1936
Events
January–February
* January 20 – George V of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India, dies at his Sandringham Estate. The Prince of Wales succeeds to the throne of the United Kingdom as King E ...
, Athletic Park was home to the
Timbers
Lumber is wood that has been processed into dimensional lumber, including beams and planks or boards, a stage in the process of wood production. Lumber is mainly used for construction framing, as well as finishing (floors, wall panels, wi ...
of the Class-A
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Minor League Baseball league established in 1947 and based in the Midwestern United States. A Class A league for most of its history, the league was promoted to High-A as part of Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganizat ...
(1975–1990) and previous minor league teams: the
Wausau Lumberjacks
The Wausau Lumberjacks (occasionally known as the Timberjacks) were a minor league baseball team based in Wausau, Wisconsin that existed on-and-off from 1905 to 1957. The Wausau franchise then became the Wausau Timbers before relocating to become ...
(1936–1942, 1946–1949, 1956–57) and the
Wausau Timberjacks (1950–1953).
The ballpark has hosted the
Wisconsin Woodchucks
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 ...
of the summer collegiate
Northwoods League
The Northwoods League is a collegiate summer baseball wooden bat league. All players in the league must have NCAA eligibility remaining in order to participate. The league is amateur, and players are not paid, so as to maintain their college el ...
, beginning in 1994.
Notable alumni
Baseball Hall of Fame
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests. It serves as the central point of the history of baseball in the United States and displays baseball-r ...
alumni
*
Edgar Martínez
Edgar Martínez (born January 2, 1963), nicknamed "Gar" and "Papi", is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a designated hitter and third baseman for the Seattle Mariners from 19 ...
(1984) Inducted, 2019
Notable alumni
*
Manny Alexander
Manuel De Jesús Alexander (born March 20, 1971) is a Dominican former professional baseball infielder. He has played for the Baltimore Orioles (–, –), New York Mets (), Chicago Cubs (1997–), Boston Red Sox (), Texas Rangers () and San Dieg ...
(1990)
*
Neil Allen
Neil Patrick Allen (born January 24, 1958) is an American baseball former pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Playing career
New York Mets
The New York Mets drafted Allen out of Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City, Kansas, in the elevent ...
(1976)
*
Juan Berenguer
Juan Bautista Berenguer (born November 30, 1954) is a former Panamanians, Panamanian Long reliever, long relief pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played for eight teams from 1978 to 1992. Listed at 5'11 , 200 lb. , Berenguer batted and ...
(1975)
*
Damon Buford
Damon Jackson Buford (born June 12, 1970) is an American former professional baseball center fielder with the Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB) between 1993 and 2 ...
(1990)
*
Ivan Calderon (1981–1982) MLB All-Star
*
Chuck Carr (1988) 1993 NL stolen base leader
*
Roy Lee Jackson
Roy Lee Jackson (born May 1, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher likely best remembered for his stint with the Toronto Blue Jays in the early 80s.
Early years
Jackson was born in Opelika, Alabama. He was drafted by the Houston Astros ...
(1975)
*
Bill Monbouquette
William Charles Monbouquette (August 11, 1936 – January 25, 2015) was an American professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a right-handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox (1958–65), Detroit Tigers (1966 ...
(1976, MGR) 4x MLB All-Star
*
Ed Nunez (1980-1981)
*
Jim Presley
James Arthur Presley (born October 23, 1961) is a former Major League Baseball infielder with an eight-year career from 1984 to 1991. He played for the Seattle Mariners of the American League and the Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres of the Na ...
(1980-1981) MLB All-Star
*
Harold Reynolds
Harold Craig Reynolds (born November 26, 1960) is an American former professional baseball player and current television sports commentator. He played in Major League Baseball as a second baseman from to , most prominently as a member of the Se ...
(1981) 2x MLB All-Star; 1987 AL stolen base leader
*
Alex Trevino
Alex is a given name. It can refer to a shortened version of Alexander, Alexandra, Alexis.
People
Multiple
* Alex Brown (disambiguation), multiple people
* Alex Gordon (disambiguation), multiple people
* Alex Harris (disambiguation), multiple ...
(1977)
*
Omar Vizquel
Omar Enrique Vizquel González (; born April 24, 1967), nicknamed "Little O", is a Venezuelan former professional baseball shortstop. During his 24-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career, Vizquel played for the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Indi ...
(1986) 11x Gold Glove; 3x MLB All-Star
*
Mookie Wilson
William Hayward "Mookie" Wilson (born February 9, 1956) is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder and coach remembered as the Met who hit the ground ball that rolled through Bill Buckner's legs in the bottom of the 10th inning of ...
(1977) MLB All-Star
*
Ned Yost
Edgar Frederick Yost III (; born August 19, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball catcher and manager of the Milwaukee Brewers and Kansas City Royals. He played for the Brewers, Texas Rangers, and Montreal Expos.
Early life
Yost was born o ...
(1975) Manager, 2015 World Series champion -
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expans ...
*
Gregg Zaun
Gregory Owen Zaun (; born April 14, 1971) is an American baseball analyst, public speaker and a former professional baseball catcher. He played for nine teams over 16 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1995 until 2010, winning a World Series C ...
(1990)
Record
References
External links
Wausau Timbers at The Baseball Cube
Defunct Midwest League teams
Sports in Wausau, Wisconsin
Baltimore Orioles minor league affiliates
Seattle Mariners minor league affiliates
Defunct baseball teams in Wisconsin
New York Mets minor league affiliates
Professional baseball teams in Wisconsin
1975 establishments in Wisconsin
1990 disestablishments in Wisconsin
Baseball teams established in 1975
Baseball teams disestablished in 1990
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