# Northwoods League

The Northwoods League is a collegiate summer baseball wooden bat league. All players in the league must have NCAA eligibility remaining in order to participate. The league is amateur, and players are not paid, so as to maintain their college eligibility. Graduated senior pitchers are also eligible to play in the Northwoods League. Each team may have four of these players at a time.
Teams play 72 games scheduled from Memorial Day to the 2nd Saturday in August, while the playoffs take place the week after, starting on that Sunday and ending usually on Friday. The season itself is broken into two halves, with the winners of each half in each of the four sub-divisions playing against each other to determine a sub-divisional champion in a best-of-three series. The sub-divisional champions then meet in a winner-take-all game to determine a divisional champion. The divisional champions then meet in a winner-take-all game for the league championship.
In 2020, some teams cancelled their season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For those teams that did play, instead of playing within their usual divisions, they played in hub regions, with some creating "temporary teams".
In 2023, the Northwoods League announced plans to create a new softball league. The softball league will initially consist of four teams, based in Madison (Madison Night Mares) and La Crosse, Wisconsin (La Crosse Steam); Mankato, Minnesota (Mankato Habeneros); and Minot, North Dakota (Minot Honeybees).

## History

Established in 1994, the Northwoods League was the first for-profit summer collegiate baseball league. It has more teams and plays more games than any other summer collegiate baseball league. The Northwoods League drew over 1.1 million fans for the fourth consecutive year in 2017. The purpose of the league is to develop players while college baseball teams are not allowed to work out. Many of the teams in the league play in ballparks formerly occupied by professional clubs from the Midwest League, Prairie League, Northern League, and Frontier League. The wooden bat circuit allows communities deemed too small for professional ball to continue to enjoy high-quality, competitive baseball during the summer months. The Northwoods League was the first summer collegiate baseball league to broadcast on the ESPN network, and currently webcasts all of its games.
The teams are located in the Northwoods region of the Upper Midwestern United States and Northwestern Ontario, mostly in the U.S. states of Minnesota (five teams) and Wisconsin (nine teams); also with four teams in Michigan, three in North Dakota, and one team each in Iowa, Illinois and Ontario.
Over 300 league alumni have gone on to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) with 91 alumni entering the MLB ranks from 2013 to 2017. Alumnus Max Scherzer, the 2017 National League Cy Young Award winner, and American League runner-up Chris Sale faced each other as the starting pitchers in the 2017 and 2018 Major League Baseball All-Star Games.

## Competition

In small cities it may be hard to find the financial stability in a newly-founded baseball league. League leaders realized they needed to gain significant revenue from sponsors in order to succeed. According to league Chairman and co-founder Dick Radatz, Jr, two-thirds of the revenue comes from sponsors and the remainder from ticket sales, concessions, and team merchandise. Radatz also noted the importance of having the sponsor revenue before the beginning of the season.

## Teams
### Baseball teams

Northwoods League :
| Division | Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
| Great Lakes |||||
| East | Battle Creek Battle Jacks | Battle Creek, Michigan | C.O. Brown Stadium | 2,193 |
| East | Kalamazoo Growlers | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Homer Stryker Field | 4,000 |
| East | Kenosha Kingfish | Kenosha, Wisconsin | Simmons Field | 3,218 |
| East | Rockford Rivets | Loves Park, Illinois | Rivets Stadium | 3,279 |
| East | Royal Oak Leprechauns | Royal Oak, Michigan | Memorial Park | 1,000 |
| East | Traverse City Pit Spitters | Chums Corner, Michigan | Turtle Creek Stadium | 4,200 |
| West | Fond du Lac Dock Spiders | Fond du Lac, Wisconsin | Herr-Baker Field | 2,000 |
| West | Green Bay Rockers | Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin | Capital Credit Union Park | 3,359 |
| West | Lakeshore Chinooks | Mequon, Wisconsin | Kapco Park | 3,000 |
| West | Madison Mallards | Madison, Wisconsin | Warner Park | 7,500 |
| West | Wausau Woodchucks | Wausau, Wisconsin | Athletic Park | 3,850 |
| West | Wisconsin Rapids Rafters | Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin | Witter Field | 1,560 |
| Great Plains |||||
| East | Duluth Huskies | Duluth, Minnesota | Wade Stadium | 4,200 |
| East | Eau Claire Express | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Carson Park | 3,800 |
| East | La Crosse Loggers | La Crosse, Wisconsin | Copeland Park | 3,550 |
| East | Rochester Honkers | Rochester, Minnesota | Mayo Field | 2,570 |
| East | Thunder Bay Border Cats | Thunder Bay, Ontario | Port Arthur Stadium | 3,031 |
| East | Waterloo Bucks | Waterloo, Iowa | Riverfront Stadium | 5,000 |
| West | Badlands Big Sticks | Dickinson, North Dakota | Dakota Community Bank & Trust Ballpark | 1,200 |
| West | Bismarck Larks | Bismarck, North Dakota | Bismarck Municipal Ballpark | 1,900 |
| West | Mankato MoonDogs | Mankato, Minnesota | ISG Field | 4,000 |
| West | Minot Hot Tots | Minot, North Dakota | Corbett Field | 1,266 |
| West | St. Cloud Rox | St. Cloud, Minnesota | Joe Faber Field | 2,000 |
| West | Willmar Stingers | Willmar, Minnesota | Bill Taunton Stadium | 1,500 |

#### Baseball franchise timeline
### Softball teams

Northwoods League :
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
| La Crosse Steam | La Crosse, Wisconsin | Copeland Park | 3,550 |
| Madison Night Mares | Madison, Wisconsin | Warner Park | 7,500 |
| Mankato Habaneros | Mankato, Minnesota | ISG Field | 4,000 |
| Minot Honeybees | Minot, North Dakota | Corbett Field | 1,266 |
| Wausau | Wausau, Wisconsin | Athletic Park | 3,850 |

#### Softball franchise timeline
## Champions
### Baseball Champions

| Season | Champion | Runner-up | Result |
| 1994 | Rochester Honkers | --- | --- |
| 1995 | Kenosha Kroakers | Manitowoc Skunks | 2-0 |
| 1996 | Waterloo Bucks | Rochester Honkers | 2-0 |
| 1997 | Rochester Honkers (2) | Waterloo Bucks | 2-1 |
| 1998 | St. Cloud River Bats | Rochester Honkers | 2-0 |
| 1999 | Rochester Honkers (3) | St. Cloud River Bats | 2-1 |
| 2000 | St. Cloud River Bats (2) | Waterloo Bucks | 2-0 |
| 2001 | Wisconsin Woodchucks | St. Cloud River Bats | 2-1 |
| 2002 | Waterloo Bucks (2) | Brainerd Mighty Gulls | 2-0 |
| 2003 | Wisconsin Woodchucks (2) | St. Cloud River Bats | 2-1 |
| 2004 | Madison Mallards | Duluth Huskies | 2-0 |
| 2005 | Thunder Bay Border Cats | Madison Mallards | 2-1 |
| 2006 | Rochester Honkers (4) | Thunder Bay Border Cats | 2-0 |
| 2007 | St. Cloud River Bats (3) | Eau Claire Express | 2-0 |
| 2008 | Thunder Bay Border Cats (2) | Madison Mallards | 2-1 |
| 2009 | Rochester Honkers (5) | La Crosse Loggers | 2-1 |
| 2010 | Eau Claire Express | Rochester Honkers | 2-1 |
| 2011 | Battle Creek Bombers | Mankato MoonDogs | 2-0 |
| 2012 | La Crosse Loggers | Mankato MoonDogs | 2-0 |
| 2013 | Madison Mallards (2) | Duluth Huskies | 2-0 |
| 2014 | Lakeshore Chinooks | Mankato MoonDogs | 2-0 |
| 2015 | Kenosha Kingfish | St. Cloud Rox | 2-0 |
| 2016 | Wisconsin Rapids Rafters | Eau Claire Express | 2-0 |
| 2017 | St. Cloud Rox (4) | Battle Creek Bombers | 2-1 |
| 2018 | Fond du Lac Dock Spiders | Duluth Huskies | 2-1 |
| 2019 | Traverse City Pit Spitters | Eau Claire Express | 3-2 |
| 2020 | No official league champion as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic | --- | --- |
| 2021 | Traverse City Pit Spitters (2) | St. Cloud Rox | 9-3 |
| 2022 | Kalamazoo Growlers | Duluth Huskies | 8-3 |
| 2023 | Green Bay Rockers | St. Cloud Rox | 4-3 |
| 2024 | Kalamazoo Growlers (2) | La Crosse Loggers | 8-7 (14) |
From 1995-2018, the league championship series was a best-of-3 between the two division champions. When the league expanded in 2019, the championship became a one-game playoff.
2020 Pod Champions
| Pod | Champion | Result(Record) |
| Kenosha | Kenosha Kingfish | 17-9 |
| Michigan North | Traverse City Pit Spitters | 33-8 |
| Michigan South | Kalamazoo Growlers | 40-25 |
| Minnesota-Iowa | Waterloo Bucks | 28-13 |
| North Dakota | Bismarck Larks | 33-15 |
| Wisconsin-Illinois (East) | Fond du Lac Dock Spiders | 31-17 |
| Wisconsin-Illinois (West) | Wisconsin Rapids Rafters | 35-11 |

### Softball Champions

| Season | Champion | Runner-up | Result |
| 2024 | Mankato Habaneros | (no playoffs, best regular-season record) | 31-11 |

## Notable Northwoods League alumni

* Jeremy Accardo, Alexandria Beetles, 2001
* Scott Alexander, La Crosse Loggers, 2008
* Pete Alonso, Madison Mallards, 2014
* Cody Asche, Duluth Huskies, 2009–2010
* Clint Barmes, Kenosha Kroakers, 1998, Waterloo Bucks, 1999
* Joe Bisenius, Duluth Huskies, 2003
* Javier Baez, Wausau Woodchunks, 2010
* T.J. Bohn, Brainerd Mighty Gulls, 2001
* Rob Brantly, La Crosse Loggers, 2009
* Corbin Burnes, Waterloo Bucks, 2014–2015
* Lance Broadway, Wisconsin Woodchucks, 2004
* Trevor Brown, La Crosse Loggers, 2011
* Mike Burns, Brainerd Mighty Gulls, 1998–1999
* Kole Calhoun, Eau Claire Express, 2007–2009
* Matt Cepicky, Waterloo Bucks, 1997
* Matt Chapman, La Crosse Loggers, 2012
* Jermaine Clark, Kenosha Kroakers, 1995
* Willie Collazo, Waterloo Bucks, 1999
* Allen Craig, Alexandria Beetles, 2003, 2005
* Paul DeJong, Wisconsin Woodchucks, 2014
* Chris Demaria, St. Cloud River Bats, 2000–2001
* Thomas Diamond, St. Cloud River Bats, 2002–2003
* Andy Dominique, Kenosha Kroakers, 1995
* Jeff Duncan, Waterloo Bucks, 1998
* Lucas Duda, Alexandria Beetles, 2006
* Andre Ethier, Rochester Honkers, 2002
* Mitch Garver, St. Cloud River Bats, 2010–11
* Dave Gassner, Wausau Woodchucks, 1998
* Zack Gelof, Kalamazoo Growlers, 2019
* Jay Gibbons, Manitowoc Skunks, 1996–1997
* Tom Gorzelanny, St. Cloud River Bats, 2001
* Curtis Granderson, Mankato Mashers, 2001
* Eric Haase, Wausau Woodchunks, 2010
* Mitch Haniger, Green Bay Bullfrogs, 2009
* Jack Hannahan, Mankato Mashers, 1999
* Daniel Ray Herrera, La Crosse Loggers, 2005
* Tyler Hoechlin, Battle Creek Bombers, 2007
* Justin Huisman, St. Cloud River Bats, 1998
* Brett Jackson, La Crosse Loggers, 2007
* Casey Janssen, Wisconsin Woodchucks, 2001
* Jimmy Journell, Waterloo Bucks, 1997, 1999
* Bobby Kielty, Kenosha Kroakers, 1996
* Andrew Knapp, La Crosse Loggers, 2011
* Anton Kuznetsov, Eau Claire Express, 2013–2015
* Jeff Lindgren, Bismarck Larks, 2017–18
* Mark Lowe, Wisconsin Woodchucks, 2002–2003
* Jay Marshall, Rochester Honkers, 2002
* Doug Mathis, Duluth Huskies, 2003
* Mark Melancon, Duluth Huskies, 2004
* Matt Mervis, Kalamazoo Growlers, 2018
* Paul McAnulty, Mankato Mashers, 2001
* Carlos Muñiz, Alexandria Beetles, 2002
* Pat Neshek, Wisconsin Woodchucks, 2000
* Josh Newman, Alexandria Beetles, 2001
* Wes Obermueller, Wausau Woodchucks, 1995, Waterloo Bucks, 1996–1997
* Jordan Pacheco, La Crosse Loggers, 2005
* Val Pascucci, Rochester Honkers, 1998
* Brandon Pfaadt, Mankato MoonDogs, 2018
* Juan Pierre, Manitowoc Skunks, 1996
* Robb Quinlan, Dubuque Mud Puppies, 1996, St. Cloud River Bats, 1998
* Erasmo Ramirez, Kenosha Kroakers, 1995
* Mike Rouse, Brainerd Mighty Gulls, 1999
* Chris Sale, La Crosse Loggers, 2008
* Max Scherzer, La Crosse Loggers, 2004
* Shawn Sedlacek, Dubuque Mud Puppies, 1996
* George Sherrill, Kenosha Kroakers, 1997
* Drew Smyly, Duluth Huskies, 2009
* Ryan Spilborghs, Madison Mallards, 2001
* Eric Thames, La Crosse Loggers, 2007
* Curtis Thigpen, Waterloo Bucks, 2002
* Louie Varland, Willmar Stingers, 2017–18
* Daulton Varsho, Eau Claire Express, 2015–2016
* Jeff Weaver, Dubuque Mud Puppies, 1995
* Jordan Wicks, Rockford Rivets, 2020
* Josh Willingham, Austin Southern Minny Stars, 1998–1999
* Danny Worth, Alexandria Beetles, 2006
* Ben Zobrist, Wisconsin Woodchucks, 2003
* Jordan Zimmermann, Eau Claire Express, 2006

## Umpiring

The Northwoods League, in addition to being a developmental league for players and coaches, is also a developmental league for umpires. The concentrated game schedule, travel, and Minor League-like game conditions give NWL umpires a pre-professional experience. Since the League's inaugural season in 1994, 44 of its former umpires have furthered their careers in affiliated professional baseball.
The League recruits its umpires from the two umpire schools whose curricula have been approved by the Professional Baseball Umpire Corps. (PBUC): The Minor League Umpire training Academy and Harry Wendelstedt School for Umpires. The umpires ultimately chosen are usually among the top school graduates who were then selected to the pre-season, PBUC sponsored Umpire Evaluation Course.
The NWL contracts with eleven three-man crews during the regular season, a six-man crew during the mid-season All-Star game, and six umpires for both the divisional playoffs and championship series.