Tampere Tigers

Football club infobox
clubname = Tampere Tigers


fullname = Baseball club Tampere Tigers
founded = 2004
stadium = Sorsapuisto, Tampere
chairman = flagicon|Finland Akira Ropo
manager = flagicon|Finland Tuomo Mesimäki
league = Finnish Baseball League

Tampere Tigers is a baseball team which participates in the Finnish Baseball League. Tampere Tigers were founded in 2004 by Arni Hukari and Lassi Autio. Tigers have a farm team called Tampere Industriales which at the moment participates in exhibition tournaments.

History

During its first year the team participated in two exhibition tournaments, winning the second one. The team’s name, Tigers, comes from the Japanese baseball team Hanshin Tigers.

Season 2005 was the team’s first in the Finnish Baseball League. The team had 18 players, and its win-loss record was 4-11. Tigers finished 5th in the league of 6 teams. In the award ceremony at the end of the season, Tigers’ Tomi Krogerus was elected the Rookie of the year.

Going into the 2006 season, Tigers set their goal to top-3. They finished 5th in the league, although only 2 wins away from meeting their goal. The best part of the season was the apparent development of their players. In 2006, two members of the Tigers were handed federation awards: Tuomo Mesimäki being the Rookie of the year and Niko Wirgentius the Best batter.

Year 2007 was a huge disappointment for the Tigers. They lost a couple of key players, and only managed one win in 12 games. In the Finnish Cup of baseball they advanced to the semifinal only to lose against the reigning 5-in-a-row league champions Espoo Expos.Tigers played many even games, always losing in the final innings due to the lack of experience.

Players 2007

* #1 Tuomo Mesimäki
* #2 Samuli Ikola
* #3 Lassi Autio
* #5 Tomi Krogerus
* #7 Tommi Harala
* #8 Anssi Rämä
* #9 Jarmo Rintala
* #11 Jarkko Vilkkilä
* #12 Juha Kurki
* #13 Oliver Paredes
* #14 Aki Ropo
* #15 Silvio Quevedo
* #31 Juha-Pekka Niemi
* #32 Gabriel Rosell
* #49 Akira Ropo
* #55 Jyrki Nummenmaa
* #?? Kari Harjunniemi
* #?? Mikko Helin
* #?? Tomi Karppinen
* #?? Remberto Martinez

Coaches

* Lassi Autio 2004-2006
* Oliver Paredes 2007
* Tuomo Mesimäki 2008

Notable ex-players

* Arni Hukari
* Markus Blommendahl
* Julian Hasegawa
* Niko Wirgentius
* Arne Juutilainen
* Jarkko Juutilainen

Tigers’ records

Club Records (League)

"Updated after the 2007 season"

* Most runs scored:
** "Home:" 17 vs. Helsinki Icebreakers, 18.6.2006
** "Away:" 16 vs. Vantaa Giants, 24.7.2005

* Least runs scored:
** "Home:" 0 vs. Espoo Athletics, 17.7.2005
** "Away:" 0 vs. Espoo Athletics, 31.7.2005

* Most runs conceded:
** "Home:" 33 vs. Espoo Expos, 22.6.2005
** "Away:" 28 vs. Helsingin Puumat, 14.7.2005

* Least runs conceded:
** "Home:" 2 vs. Helsingin Puumat, 5.6.2005
** "Away:" 4 vs. Malmi Bullets, 6.6.2007

* Highest win margin:
** "Home:" 17-7 vs. Puumat, 18.6.2006 / 12-2 vs. Puumat, 5.6.2005
** "Away:" 4-14 vs. Bullets, 6.6.2007

* Highest loss margin:
** "Home:" 6-33 vs. Expos, 22.6.2005
** "Away:" 17-0 vs. Athletics, 31.7.2005 / 20-3 vs. Athletics, 31.7.2005

ee also

* [http://www.tamperetigers.com Tampere Tigers official website (Finnish)]
* [http://www.baseball.fi Finnish Baseball Federation (info, scores, statistics)]