American Minor League baseball team
For the 1937–1941 Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League team known as the Clinton Giants and Clinton Owls, see
Clinton Owls .
Clinton LumberKings
Team logo
Cap insignia
League
Prospect League (2021–present) (Western Conference – Northwest Division) Location Clinton, Iowa Ballpark
NelsonCorp Field (1937–present) Founded 1954 Nickname(s) Clinton LumberKings (1994–present) League championships 2 (1963, 1991) Division championships 6 (1991, 1993, 2010, 2016, 2019, 2021) Former name(s)
Clinton Giants (1939–1941; 1980–1993)
Clinton Dodgers (1977–1979)
Clinton Pilots (1914–1916; 1966–1976)
Clinton C-Sox (1960–1965)
Clinton White Sox (1959)
Clinton Pirates (1954–1958)
Clinton Steers (1949)
Clinton Cubs (1947–1948)
Clinton Owls (1937–1938)
Clinton Champs (1910–1912)
Clinton Teddies (1910)
Clinton Infants (1907–1908)
Clinton Minors (1906)
Clinton Bridegrooms (1895)
Former league(s) Mascot Louie the Lumberking Ownership Community owned
[2] Manager
Jack Dahm General Manager Nate Vander Bleek
[3]
The Clinton LumberKings are a
collegiate summer baseball team of the
Prospect League . They are located in
Clinton, Iowa , and play their home games at
NelsonCorp Field . From 1956 to 2020, they were members of
Minor League Baseball 's
Midwest League . With
Major League Baseball 's reorganization of the minor leagues after the 2020 season, Clinton was not selected to continue in affiliated baseball.
The LumberKings play in the Prospect League's Western Conference – Northwest Division along with the
Burlington Bees ,
Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp , and
Springfield Lucky Horseshoes .
[4]
Clinton baseball history
After beginning play in 1895,
Clinton had sporadic teams in various leagues over the next few decades, as the Great Depression, World War I and World War II affected many baseball franchises. However, Clinton joined the Midwest League in 1956 and is now the oldest franchise in the league.
[1] The team has had several different major league affiliations: the
Brooklyn Dodgers (1937–38),
New York Giants (1939–41),
Chicago Cubs (1947–49),
Pirates (1954–58 and 1966–68),
White Sox (1959–65),
Pilots/Brewers (1969–70),
Tigers (1971–75), Tigers/White Sox co-op (1976),
Dodgers (1977–79),
Giants (1980–94),
Padres (1995–98),
Reds (1999–2000),
Expos (2001–02), and
Rangers (2003–08), and
Mariners (2009–18). In September 2018, they entered into a two-year player development contract with the
Miami Marlins .
[5]
Aside from its time as the C-Sox (1960–65) and the Pilots (1966–76), the team used the parent major league team's nickname before adopting the LumberKings name for the 1994 season.
The 2010 LumberKings season is the subject of the 2013 book "Class A: Baseball in the Middle of Everywhere" by Lucas Mann.
[6]
[7]
In 2016, led by first year manager
Mitch Canham , the LumberKings won 86 games to set the mark for most in a regular season by any team in Clinton franchise history. The squad went on to sweep the
Peoria Chiefs in the first round of the playoffs before defeating the
Cedar Rapids Kernels in a thrilling three-game series. Game three of the Western Division final ended with a
Ricky Eusebio walk off hit to win 1–0 in extra innings. The LumberKings would fall, however, in the Midwest League Championship in four games to the
Great Lakes Loons .
In addition to playing host to the franchise record setting LumberKings (86-54), the LumberKings transformed their ballpark overnight following game two of the Midwest League Championship to become a football field. The LumberKings played host to
Camanche High School Football in the inaugural "LumberBowl." Camanche hosted
Williamsburg High School in the game on September 16, 2016. The Raiders of Williamsburg defeated the Indians 55–7.
Following the 2020 season, the LumberKings were cut from the Midwest League and affiliated baseball as part of
Major League Baseball 's reorganization of the minor leagues.
[8] They later joined the
Prospect League , a
collegiate summer baseball league, for 2021.
[9]
NelsonCorp Field
Ashford Field. Formerly Alliant Energy Field and Riverview Stadium
The home park for the LumberKings is
NelsonCorp Field in Clinton, Iowa. The stadium was built in 1937 as a
Works Progress Administration (WPA) project
[10] and named Riverview Stadium, due to its location on the banks of the Mississippi River. It was renamed Alliant Energy Field in 2002 and renovated in 2005–2006 to a capacity of 4,000. It was renamed to Ashford University Field in 2011 and NelsonCorp Field in 2019. The Dimensions are: LF – 330, CF – 401, RF – 325.
[11]
[12]
[13]
[14]
No-hitters
Clinton has tossed 25 no-hitters. The list includes the following no-hitters:
[15]
Date
Pitcher(s)
Opponent
Score
August 20, 1957
Dick Lines
Decatur
6–0 (7 innings)
June 2, 1959
Thomas Fisher
Paris
1–0
June 19, 1960
Scott Seger
Quincy
3–0 (7 innings)
May 23, 1963
Bill Dawson
Fox Cities
10–0 (7 innings)
June 23, 1964
Norbert Rodgers
Quincy
2–0 (7 innings)
June 11, 1967
John Lamb
Quad City
3–0 (7 innings)
June 19, 1967
Joe Barnett
Quincy
2–0 (7 innings)
August 25, 1967
Bill Laxton
Waterloo
2–1 (7 innings)
August 7, 1970
John Conzatti
Quad Cities
2–0 (6 innings)
May 3, 1972
Larry Bracco
Waterloo
0–1 (7 innings)
May 15, 1978
Russell McDonald
Wausau
1–0 (7 innings)
July 16, 1978
Jim Nobles
Wisconsin Rapids
7–1 (7 innings)
June 4, 1980
Jerry Stovall
Wausau
2–0 (7 innings)
April 20, 1981
Greg Bangert
Burlington
4–1 (7 innings)
August 12, 1981
Mark Grant
Danville
9–0
May 9, 1983
Ramon Bautista
Appleton
2–0 (7 innings)
June 6, 1989
Chris Hancock , Chris Fye
Burlington
11–0
[16]
May 14, 1992
Chuck Wanke
Peoria
5–3
August 4, 1996
Jim Sak, Todd Bussa
Burlington
3–0
August 3, 2000
Scott Dunn
Lansing
7–0 (Perfect Game)
July 9, 2003
Domingo Valdez
Kane County
4–0 (7 innings - G2)
July 11, 2012
Jordan Shipers
West Michigan
10–0
[17]
July 17, 2013
Víctor Sánchez
Lansing
1–0
[18]
May 1, 2015
Daniel Missaki , Kody Kerski, Troy Scott
Cedar Rapids
1–0
[19]
August 9, 2016
Pedro Vasquez , Joey Strain, Lukas Schiraldi, Matt Walker
Beloit
2–0
Playoffs
Clinton LumberKings of the
Midwest League
Season
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals
1987
–
L, 2–1,
Springfield
–
1991
–
W, 2–0,
Burlington
W, 3–0,
Madison
1993
–
W, 2–0,
Springfield
L, 3–1,
South Bend
1998
W, 2–1,
Quad Cities
L, 2–0,
West Michigan
–
1999
L, 2–1,
Burlington
–
–
2000
L, 2–1,
Beloit
–
–
2003
W, 2–1,
Kane County
L, 2–1,
Beloit
–
2004
W, 2–0,
Cedar Rapids
L, 2–0,
Kane County
–
2005
W, 2–0,
Quad Cities
L, 2–0,
Wisconsin
–
2007
W, 2–1,
Cedar Rapids
L, 2–0,
Beloit
–
2008
L, 2–0,
Cedar Rapids
–
–
2010
W, 2–1,
Cedar Rapids
W, 2–1,
Kane County
L, 3–2,
Lake County
2011
L, 2–0,
Quad Cities
–
–
2012
W, 2–1,
Beloit
L, 2–0,
Wisconsin
–
2013
L, 2–0,
Beloit
–
–
2016
W, 2–0,
Peoria
W, 2–1,
Cedar Rapids
L, 3–1,
Great Lakes
2019
W, 2–0,
Kane County
W, 2–1,
Cedar Rapids
L, 3–0,
South Bend
Clinton LumberKings of the
Prospect League
Season
Division Championship
Conference Championship
Prospect League Championship Series
2021
W, 4–3,
Normal
L, 3–7,
Cape
–
2023
L, 5–6,
Quincy
–
–
Roster
Active roster
Coaches/Other
Pitchers
-- Kole Bradley
-- Jackson Bruno
-- Jimmy Burke
-- Ean DiPasquale
-- Patrick Gardner
-- Sam George
-- Elijah Green
-- Jai Jensen
-- Carson Knebel
-- Sam Lavin
-- Brenden Martin
-- Daniel Mosarah
-- Brock Reade
-- Garrett Siemsen
-- Cade Turner
-- Jake Weissenberger
Catchers
-- Brayden Buchanan
-- Max Burt
-- Mason McCurdy
Infielders
-- Ian Dittmer
-- Karson Grout
-- JD Swarbrick
Outfielders
-- Gage Franck
-- James Hackett
-- Clay Jacobs
-- Blake Timmons
-- John Youens
Manager
Coaches
-- Walker Gentz (pitching)
-- Terry McGinn (first base)
-- Ty Snep (hitting/third base)
Disabled list
‡ Inactive list
§ Suspended list
updated March 15, 2024
Notable alumni
George Soriano (2019)
Peyton Burdick (2019)
Jerar Encarnación (2019)
Sean Guenther (2019)
José Devers (2019)
Humberto Mejía (2019)
Alex Vesia (2019)
Jack Larsen (2018)
Ray Kerr (2018)
Tommy Romero (2018)
Joey Gerber (2018)
JP Sears (2017)
Wyatt Mills (2017)
Ljay Newsome (2017)
Seth Elledge (2017)
Robert Dugger (2017)
Luis Rengifo (2017)
Vinny Nittoli (2016)
Jake Brentz (2016)
Nick Neidert (2016)
Art Warren (2016)
Braden Bishop (2016)
Pablo López (2016)
Luis Liberato (2015–2017)
Alex Jackson (2015–2016)
Osmer Morales (2015–2016)
Zack Littell (2015–2016)
Luiz Gohara (2015–2016)
Erick Mejia (2015)
Ryan Yarbrough (2015)
Thyago Vieira (2014–2015)
Ian Miller (2014)
Paul Fry (2014)
Tyler O'Neill (2014)
Jack Reinheimer (2014)
Emilio Pagán (2014)
Edwin Díaz (2014)
Tim Lopes (2013)
Gabriel Guerrero (2013)
Patrick Kivlehan (2013)
Dominic Leone (2013)
Ketel Marte (2012–2013)
Andrew Kittredge (2012)
Ji-man Choi (2012)
Mayckol Guaipe (2012)
Chris Taylor (2012)
Jabari Blash (2011–2012)
John Hicks (2011)
Roenis Elías (2011)
Stefen Romero (2011)
James Paxton (2011)
Taijuan Walker (2011) MLB All-Star
Brad Miller (2011)
Carter Capps (2011)
Steven Baron (2010–2012)
Brandon Maurer (2010–2011)
James Jones (2010)
Brandon Bantz (2010)
Nick Franklin (2010)
Yoervis Medina (2010)
Stephen Pryor (2010)
Erasmo Ramírez (2010)
Tom Wilhelmsen (2010)
Anthony Vasquez (2009–2010, 2013)
Brian Moran (2009–2010)
Bobby LaFromboise (2009)
Kyle Seager (2009) MLB All-Star
Maikel Cleto (2009)
Mitch Moreland (2008)
Justin Smoak (2008)
Blake Beavan (2008)
Neftalí Feliz (2008): 2010
AL Rookie of the Year
Derek Holland (2008)
Craig Gentry (2007)
John Mayberry, Jr. (2006)
John Danks (2004)
Ian Kinsler (2004) 4x MLB All-Star
Edinson Vólquez (2004) MLB All-Star
Grady Sizemore (2001) 3x MLB All-Star
Jason Bay (2001): 2004
NL Rookie of the Year
Ben Broussard (1999)
Matt Clement (1996) MLB All-Star
Gary Matthews, Jr. (1995) MLB All-Star
Bob Howry (1994)
Mike Myers (1991–92)
Salomón Torres (1991)
Steve Reed (1989)
Royce Clayton (1989) MLB All-Star
Rod Beck (1988) 3x MLB All-Star
Mike Remlinger (1987) MLB All-Star
Matt Williams (1986) 4x GG; 5x MLB All-Star; 1994 NL Home Run Leader
Dennis Cook (1985)
Charlie Hayes (1984)
John Burkett (1984) 2x MLB All-Star; 1993 NL Wins Leader
Matt Nokes (1982) MLB All-Star
Rob Deer (1980)
Chris Brown (1980) MLB All-Star
Scott Garrelts (1980) MLB All-Star; 1989 NL ERA Leader
Orel Hershiser (1979):
NLCS MVP (1988),
WS MVP (1988), NL
Cy Young Award (1988)
Candy Maldonado (1979)
Steve Sax (1979) 1982 NL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Webster (1978–79)
Ron Kittle (1977): 1983
AL Rookie of the Year
Mike Scioscia (1977) 2x MLB All-Star; Manager: 2002 World Series Champion – California Angels
Mickey Hatcher (1977)
Dave Stewart (1977) MLB All-Star; 1987 AL Wins Leader; 1989 World Series MVP
Dave Rozema (1975)
Ron LeFlore (1973) MLB All-Star; 2x AL Stolen Base Leader (1978, 1980)
Jim Leyland (MGR 1972–73) Manager: 1997 World Series Champion – Florida Marlins, Baseball Hall Of Fame Inductee
Bill Travers (1970) MLB All-Star
Gorman Thomas (1970) MLB All-Star; 2x AL Home Run Leader (1979,1982)
Darrell Porter (1970) 4x MLB All-Star; 1982 World Series MVP
Tom Kelly (1969) Manager: 2x World Series Champion (1987,1991) – Minnesota Twins
Jim Slaton (1969) MLB All-Star
Frank Taveras (1968) 1977 NL Stolen Base Leader
Don Money (1966) 4 x MLB All-Star
Denny McLain (1962): 2x AL Cy Young Award (1968–1969),
AL Most Valuable Player (1968)
Ken Berry (1961) 2x GG; MLB All-Star
Tommy McCraw (1960)
Gerry Arrigo (1960) MLB All-Star
Al McBean (1958)
Lou Johnson (1955)
Dean Stone (1949) MLB All-Star
Sid Gordon (1939–40), 2x MLB All-Star
Bing Miller (1914, 1916–17)
References
^
a
b
"Clinton, Iowa Encyclopedia" . Baseball-Reference.com .
^
"Board of Directors" . Clinton LumberKings . milb.com. Retrieved July 7, 2017 .
^
"LUMBERKINGS ANNOUNCE NEW GENERAL MANAGER" . lumberkings.com . Retrieved February 11, 2024 .
^
"2024 Prospect League Standings – Prospect League Baseball" . www.prospectleague.com . Retrieved 2023-11-16 .
^
"Clinton, Miami Announce New Player Development Contract" . Ballpark Digest . September 20, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2018 .
^ McAlpin, Heller (May 9, 2013).
"Farm Team Saga 'Class A' Hits It Out Of The Park" . NPR . Retrieved 29 January 2014 .
^
"Class A" .
^
"Full MLB Press Release: MLB cuts Clinton LumberKings" . Clinton Herald . December 9, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2020 .
^ Reichard, Kevin (January 13, 2021).
"Clinton LumberKings join Prospect League" . Ballpark Digest . Retrieved January 14, 2021 .
^
"Fund-raising campaign will support L-King efforts" . Clinton Herald . 11 March 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020 .
^
"General Information - Clinton LumberKings Ashford University Field" . Clinton LumberKings .
^
"History - Clinton LumberKings Content" . Clinton LumberKings .
^
"LumberKings to call NelsonCorp Field home" .
Clinton Herald . May 28, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2019 .
^
"New for 2019: NelsonCorp Field" . Ballpark Digest . August Publications. May 27, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2019 .
^
"No Hitters" . Midwest League Archives .
^
"Burlington Braves at Clinton Giants, June 6th, 1989" . Midwest League Archives .
^
"Shipers hurls complete-game no-hitter" . MiLB.com .
^
"Lansing vs. Clinton - July 17, 2013 - Midwest League Box" . Midwest League .
^ Batterson, Steve (13 May 2015).
"Clinton pitcher goes from no-hitter to Tommy John in two weeks" . The Quad-City Times .
External links
Eastern Conference
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Western Conference
Northwest Division South Division
Former teams
East Division West Division Former teams