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Camp - Michigan Personal Trainer, West Bloomfield Michigan Kick... bodybyjenn.com | The West Michigan Cancer Center wmcc.org | West Hartford Podiatrist - West Hartford Podiatry Associates -... westhartfordpodiatry.com |
The West Michigan Whitecaps are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Detroit Tigers, that plays in the Midwest League. Their home games are played in Comstock Park, Michigan, a suburb of Grand Rapids. They are currently the defending champions of the Midwest League.
[edit] Franchise historyThe Midwest League came to the Grand Rapids area in 1994 upon the arrival of the former Madison Muskies. The Whitecaps were brought to West Michigan by local businessmen Lew Chamberlin and Dennis Baxter. The Whitecaps were affiliated with the Oakland Athletics before they joined the Tigers' farm system in 1997. Their home ballpark is Fifth Third 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. Fifth Third also sponsors ballparks in Dayton and Toledo, Ohio. The team's official mascots are Crash 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 ever 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. [edit] ControversiesThe team drew the attention of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine after a 4-pound, 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.[1] On July 15th, 2009, Travel Channel's "Man vs. Food" and its host Adam Richman will come to Fifth Third Ballpark to attempt to conquer the burger in an episode of the popular show. The episode aired on September 30th, 2009, wherein he successfully met the challenge [2]   [edit] Regular season
[edit] Postseason successThe Whitecaps have won the best-of-5 Midwest League championship five times in five opportunities. They defeated the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in 1996, the Rockford Cubbies in 1998, the Kane County Cougars twice (2004 and 2006), and the Beloit Snappers in 2007. West Michigan is 43-25 all time in playoff games. They’ve made the playoffs 11 times in 14 seasons. [edit] Oakland Athletics affiliation
[edit] Detroit Tigers affiliation
[edit] ManagersSince 1994, the Whitecaps have had six managers. In 2007, former Tigers' third baseman Tom Brookens became the seventh manager in the history of the Whitecaps. Listed here are each manager and their won/loss record: [edit] Oakland Athletics affiliation
[edit] Detroit Tigers affiliation
[edit] Current roster
[edit] Former Whitecaps in the majorsBelow is a list of West Michigan Whitecaps who have played in the major leagues. [edit] Oakland Athletics affiliation (1994–1996)
[edit] Detroit Tigers Affiliation (1997–present)
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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