Midwest League
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Current major leaguers [[Alex Rodriguez (rodrig006ale)|Alex Rodriguez]], [[Albert Pujols]], [[Johan Santana]], [[Jake Peavy]], and [[Josh Beckett]] all played in the Midwest League, as did recent retiree [[Greg Maddux]]. Hall of Fame players [[Orlando Cepeda]], [[Juan Marichal]], [[Carlton Fisk]], [[Goose Gossage]], [[Bruce Sutter]], and [[Paul Molitor (molito002pau)|Paul Molitor]] are all alumni of the Midwest League or its predecessors. [[Earl Weaver (weaver003ear) |Earl Weaver]], elected to the Hall as a manager, also played in the MWL predecessor Illinois State League. Two Hall of Fame players have managed MWL teams: [[Travis Jackson]] and [[Ryne Sandberg]]. | Current major leaguers [[Alex Rodriguez (rodrig006ale)|Alex Rodriguez]], [[Albert Pujols]], [[Johan Santana]], [[Jake Peavy]], and [[Josh Beckett]] all played in the Midwest League, as did recent retiree [[Greg Maddux]]. Hall of Fame players [[Orlando Cepeda]], [[Juan Marichal]], [[Carlton Fisk]], [[Goose Gossage]], [[Bruce Sutter]], and [[Paul Molitor (molito002pau)|Paul Molitor]] are all alumni of the Midwest League or its predecessors. [[Earl Weaver (weaver003ear) |Earl Weaver]], elected to the Hall as a manager, also played in the MWL predecessor Illinois State League. Two Hall of Fame players have managed MWL teams: [[Travis Jackson]] and [[Ryne Sandberg]]. | ||
| + | ==Notable Careers, Notable Seasons== | ||
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| + | [[Moe Hill]], who won the league's triple crown in 1974 and played five MVP-caliber seasons, is usually cited<ref>{{cite-web| url=http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060301&content_id=44473&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp | year=2009 | month=6 | day=14 }}</ref> as the best player in league history, though fans who saw former Negro Leaguer [[Butch McCord]] play generally endorse him<ref>{{cite-web | url=http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060225&content_id=43565&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp |year=2009 |month=6|day=14}}</ref>. Hill spent nine seasons in the league, mostly at Wisconsin Rapids in the Twins organization, and for most of those summers was the MWL's best hitter. McCord was at the peak of his game during his seasons at the independent Paris team, and was clearly the best player in the (then) Mississippi-Ohio Valley League for both seasons. | ||
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| + | McCord's 1951 and 1952 seasons rank with Hill's 1974 as three of the league's best single-season hitting performances. [[Deacon Jones (first baseman) | Deacon Jones]] holds the league mark for batting average with a .409 average in his 1956 MVP season. [[Joey Meyer]] won the Most Valuable Player trophy with a triple crown season in 1984. | ||
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| + | <references/> | ||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
* [http://www.mwlguide.com A Fan's Guide to the Midwest League] | * [http://www.mwlguide.com A Fan's Guide to the Midwest League] | ||
Revision as of 14:57, 14 June 2009
The Midwest League is a class A (class D before 1963) minor league which has operated since 1956. The MWL currently has teams in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio; in 2010 the league will add a Kentucky team. Historically the MWL and its predecessors were centered in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin; the eastward expansion began in 1988. The Midwest League is the successor to the Illinois State League and the Mississippi-Ohio Valley League.
Current major leaguers Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols, Johan Santana, Jake Peavy, and Josh Beckett all played in the Midwest League, as did recent retiree Greg Maddux. Hall of Fame players Orlando Cepeda, Juan Marichal, Carlton Fisk, Goose Gossage, Bruce Sutter, and Paul Molitor are all alumni of the Midwest League or its predecessors. Earl Weaver, elected to the Hall as a manager, also played in the MWL predecessor Illinois State League. Two Hall of Fame players have managed MWL teams: Travis Jackson and Ryne Sandberg.
Notable Careers, Notable Seasons
Moe Hill, who won the league's triple crown in 1974 and played five MVP-caliber seasons, is usually cited[1] as the best player in league history, though fans who saw former Negro Leaguer Butch McCord play generally endorse him[2]. Hill spent nine seasons in the league, mostly at Wisconsin Rapids in the Twins organization, and for most of those summers was the MWL's best hitter. McCord was at the peak of his game during his seasons at the independent Paris team, and was clearly the best player in the (then) Mississippi-Ohio Valley League for both seasons.
McCord's 1951 and 1952 seasons rank with Hill's 1974 as three of the league's best single-season hitting performances. Deacon Jones holds the league mark for batting average with a .409 average in his 1956 MVP season. Joey Meyer won the Most Valuable Player trophy with a triple crown season in 1984.
Footnotes
- ↑ http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060301&content_id=44473&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp, retrieved on 2009-06-14.
- ↑ http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060225&content_id=43565&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp, retrieved on 2009-06-14.
External links
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