Great Lakes Loons

MiLB infobox
name = Great Lakes Loons
founded = 1982
city = Midland, Michigan
misc =

uniform
class level = A
past class level=
current league = Midwest League
conference =
division = Eastern Division
past league =
majorleague = Los Angeles Dodgers (2007-Present)
pastmajorleague = Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2004-2006)
* New York Yankees (2003)
* Houston Astros (1999-2002)
* Boston Red Sox (1995-1998)
* St. Louis Cardinals (1982-1994)
uniform =
nickname = Great Lakes Loons (2007-present)
* Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
* Battle Creek Yankees (2003-2004)
* Michigan Battle Cats (1995-2002)
* Battle Creek Golden Kazoos (1995)
* Madison Hatters (1994)
* Springfield Cardinals (1982-1993)
pastnames =
ballpark = Dow Diamond
pastparks = C.O. Brown Stadium
* Lanphier Park
leaguechamps = 2000
divisionchamps =
misc6 =
owner = Michigan Baseball Foundation
manager = Juan Bustabad
gm = Paul Barbeau

The Great Lakes Loons, based in Midland, Michigan, is a Low Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The team plays in the Midwest League and their home park is Dow Diamond, which opened in April 2007.

History

The Midwest League came to Battle Creek, in 1995 after the franchise formerly known as the Madison Hatters moved. The team was first known as the Battle Creek Golden Kazoos. Due to a trademark dispute and general fan dissatisfaction with the name (which is a nickname for the nearby city of Kalamazoo), the name was changed to the Michigan Battle Cats on March 9, 1995.

The team was affiliated with the Boston Red Sox (1995-98) and Houston Astros (1999-2002). The team changed its name to the Battle Creek Yankees after becoming an affiliate of the New York Yankees in 2003. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays took over affiliation of the team in September 2004, changing the team name to Southwest Michigan Devil Rays. In September 2006, the team announced its affiliation with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In January 2006, it was confirmed that the Devil Rays would be sold to the non-profit Michigan Baseball Foundation and relocated to Midland, Michigan. The team has been renamed the Great Lakes Loons. The main reason the team is relocating is because of the lack of interest in the Battle Creek community. Even reduced tickets and a night when the fans actually were paid a dollar to come to that night's game failed to pique the interest of local residents.

Naming rights for the Loons' stadium were purchased by Dow Chemical, which is headquartered in Midland. The company named the stadium "Dow Diamond." The name is a play on the company's logo, a red diamond.

In November 2006, The Loons named former Detroit Tiger Lance Parrish as the team's first manager since the move to Michigan's Tri-City Area. The first home game was played on April 13th which resulted in a loss to the Lansing Lugnuts.

Mascot

Lou E. Loon is the team mascot and Ambassador of Fun for the team. He's an energetic bird who loves to dance at home games and make public appearances. He even has a kids play area at the diamond named for him, "Lou E.'s Lookout".

Alumni

Notable alumni of the Midwest League, Battle Creek franchise include Rafael Betancourt, Justin Duchscherer, Shea Hillenbrand, Matt Kinney, Jason Lane, Aaron Miles, Melky Cabrera, Roy Oswalt, Carl Pavano, Tim Redding, Chris Reitsma, and Johan Santana. Former Loon Clayton Kershaw is now (2008) vying for the fifth spot in the Dodgers' starting rotation.

Current roster

Year-by-Year Record

*Michigan Battle Cats (1995-2002)
*Battle Creek Yankees (2003-2004)
*Southwest Michigan Devil Rays (2005-2006)
*"'Great Lakes Loons(2007-Present)

ources

* Dinda, J. (2003), "Battle Creek, Michigan, in the Midwest League" [http://www.mwlguide.com/cities/battlecreek/index.html]

References

ee also

* WLUN "(sports radio station owned by the Loons)"

External links

* [http://www.loons.com Great Lakes Loons]
* [http://www.mwlmidland.com/ mwlmidland.com] Fan Site