Witter Field

Witter Field
Former names	Lincoln Athletic Field
Location	521 Lincoln St, Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494[1]
Owner	Wisconsin Rapids
Capacity	4000 (1941) 3000 (1983),[2] 1588 (current)[3]
Field size	(LF-CF-RF): 320-385-320[4] 320 L, 375 C, 320 R (current)[5]
Surface	Grass
Construction
Built	1928
Opened	1928
Renovated	1950, 2010
Tenants
	Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (2010-Present); Wisconsin Rapids Twins (1964-1983); Wisconsin Rapids Senators (1963); Wisconsin Rapids White Sox (1941-42; 1946-53)

Witter Field is a baseball ballpark located at 521 Lincoln Street in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, United States. It was built in 1928.[6] It served as the home park for multiple minor league teams: the Wisconsin Rapids White Sox, Wisconsin Rapids Senators and Wisconsin Rapids Twins.[7] Currently, it hosts the Northwoods League's Wisconsin Rapids Rafters and youth teams.

Witter Field History

The ballpark was home to the Wisconsin Rapids White Sox (1941–42; 1946–53) of the Class-D Wisconsin State League.[8] The League folded after the 1953 season,[9] leaving Witter without professional baseball until a new team in the Class-A Midwest League started play. The Wisconsin Rapids Senators (1963) and Wisconsin Rapids Twins (1964-1983) would play for the next two decades.[10] Following the 1983 season, the franchise moved to Simmons Field in Kenosha, Wisconsin.[11]

In 2010, baseball returned, as the current tenant, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters of the summer collegiate Northwoods League began play in June, 2010.[12]

The park was built in 1928 and dedicated in 1934.[13] The site housed the Lincoln High School facility, beginning in 1902 and the field was called "Lincoln Athletic Field" until 1940 when it became "Witter Field" in honor of Isaac Witter.[14]

The wooden grandstand bleachers were replaced in 1950. 227 seats from the demolished Milwaukee County Stadium were installed in 2010.[15]

From 2005-2008 Witter Field hosted the youth WIAC state baseball tournament.[16]

On July 18, 2011, Witter Field hosted the Northwoods League All-Star Game. Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Paul Molitor was present for All-Star festivities.[17]

The site today

It is currently the home to local High School baseball, Legion Baseball and hosts the Northwoods League's Wisconsin Rapids Rafters.[18]

The site also contains the Wisconsin Rapids Recreation Complex featuring the Wisconsin Rapids Aquatic Center, tennis courts, pickleball courts, ice skating, a warming house, a football field and a skate park.[19]

Notable players

The park has hosted numerous Major League alumni, some of note include:

Ben Heller (2012)
Allan Anderson (1983) List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders; 1988 AL ERA Leader
Mark Davidson (1982–83)
Mark Portugal (1982)
Rich Yett (1981)
Jim Eisenreich (1980–81) 15 MLB Seasons; First Recipient of Tony Conigliaro Award
Gary Gaetti (1980) gg; 4 x GG; 2 x MLB AS; 1987 ALCS MVP
Kent Hrbek (1980) MLB AS
Rick Stelmaszek (1978-80 MGR)
Bud Bulling (1975–76)
John Castino (1976) 1979 AL Rookie of the Year
Rick Sofield (1976) MLB Player, Coach
Jerry Garvin (1974)
Gary Ward (1974) 2 x MLB AS
Alvis Woods (1974)
Randy Bass (1973)
Tom Johnson (1972)
Glenn Borgmann (1971)
Bill Campbell (1971) MLB AS; 1977 AL Saves Leader
Jim Hughes (1971)
Dave McKay (1971) MLB Player/Coach
Johnny Goryl (1970, 1973–75, MGR) MLB MGR
Steve Barber (1969) 2 x MLB AS
Rick Dempsey (1968–69) 1983 World Series MVP
Bill Zepp (1968)
Steve Braun (1967)
Tom Hall (1967)
Charlie Manual (1967, MGR 1983) MLB MGR: 1000 wins; MGR: 2008 World Series Champion - Philadelphia Phillies
Graig Nettles (1966) 2 x GG; 6 x MLB AS 1976 AL Home Run Leader;1981 ALCS MVP
George Mitterwald (1965, 1968)
Pat Kelly (1964) MLB AS
Jim French (1963)
Wayne Terwilliger (1963, MGR)
Johnny Schaive (1953)
Jim Landis (1952) 5 x GG in CF; 2 x MLB AS
Glen Stewart (1949)
Bill Fischer (1942)
Cy Buker (1942)
Max Patkin (1941) Long Time baseball entertainer, featured in Bull Durham; 1988 King of Baseball

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[1] ttp://northwoodsleague.com/wisconsin-woodchucks/more/ballpark/

[2] ttps://www.baseball-reference.com/register/park.cgi?id=WI031

[3] ttp://northwoodsleague.com/wisconsin-rapids-rafters/team/ballpark/

[4] ttps://www.baseball-reference.com/register/park.cgi?id=WI031

[5] ttp://northwoodsleague.com/wisconsin-rapids-rafters/team/ballpark/

[6] RaftersBaseball.com

[7] BR Minors

[8] ttp://northwoodsleague.com/wisconsin-rapids-rafters/team/ballpark/

[9] ttp://www.digitalballparks.com/MWL/Witter_640_6.html

[10] ttps://www.baseball-reference.com/register/park.cgi?id=WI031

[11] ttp://www.digitalballparks.com/MWL/Witter_640_20.html

[12] ttp://northwoodsleague.com/wisconsin-rapids-rafters/team/ballpark/

[13] ttp://northwoodsleague.com/wisconsin-rapids-rafters/team/ballpark/

[14] ttp://wisconsinrapidslegionbaseball.org/witter.html

[15] ttp://northwoodsleague.com/wisconsin-rapids-rafters/team/ballpark/

[16] ttp://wisconsinrapidslegionbaseball.org/witter.html

[17] ttp://northwoodsleague.com/wisconsin-rapids-rafters/team/ballpark/

[18] ttp://northwoodsleague.com/wisconsin-rapids-rafters/team/ballpark/

[19] ttp://visitwisrapids.com/witter-field/

Current Ballparks of the Northwoods League
Great Plains	Bill Taunton Stadium (Willmar) Bismarck Municipal Ballpark (Bismarck) Carson Park (Eau Claire) Copeland Park (La Crosse) ISG Field (Mankato) Joe Faber Field (St. Cloud) Mayo Field (Rochester) Port Arthur Stadium (Thunder Bay) Riverfront Stadium (Waterloo) Wade Stadium (Duluth)
Great Lakes	Athletic Park (Wisconsin) Capital Credit Union Park (Green Bay) C.O. Brown Stadium (Battle Creek) Herr-Baker Field (Fond du Lac) Homer Stryker Field (Kalamazoo) Kapco Park (Lakeshore) Kokomo Municipal Stadium (Kokomo) Rivets Stadium (Rockford) Simmons Field (Kenosha) Turtle Creek Stadium (Traverse City) Warner Park (Madison) Witter Field (Wisconsin Rapids)