Thunder Bay Border Cats
Information
LeagueNorthwoods League
LocationThunder Bay, Ontario
BallparkPort Arthur Stadium
Founded2003[1]
League championships2 (2005, 2008)
Division championships3 (2005, 2006, 2008)
ColorsRed, black
MascotBoomer
ManagerMike Tallari

The Thunder Bay Border Cats are a baseball team that plays in the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer baseball league. The league's only Canadian team, their home games are played at Port Arthur Stadium in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

The Border Cats have been Northwoods League champions twice, defeating the Madison Mallards two games to one in both 2005 and 2008. They also were in the Northwoods League championship in 2006, but lost to the Rochester Honkers.[2]

As of 2019, the Border Cats have sent six players to the major leagues. Matt Mangini was the first to make the jump, playing 11 games for the Seattle Mariners in 2011. Shortstop Jonathan Diaz followed two years later, playing four games with the Boston Red Sox in 2013. Diaz also spent time with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2014, almost making the team out of spring training. Pitcher Blaine Hardy became a regular in the Detroit Tigers bullpen in 2014. Seth Frankoff pitched in one game for the Chicago Cubs, while A.J. Schugel spent time with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Wes Parsons is currently with the Atlanta Braves in a relief role.

The Border Cats will not play their 2021 season due to "the ongoing uncertainty of the pandemic regarding the Canada-US border closure as well as outdoor gathering numbers".[3] A travel team known as the Minnesota Mud Puppies, based in the Twin Cities region, will play the Border Cats' originally scheduled 36 road games during the 2021 season.[4] The Border Cats were again left dormant for the 2022 season, with a return intended for the 2023 season.[5]

2009 All-Star Game

The 2009 Northwoods League All-Star Game was held on July 21 in Thunder Bay. This was the first time the All-Star game played in Canada. The guest speaker for the event was Ferguson Jenkins, a Canadian member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. The game was won 4-2 by the South Division squad, led by the MVP performance of Kurtis Muller, who went 3-for-5.

Notable active alumni & those reaching AAA/Majors

NamePositionPro AffiliateLevelLeagueTeamStatusMajors
Oney GuillenINFChicago White SoxAAAInternational LeagueCharlotteNot activeN
Zach DaegesOFBoston Red SoxAAAInternational LeaguePawtucket Red SoxNot activeN
Reid MahonRHPArizona DiamondbacksAASouthern LeagueMobileNot activeN
Matt CampOFChicago CubsAASouthern LeagueTennesseeNot activeN
Jonathan DiazINFNew York YankeesAAAInternational LeagueScranton/Wilkes-BarreNot active2013-2015
Scot DruckerRHP--INDAmerican AssociationGrand PrairieNot activeN
Marc MaddoxINFKansas City RoyalsAAAPacific Coast LeagueOmahaNot activeN
Matt ManginiINFSeattle Mariners--MLBSeattleNot active2010
Eric WordekemperRHP--AAAMexican LeagueOlmecas de TabascoNot activeN
Craig HeyerRHPNew York YankeesAAEastern LeagueTrentonNot activeN
Jon MuellerRHPChicago CubsAAAPacific Coast LeagueIowaNot activeN
Chris CurleyINFChicago White SoxAAAInternational LeagueCharlotteNot activeN
A.J. SchugelRHPPittsburgh Pirates--MLBPittsburghNot active2015-2017
Ryan Court3BSeattle Mariners--MLBSeattle MarinersNot active2019
Matt JohnsonOFBoston Red SoxACarolina LeagueSalemNot activeN
Blaine HardyRHPDetroit Tigers--MLBDetroit TigersActive2014-2019
Jason VoslerSSSan Francisco Giants--MLBSan Francisco GiantsActive2021-2022
Dan RizzieCNew York MetsAAANortheastBinghamton Rumble PoniesNot activeN
Michael PapierskiCHouston Astros-MLBCincinnati RedsActive2022
Greg WeissertRPNew York YankeesAAAInternationalScranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRidersActive2022-2023
Wes ParsonsRHPColorado Rockies--MLBColorado RockiesFree agent2018-2019
Seth FrankoffLFArizona Diamondbacks--MLBArizona DiamondbacksActive2017, 2020-2021
Nate NolanCChicago White SoxAAATriple A EastCharlotte KnightsNot activeN
Jacob RobsonOFDetroit Tigers-InternationalToledo MudhensActive2021
Matthew Batten2BSan Diego Padres-MLBSan Diego PadresActive2022
Penn MurfeeRPSeattle Mariners-MLBSeattle MarinersActive2022-2023
Andy WeberSSChicago CubsAADouble A SouthTennessee SmokiesActiveN
  Reached Majors

Year-by-year records

YearLeagueDiv.WLW%ManagerPlayoffs
2003Northwoods LeagueNorth3133.484Mitch Dunn--
2004Northwoods LeagueNorth3232.500Mitch Dunn--
2005Northwoods LeagueNorth4424.647Chad MillerWon championship
2006Northwoods LeagueNorth2938.433John HerreraLost final
2007Northwoods LeagueNorth2840.412Jared Manske--
2008Northwoods LeagueNorth4226.618Devin McIntoshWon championship
2009Northwoods LeagueNorth2741.397Joel Barta--
2010Northwoods LeagueNorth3138.449Mike Steed--
2011Northwoods LeagueNorth2940.420Mike Steed--
2012Northwoods LeagueNorth3237.449Andy Judkins--
2013Northwoods LeagueNorth2149.300Dan Holcomb--
2014Northwoods LeagueNorth2349.319John Hernandez--
2015Northwoods LeagueNorth3338.465Danny Benedetti--
2016Northwoods LeagueNorth2151.282Danny Benedetti--
2017Northwoods LeagueNorth2743.386Mitch Feller--
2018Northwoods LeagueNorth2250.306Mitch Feller--
2019Northwoods LeagueGreat Plains East2447.338Eric Vasquez--
2023Northwoods LeagueGreat Plains East2741.397J.M. Kelly--
TOTALNorthwoods LeagueNorth/Great Plains East523718.421----

References

  1. ↑ Millea, John (July 27, 2004). "Fielding big dreams". Star Tribune.
  2. ↑ Milewski, Todd (August 22, 2005). "Mallards Dethroned By Late Run". The Capital Times. Retrieved January 3, 2007.
  3. ↑ Reichard, Kevin (March 5, 2021). "Thunder Bay drops out of 2021 Northwoods League season". Ballpark Digest. August Publications.
  4. ↑ "Minnesota Mud Puppies". Northwoods League. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  5. ↑ "2022 Season Update". December 7, 2021.
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