From small to large, Midwest League clubs in it together

CEDAR RAPIDS — It's sort of two leagues in one, if you really think about it.

On one side, in the Western Division of the 16-team Midwest League, are the traditionalists. Clinton was an original member in 1956, Quad Cities joined in 1960, Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Wisconsin in 1962.

On the other side, in the Eastern Division, are the newbies, or the relative newbies. There's Dayton and its 16 years of sellouts, Fort Wayne and its gorgeous downtown ballpark, considered one of the finest in the minor leagues.

You are talking about some community-owned ballclubs here (such as Cedar Rapids, Clinton and Burlington) and some corporate owned (such as Dayton, Fort Wayne and Quad Cities). They're different, located in vastly different sized cities.

But they co-exist and thrive collectively.

'I wouldn't say it's two leagues. I would say it's just two different styles of organizations,' Cedar Rapids Kernels President Greg Seyfer said. 'You'll find in Iowa, it's mostly kind of the old guard style of organization. The newer teams operate under a different system than some of the Iowa and Wisconsin teams.

'But in the end, we all have the same makeup of ballplayers. We're in the same league in different divisions, but, when it's all said and done, it's still just playing baseball ... The operations are really run the same way. Put on the best show, give the best entertainment in the great ballpark venues we have.'

The Midwest League holds its all-star game Tuesday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium, the first time it has been here since 2004. First pitch is scheduled for about 7:05, with players from all 16 teams participating, including four Kernels (starting second baseman Luis Arraez, starting outfielder LaMonte Wade, pitcher Sam Clay and catcher A.J. Murray).

Executives from each of the clubs will make the trek to the City of Five Seasons, with a league meeting conducted Tuesday. From what you hear, it'll be cordial and friendly, as it almost always is.

'Everyone in this league gets along very well,' said Fort Wayne President Mike Nutter. 'It's a testament to our league president, Dick Nussbaum, and our long-time (former) President George Spelius. There is friendly competition, in regards to the front offices. But folks need to remember, we don't control the product on the field. We control ticket sales, concessions, promotions, etc.

'Folks in our front offices really do realize that we are all in this together. Some of my best friends in the world are other operators in this league. We all utilize each other to bounce ideas off of, ask questions. In very few instances do we compete for the same fans, but we all compete to put on the best show for our fans and those visiting from other cities.'

The range in attendance throughout the Midwest League is striking. Dayton leads at 8,183 fans per game, while Beloit is last at 788.

Five of the top six in attendance are from the Eastern Division, Kane County the exception. A move to the Chicago suburbs from Wausau, Wis., really began the league's serious shift east and to larger markets.

Fort Wayne joined in 1993, moving from Kenosha, Wis., while West Michigan came aboard in 1994, relocating from Madison, Wis. Then it was Lansing in 1996 (from Springfield, Ill.) and Dayton in 2000 (from Rockford, Ill).

A franchise in Battle Creek, Mich., moved further east to Midland, Mich. and became the Great Lakes Loons. In 2010, Minor League Baseball moved the Bowling Green (Ky.) Hot Rods and Lake County (Ohio) Captains from the South Atlantic League to the Midwest League for travel reasons.

For that same reason, interleague play between the divisions is limited to 24 total games. Each Western Division team hosts four Eastern Division teams for a three-game series and plays the other four teams on the road.

In case you were wondering, the longest trip in the league is from Bowling Green to Appleton, Wisconsin (600 miles).

'We're all in it to promote baseball and promote our cities,' Seyfer said. 'Between organizations, there really isn't any rivalry. It's just the love of baseball, and the opportunity to put on baseball in each of our cities. When I'm at the Midwest League meetings, it's old-home week. It's great to see other people. Everybody works together.'

Some 25 to 30 years ago, the Kernels competed annually for the Midwest League's best attendance but ranked just 13th after the first half of this season at 2,074 per game. According to numbers the club put together, Cedar Rapids has the 14th-largest market in the league now, though, only ahead of Burlington and Clinton.

That, in a nutshell, is how different the MWL has become. In fact, Burlington has the smallest market in all of full-season minor-league baseball (144,000) but ranks second in the league to Fort Wayne when it comes to averaging out yearly attendance to market population.

'As we've grown to the east, you've seen much bigger markets. Which is fine because it has helped grow the league,' said Burlington General Manager Chuck Brockett. 'You look at it that way, and we're not competing with the other clubs at all, really. We're competing with ourselves. And as far as the talent on the field, it's the same.'

'Is it a dauting task for us to remain in business? Not really,' said Clinton General Manager Ted Tornow. 'We're proud to be the last original Midwest League franchise, to survive the test of time.'

As Brockett pointed out, major league organizations provide players for each of the MWL's clubs, so there is no competitive advantage or disadvantage there. For instance, Clinton (a Seattle Mariners affiliate) has wrapped up a postseason spot via a strong first half.

It will be extremely interesting to see the future of the MWL's small-market clubs, such as the LumberKings, as the national contract between Minor League Baseball and Major League Baseball expires in 2020. MLB has minimum standards for everything from outfield-fence distances to lighting quality to locker room size.

Right now, each city with a MiLB team is guaranteed a team through 2020, regardless of if they do or don't meet every ballpark specification.

Will the new agreement change that? Will a Clinton or a Burlington — or a Cedar Rapids, for that matter — ever be forced to move?

'I'd like to think things will remain status quo,' said Tornow. 'I know we're planning on being around. I definitely think there will be some sort of an agreement. We've been a really good partner for how many years now, and we'll continue to be for 'x' number of years ahead.'

'Minor league baseball is the heart and soul of major league baseball,' Seyfer said. 'There are 160-some cities involved. It has been here a long time, and I hope it continues well past my time.'

l Comments: (319) 398-8259; jeff.johnson@thegazette.com