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{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Short description|Defunct professional baseball team in Traverse City, Michigan}}
{{Infobox baseball team
{{Infobox baseball team
|name = Traverse City Beach Bums
|name = Traverse City Beach Bums
|founded = [[1995 in baseball|1995]]
|founded = [[2006 in baseball|2006]]
|folded = [[2018 in baseball|2018]]
|folded = [[2018 in baseball|2018]]
|city = [[Blair Township, Michigan]]
|city = [[Blair Township, Michigan]]
Line 11: Line 13:
|former_leagues =
|former_leagues =
|former_names = {{plainlist|
|former_names = {{plainlist|
* Richmond Roosters
* [[Richmond Roosters]]
}}
}}
|nicknames =
|nicknames =
Line 18: Line 20:
|colors = Navy blue, gold, white<br />{{color box|#001E4C}} {{color box|#FFD700}} {{color box|white}}
|colors = Navy blue, gold, white<br />{{color box|#001E4C}} {{color box|#FFD700}} {{color box|white}}
|former_ballparks =
|former_ballparks =
|league_champs = 3 (2001, 2002, 2015)
|league_champs = 1 (2015)
|division_champs = 2 (1996, 2012)
|division_champs = 1 (2012)
}}
}}


The '''Traverse City Beach Bums''' were a professional baseball team based in the [[Traverse City, Michigan]] suburb of [[Blair Township, Michigan|Blair Township]] from 2006-2018. The Beach Bums played in the independent [[Frontier League]], which is not affiliated with [[Major League Baseball]].
The '''Traverse City Beach Bums''' were a professional [[baseball team]] based in the [[Traverse City, Michigan]] suburb of [[Blair Township, Michigan|Blair Township]] from 2006-2018. The Beach Bums played in the independent [[Frontier League]].


The Beach Bums were established in 2006 when the '''Richmond Roosters''' franchise was purchased and moved from [[Richmond, Indiana]]. The Roosters had began play in the third season of the Frontier League and existed from 1995-2005. The Beach Bums played their home games at [[Wuerfel Park]] in Traverse City, named for then owners John and Leslye Weurful. The Roosters played at [[Don McBride Stadium]] in Richmond.
The Beach Bums were established in 2006 when the [[Richmond Roosters]] franchise was purchased and moved from [[Richmond, Indiana]]. The Roosters had begun playing in the third season of the Frontier League and existed from 1995-2005. The Beach Bums played their home games at [[Wuerfel Park]] in Traverse City, named for then owners John and Leslye Wuerfel. The Roosters played at [[Don McBride Stadium]] in Richmond.


In 2018, the franchise team was sold to the owners of the [[Midwest League]] [[West Michigan Whitecaps]] who folded the Frontier League affiliation and launched a new team in the [[Northwoods League]], the [[Traverse City Pit Spitters]].<ref name="Shifts">{{cite news |title=Traverse City to Northwoods League |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2018/09/26/traverse-city-shifts-to-northwoods-league/ |accessdate=September 30, 2018 |work=Ballpark Digest |publisher=August Publications |date=September 26, 2018}}</ref>
In 2018, the franchise was sold to the owners of the [[Midwest League]] [[West Michigan Whitecaps]] who folded the Frontier League affiliation and launched a new team in the [[Northwoods League]], the [[Traverse City Pit Spitters]].<ref name="Shifts">{{cite news |title=Traverse City Shifts to Northwoods League |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2018/09/26/traverse-city-shifts-to-northwoods-league/ |access-date=September 30, 2018 |work=Ballpark Digest |publisher=August Publications |date=September 26, 2018}}</ref>


The franchise is represented in the Frontier League Hall of Fame by Richmond player-manager Fran Riordan, Richmond part-owner Duke Ward, along with Roosters players first-basemen [[Morgan Burkhart]], pitcher Matt Schweitzer, outfielder Pete Pirman, pitcher Bobby Chandler and Beach Bums pitcher Scott Dunn.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://frontierleague.com/hall-of-fame/|title=Hall of Fame – Frontier League}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pal-item.com/story/sports/2018/07/10/former-roosters-owner-duke-ward-enter-frontier-league-hall-fame/772236002/|title=Former Richmond Roosters co-owner Duke Ward to enter Frontier League Hall of Fame|first=Jesus|last=Jimenez|website=Palladium-Item}}</ref>
The team is represented in the Frontier League Hall of Fame by pitcher Scott Dunn and first baseman Chase Burch.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://frontierleague.com/hall-of-fame/ |title=Hall of Fame |website=Frontier League |access-date=November 28, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.pal-item.com/story/sports/2018/07/10/former-roosters-owner-duke-ward-enter-frontier-league-hall-fame/772236002/ |title=Former Richmond Roosters co-owner Duke Ward to enter Frontier League Hall of Fame |first=Jesus |last=Jimenez |newspaper=[[Palladium-Item]] |date=July 10, 2018}}</ref>


==Richmond Roosters==
==Richmond Roosters==


The Richmond Roosters returned professional baseball to Richmond, Indiana in 1995, with the last professional team being the class D Richmond Tigers of the [[Ohio-Indiana League]], a [[Detroit Tigers]] affiliate, which folded in 1951.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/t-rt14086|title=Richmond Tigers minor league baseball Statistics and Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref> The team played at the historic McBride Stadium, which opened in 1936.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pal-item.com/story/sports/2016/06/11/mcbride-stadium-80-years-history/85584568/|title=McBride Stadium: 80 years of history|first=Josh|last=Chapin|website=Palladium-Item}}</ref>
The Richmond Roosters joined the Frontier League in 1995, and played at the historic McBride Stadium, which opened in 1936.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.pal-item.com/story/sports/2016/06/11/mcbride-stadium-80-years-history/85584568/ |title=McBride Stadium: 80 years of history |first=Josh |last=Chapin |newspaper=[[Palladium-Item]] |location=[[Richmond, Indiana]] |date=June 11, 2016}}</ref>


The Roosters were led in the 1995 season by [[Morgan Burkhart]], who would become the second Frontier League player to make a [[Major League Baseball]] team when he joined the [[Boston Red Sox]] in 2000. [[Brian Tollberg]] of the [[Chillicothe Paints]] was the first league alumnus to make the majors, beating Burkhart by a week in the 2000 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/commissioner-bill-lees-legacy-lives-on-in-frontier-league-after-retiring/|title=Commissioner Bill Lee's Legacy Lives On In Frontier League After Retiring|first=J. J.|last=Cooper|website=www.baseballamerica.com}}</ref> Burkhart won three league Frontier League MVP awards (1995-1997) and the league MVP award is now named after him.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://frontierleague.com/league-history/|title=League History – Frontier League}}</ref>
The Roosters were led in the 1995 season by [[Morgan Burkhart]], who would become the second Frontier League player to make a [[Major League Baseball]] team when he joined the [[Boston Red Sox]] in 2000. [[Brian Tollberg]] of the [[Chillicothe Paints]] was the first league alumnus to make the majors, beating Burkhart by a week in the 2000 season.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/commissioner-bill-lees-legacy-lives-on-in-frontier-league-after-retiring/ |title=Commissioner Bill Lee's Legacy Lives On In Frontier League After Retiring |first=J. J. |last=Cooper |website=[[Baseballamerica.com]] |date=May 27, 2021}}</ref> Burkhart won three league Frontier League MVP awards (1995-1997) and the league MVP award is now named after him.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://frontierleague.com/league-history/ |title=League History |website=Frontier League}}</ref>


Richmond won back-to-back Frontier League championships in 2001 and 2002, led by player-manager Fran Riordan. In 2001, the Roosters upset the league-best Paints 2-0 in the best-of-three championship series to capture their first Frontier League title. The team was led by pitcher Steve Carver (10-3, 3.91 ERA), closer Mike Ziroli (1-1, 2.58 ERA, 16 saves), 1B Riordan (.299 BA, 14 HR, 74 RBI) and C-1B Steve Mitrovich (.304 BA, 12 HR, 65 RBI).<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/stats/t-rr14084/y-2001|title=2001 Richmond Roosters minor league baseball Statistics on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref> The team repeated as Frontier League champions in 2002, again upsetting the league-best [[Washington Wild Things]] 3-1 in a best of five series for the title.<ref name="auto1"/> The Roosters were led in 2002 by pitchers Enriques Baca (10-4, 2.87 ERA) and Matt Schweitzer (8-2, 4.29 ERA), Fran Riordan (.314 BA, 11 HR, 81 RBI), and league MVP OF Phil Willingham (.360 BA, 15 HR, 86 RBI, 36 SB).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/stats/t-rr14084/y-2002|title=2002 Richmond Roosters minor league baseball Statistics on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref>
Richmond won back-to-back Frontier League championships in 2001 and 2002, led by player-manager Fran Riordan. In 2001, the Roosters upset the league-best Paints 2-0 in the best-of-three championship series to capture their first Frontier League title.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79458115/palladium-item/|title=Rooster new champions|newspaper=Palladium-Item|date=September 8, 2001|pages=11|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79458234/palladium-item/|title=Roosters|newspaper=Palladium-Item|date=September 8, 2001|pages=13|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The team repeated as Frontier League champions in 2002, again upsetting the league-best [[Washington Wild Things]] 3-1 in a best of five series for the title.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79458537/palladium-item/|title=Roosters champs again|newspaper=Palladium-Item|date=September 8, 2002|pages=23|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79458615/palladium-item/|title=Roosters|newspaper=Palladium-Item|date=September 8, 2002|pages=26|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>


Growth in the Frontier League challenged the small Richmond franchise and the ownership group elected to sell the franchise at the conclusion of the 2005 season.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.pal-item.com/story/sports/2015/07/05/rooster-years-frontier-league-teams-year-home/29748139/|title=The Rooster years: Frontier League team’s 11-year home|first=Jesus|last=Jimenez|website=Palladium-Item}}</ref> <ref name="auto"/>
Growth in the Frontier League challenged the small Richmond franchise and the ownership group elected to sell the franchise at the conclusion of the 2005 season.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.pal-item.com/story/sports/2015/07/05/rooster-years-frontier-league-teams-year-home/29748139/ |title=The Rooster years: Frontier League team's 11-year home |first=Jesus |last=Jimenez |newspaper=[[Palladium-Item]] |location=[[Richmond, Indiana]] |date=July 5, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79458771/palladium-item/|title=Goodbye Roosters|newspaper=Palladium-Item|date=July 1, 2005|pages=1|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The last home game for the Roosters was a 9-3 loss to the [[Evansville Otters]] on September 2, 2005, and the team finished the season on the road with the last Richmond game being a 9-8 road loss to the [[Florence Freedom]] on September 5, 2005.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79459340/palladium-item/|title=Roosters go out with one final loss|newspaper=Palladium-Item|date=September 6, 2005|pages=9|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79459413/palladium-item/|title=Roosters|newspaper=Palladium-Item|date=September 6, 2005|pages=11|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>


==Traverse City Beach Bums==
==Traverse City Beach Bums==


The Beach Bums were Traverse City's first professional baseball team since 1915. Predecessors included the semi-professional Traverse City Hustlers of the 1890s, and the professional Traverse City Resorters (1910-1915).<ref>{{cite news |first=Jeff |last=Peek |url=http://www.record-eagle.com/2006/may/22resorters.htm |title=Hustlers, Resorters, and Beach Bums |newspaper=[[Traverse City Record-Eagle]] |date=May 22, 2006 |archive-url=https://archive.is/20060620042020/http://www.record-eagle.com/2006/may/22resorters.htm |archive-date=June 20, 2006}}</ref> Following the 2004 season, the Frontier League granted a franchise for Traverse City, however the league was not sure whether to consider the team for expansion or relocation. In 2005, the [[Richmond Roosters]] were purchased and moved to Traverse City.
The Beach Bums were Traverse City's first professional baseball team since 1914. Predecessors included the semi-professional Traverse City Hustlers of the 1890s, and the Class D minor league [[Traverse City Resorters]] (1910-1914).<ref>{{cite news |first=Jeff |last=Peek |url=http://www.record-eagle.com/2006/may/22resorters.htm |title=TC has Brief minor league history |newspaper=[[Traverse City Record-Eagle]] |date=May 22, 2006 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20060620042020/http://www.record-eagle.com/2006/may/22resorters.htm |archive-date=June 20, 2006}}</ref> Following the 2004 season, the Frontier League granted a franchise for Traverse City, however the league was not sure whether to consider the team for expansion or relocation. Then, in 2005, the Richmond Roosters were purchased and the franchise moved to Traverse City.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79459712/detroit-free-press/|title=Beach Bums join the party|newspaper=[[Detroit Free Press]]|date=April 2, 2006|pages=41|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>


[[File:Wuerfel Park(home of the Traverse City Beach Bums minor league baseball team).jpg|left|thumb|Wuerfel Park, 2010]]
⚫
With the move and a slow start in Traverse City that led to a 7-year franchise absence from post-season play, the team then established consistency with players such 2012 Frontier League MVP Jose Vargas (.290 BA, 29 HR, 100 RBI). The Beach Bums then added to the franchise championship history in 2015, advancing from a play-in game to take the title in a best of five series sweep, defeating the [[River City Rascals]] 3-0.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-tb15018/y-2015|title=2015 Traverse City Beach Bums minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref> The Bums were led by pitchers Ian MacDougall (10-6, 2.51 ERA), Kramer Champlin (10-6, 2.05 ERA) and Andrew Brockett (3-0, 1.54 ERA, 21 saves), along with 3B Jose Vargas (.314 BA, 10 HR, 51 RBI) and OF Brandon Jacobs (.320 BA, 17 HR, 54 RBI).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/minors/indy/teams/stats.asp?Y=2015&T=12014|title=2015 Traverse City Beach Bums - The Baseball Cube|website=www.thebaseballcube.com}}</ref>


⚫
The move and a slow start in Traverse City led to a 7-year franchise absence from post-season play. The Beach Bums advanced to the 2010 Frontier League championship, dropping the series 3-1 to the [[River City Rascals]]. Enrique Lechuga (10-3, 2.88 ERA), closer Scott Mueller (4-4, 2.04 ERA, 14 saves), and Chase Burch (.299 BA, 19 HR, 88 RBI) paced Traverse City.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/t-tb15018|title=Traverse City Beach Bums minor league baseball Statistics and Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=Statscrew.com|access-date=November 28, 2021}}</ref> The team then established consistency with players such 2012 Frontier League MVP Jose Vargas (.290 BA, 29 HR, 100 RBI) but lost in the division series in 2012 and 2013. The Beach Bums added to the franchise championship history in 2015, advancing from a play-in game to take the title in a best of five series sweep, defeating the [[River City Rascals]] 3-0.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-tb15018/y-2015|title=2015 Traverse City Beach Bums minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=Statscrew.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79459886/st-louis-post-dispatch/|title=Traverse City eliminates Rascals|newspaper=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]|date=September 20, 2015|pages=C002|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The 2015 Bums were led by pitchers Ian MacDougall (10-6, 2.51 ERA), Kramer Champlin (10-6, 2.05 ERA) and Andrew Brockett (3-0, 1.54 ERA, 21 saves), along with 3B Jose Vargas (.314 BA, 10 HR, 51 RBI) and OF Brandon Jacobs (.320 BA, 17 HR, 54 RBI).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/minors/indy/teams/stats.asp?Y=2015&T=12014|title=2015 Traverse City Beach Bums - The Baseball Cube|website=Thebaseballcube.com}}</ref>
⚫
Declining attendance led to the team being sold at the conclusion of the 2018 season to owners of the West Michigan Whitecaps, the franchise left the Frontier League to join the summer collegiate baseball Northwoods League, and the team's name was changed to the Traverse City Pit Spitters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.record-eagle.com/sports/local_sports/top-10-beach-bums-sold-change-leagues-no-6/article_d0ca8fd0-68d7-5bb0-8084-a20498279ee0.html|title=Top 10: Beach Bums sold, change leagues (No. 6)|first=JAMES COOK|last=jcook@record-eagle.com|website=Traverse City Record-Eagle}}</ref> The stadium was renamed to [[Turtle Creek Stadium]] after the sale. The franchise's final Frontier League professional game was a 9-2 loss to the [[Windy City ThunderBolts]], played at Wuerfel Park on August 31, 2018, before 3,142 spectators.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=446510|title=Windy City ThunderBolts vs Traverse City Beach Bums box score|accessdate=27 March 2019}}</ref>

⚫
Declining attendance led to the team being sold at the conclusion of the 2018 season to owners of the West Michigan Whitecaps. The franchise left the Frontier League to join the summer collegiate baseball Northwoods League, and the team's name was changed to the Traverse City Pit Spitters.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.record-eagle.com/sports/local_sports/top-10-beach-bums-sold-change-leagues-no-6/article_d0ca8fd0-68d7-5bb0-8084-a20498279ee0.html|title=Top 10: Beach Bums sold, change leagues (No. 6)|first=James|last=Cook|newspaper=[[Traverse City Record-Eagle]]|date=December 25, 2018}}</ref> The stadium was renamed to [[Turtle Creek Stadium]] after the sale.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/pit-spitters-park-renamed-turtle-creek-stadium-with-new-partnership|title=Pit Spitters Park renamed Turtle Creek Stadium with new partnership|work=[[WPBN-TV]]|date=December 17, 2019}}</ref> The franchise's final Frontier League professional game was an 8-5 win over the [[Windy City ThunderBolts]], played at Wuerfel Park on September 2, 2018, before 2,864 spectators.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=446512 |title=Traverse City Beach Bums vs. Windy City ThunderBolts - Frontier League - boxscore |publisher=Pointstreak Sports Technologies |website=Baseball.pointstreak.com |access-date=June 16, 2023}}</ref>


==Season-by-season records==
==Season-by-season records==

{|class="wikitable" width="90%"
! style="background:#001E4C; color:white;" colspan="5" | Richmond Roosters
|-
! Year !! W-L !! PCT !! Place !! Postseason
|-
|1995||38-32||.543||4th in FL|||
|-
|1996||39-35||.527||1st in FL West||Frontier League Division Series: Lost vs. [[Springfield Capitals]] 2-1
|-
|1997||43-37||.538||2nd in FL West||Frontier League Division Series: Lost vs. [[Evansville Otters]] 2-1
|-
|1998||49-31||.612||2nd in FL West|||
|-
|1999||40-43||.482||4th in FL East|||
|-
|2000||40-43||.482||4th in FL East|||
|-
|2001||49-35||.583||2nd in FL East||Frontier League Division Series: Defeated the [[Dubois County Dragons]] 2-1.<br />
Frontier League Championship Series: Defeated the [[Chillicothe Paints]] 3-0.
|-
|2002||53-31||.631||2nd in FL East||Frontier League Division Series: Defeated the [[Dubois County Dragons]] 2-1.<br />
Frontier League Championship Series: Defeated the [[Washington Wild Things]] 3-1
|-
|2003||50-39||.562||4th in FL East|||
|-
|2004||43-53||.448||5th in FL East|||
|-
|2005||39-56||.415||6th in FL East|||
|-
|'''Totals'''||'''483-435'''||'''.526'''|||||
|-
|'''Playoffs'''||'''12-7'''||'''.632'''||||'''1 Division Title, 4 Playoff Appearances, 2 Championships'''
|-
|}

{|class="wikitable" width="90%"
{|class="wikitable" width="90%"
! style="background:#001E4C; color:white;" colspan="5" | Traverse City Beach Bums
! style="background:#001E4C; color:white;" colspan="5" | Traverse City Beach Bums
Line 102: Line 70:
|2009||42-53||.442||5th in FL East||
|2009||42-53||.442||5th in FL East||
|-
|-
|2010||55-41||.573||2nd in FL East||Frontier League Division Series: Defeated the [[Windy City Thunderbolts]] 3-1.<br />
|2010||55-41||.573||2nd in FL East||bgcolor="#D0E7FF"|League Division Series: Defeated the [[Windy City Thunderbolts]] 3-1<br />Frontier League Championship Series: Lost vs. [[River City Rascals]] 1-3
Frontier League Championship Series: Lost vs. [[River City Rascals]] 1-3
|-
|-
|2011||51-45||.531||3rd in FL East||
|2011||51-45||.531||3rd in FL East||
|-
|-
|2012||64-32||.667||bgcolor="FFEBAD"|1st in FL East||Frontier League Division Series: Lost vs. [[Southern Illinois Miners]] 0-3
|2012||64-32||.667||bgcolor="FFEBAD"|1st in FL East||bgcolor="#D0E7FF"| League Division Series: Lost vs. [[Southern Illinois Miners]] 0-3
|-
|-
|2013
|2013
Line 113: Line 80:
|.573
|.573
|2nd in FL East
|2nd in FL East
|Frontier League Division Series: Lost vs. Lake Erie 2-3
|bgcolor="#D0E7FF"|League Division Series: Lost vs. [[Lake Erie Crushers]] 2-3
|-
|-
|2014
|2014
Line 125: Line 92:
|.596
|.596
|2nd in FL East
|2nd in FL East
|bgcolor="#FFCCCC"| League Play-in Game: Won vs. [[Rockford Aviators]] 5-1<br /> Frontier League Division Series: Won vs. [[Normal CornBelters]] 2-0<br />Frontier League Championship Series: Won vs. [[River City Rascals]] 3-0<br />'''Frontier League Champions'''
|Frontier League Play-in Game: Won vs. Rockford 5-1
Frontier League Division Series: Won vs. Normal 2-0

Frontier League Championship Series: Won vs. River City 3-0
|-
|-
|2016
|2016
Line 150: Line 114:
|'''Totals'''||'''615-573'''||.'''518'''|||||
|'''Totals'''||'''615-573'''||.'''518'''|||||
|-
|-
|'''Playoffs'''||'''12-9'''||'''.571'''||||'''4 Playoff Appearances'''
|'''Playoffs'''||'''12-9'''||'''.571'''||||'''1 Division Title, 4 Playoff Appearances, 1 Championship'''
|-
|-
|}
|}

Latest revision as of 21:52, 23 June 2023

Traverse City Beach Bums
Team logo Cap insignia
Information
LeagueFrontier League
LocationBlair Township, Michigan
BallparkWuerfel Park
Founded2006
Folded2018
League championships1 (2015)
Division championships1 (2012)
Former name(s)
ColorsNavy blue, gold, white
     

The Traverse City Beach Bums were a professional baseball team based in the Traverse City, Michigan suburb of Blair Township from 2006-2018. The Beach Bums played in the independent Frontier League.

The Beach Bums were established in 2006 when the Richmond Roosters franchise was purchased and moved from Richmond, Indiana. The Roosters had begun playing in the third season of the Frontier League and existed from 1995-2005. The Beach Bums played their home games at Wuerfel Park in Traverse City, named for then owners John and Leslye Wuerfel. The Roosters played at Don McBride Stadium in Richmond.

In 2018, the franchise was sold to the owners of the Midwest League West Michigan Whitecaps who folded the Frontier League affiliation and launched a new team in the Northwoods League, the Traverse City Pit Spitters.[1]

The team is represented in the Frontier League Hall of Fame by pitcher Scott Dunn and first baseman Chase Burch.[2][3]

Richmond Roosters

[edit]

The Richmond Roosters joined the Frontier League in 1995, and played at the historic McBride Stadium, which opened in 1936.[4]

The Roosters were led in the 1995 season by Morgan Burkhart, who would become the second Frontier League player to make a Major League Baseball team when he joined the Boston Red Sox in 2000. Brian Tollberg of the Chillicothe Paints was the first league alumnus to make the majors, beating Burkhart by a week in the 2000 season.[5] Burkhart won three league Frontier League MVP awards (1995-1997) and the league MVP award is now named after him.[6]

Richmond won back-to-back Frontier League championships in 2001 and 2002, led by player-manager Fran Riordan. In 2001, the Roosters upset the league-best Paints 2-0 in the best-of-three championship series to capture their first Frontier League title.[7][8] The team repeated as Frontier League champions in 2002, again upsetting the league-best Washington Wild Things 3-1 in a best of five series for the title.[9][10]

Growth in the Frontier League challenged the small Richmond franchise and the ownership group elected to sell the franchise at the conclusion of the 2005 season.[11][12] The last home game for the Roosters was a 9-3 loss to the Evansville Otters on September 2, 2005, and the team finished the season on the road with the last Richmond game being a 9-8 road loss to the Florence Freedom on September 5, 2005.[13][14]

Traverse City Beach Bums

[edit]

The Beach Bums were Traverse City's first professional baseball team since 1914. Predecessors included the semi-professional Traverse City Hustlers of the 1890s, and the Class D minor league Traverse City Resorters (1910-1914).[15] Following the 2004 season, the Frontier League granted a franchise for Traverse City, however the league was not sure whether to consider the team for expansion or relocation. Then, in 2005, the Richmond Roosters were purchased and the franchise moved to Traverse City.[16]

Wuerfel Park, 2010

The move and a slow start in Traverse City led to a 7-year franchise absence from post-season play. The Beach Bums advanced to the 2010 Frontier League championship, dropping the series 3-1 to the River City Rascals. Enrique Lechuga (10-3, 2.88 ERA), closer Scott Mueller (4-4, 2.04 ERA, 14 saves), and Chase Burch (.299 BA, 19 HR, 88 RBI) paced Traverse City.[17] The team then established consistency with players such 2012 Frontier League MVP Jose Vargas (.290 BA, 29 HR, 100 RBI) but lost in the division series in 2012 and 2013. The Beach Bums added to the franchise championship history in 2015, advancing from a play-in game to take the title in a best of five series sweep, defeating the River City Rascals 3-0.[18][19] The 2015 Bums were led by pitchers Ian MacDougall (10-6, 2.51 ERA), Kramer Champlin (10-6, 2.05 ERA) and Andrew Brockett (3-0, 1.54 ERA, 21 saves), along with 3B Jose Vargas (.314 BA, 10 HR, 51 RBI) and OF Brandon Jacobs (.320 BA, 17 HR, 54 RBI).[20]

Declining attendance led to the team being sold at the conclusion of the 2018 season to owners of the West Michigan Whitecaps. The franchise left the Frontier League to join the summer collegiate baseball Northwoods League, and the team's name was changed to the Traverse City Pit Spitters.[21] The stadium was renamed to Turtle Creek Stadium after the sale.[22] The franchise's final Frontier League professional game was an 8-5 win over the Windy City ThunderBolts, played at Wuerfel Park on September 2, 2018, before 2,864 spectators.[23]

Season-by-season records

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Traverse City Beach Bums
Year W-L PCT Place Postseason
2006 57-39 .594 3rd in FL East
2007 46-50 .479 4th in FL Central
2008 50-46 .521 2nd in FL East
2009 42-53 .442 5th in FL East
2010 55-41 .573 2nd in FL East League Division Series: Defeated the Windy City Thunderbolts 3-1
Frontier League Championship Series: Lost vs. River City Rascals 1-3
2011 51-45 .531 3rd in FL East
2012 64-32 .667 1st in FL East League Division Series: Lost vs. Southern Illinois Miners 0-3
2013 55-41 .573 2nd in FL East League Division Series: Lost vs. Lake Erie Crushers 2-3
2014 38-58 .396 6th in FL East
2015 56-38 .596 2nd in FL East League Play-in Game: Won vs. Rockford Aviators 5-1
Frontier League Division Series: Won vs. Normal CornBelters 2-0
Frontier League Championship Series: Won vs. River City Rascals 3-0
Frontier League Champions
2016 42-52 .447 4th in FL East
2017 37-59 .385 6th in FL East
2018 44-51 .463 5th in FL East
Totals 615-573 .518
Playoffs 12-9 .571 1 Division Title, 4 Playoff Appearances, 1 Championship

References

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  1. ^ "Traverse City Shifts to Northwoods League". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. September 26, 2018. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  2. ^ "Hall of Fame". Frontier League. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  3. ^ Jimenez, Jesus (July 10, 2018). "Former Richmond Roosters co-owner Duke Ward to enter Frontier League Hall of Fame". Palladium-Item.
  4. ^ Chapin, Josh (June 11, 2016). "McBride Stadium: 80 years of history". Palladium-Item. Richmond, Indiana.
  5. ^ Cooper, J. J. (May 27, 2021). "Commissioner Bill Lee's Legacy Lives On In Frontier League After Retiring". Baseballamerica.com.
  6. ^ "League History". Frontier League.
  7. ^ "Rooster new champions". Palladium-Item. September 8, 2001. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Roosters". Palladium-Item. September 8, 2001. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Roosters champs again". Palladium-Item. September 8, 2002. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Roosters". Palladium-Item. September 8, 2002. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Jimenez, Jesus (July 5, 2015). "The Rooster years: Frontier League team's 11-year home". Palladium-Item. Richmond, Indiana.
  12. ^ "Goodbye Roosters". Palladium-Item. July 1, 2005. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Roosters go out with one final loss". Palladium-Item. September 6, 2005. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Roosters". Palladium-Item. September 6, 2005. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Peek, Jeff (May 22, 2006). "TC has Brief minor league history". Traverse City Record-Eagle. Archived from the original on June 20, 2006.
  16. ^ "Beach Bums join the party". Detroit Free Press. April 2, 2006. p. 41 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Traverse City Beach Bums minor league baseball Statistics and Roster on StatsCrew.com". Statscrew.com. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  18. ^ "2015 Traverse City Beach Bums minor league baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com". Statscrew.com.
  19. ^ "Traverse City eliminates Rascals". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. September 20, 2015. pp. C002 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "2015 Traverse City Beach Bums - The Baseball Cube". Thebaseballcube.com.
  21. ^ Cook, James (December 25, 2018). "Top 10: Beach Bums sold, change leagues (No. 6)". Traverse City Record-Eagle.
  22. ^ "Pit Spitters Park renamed Turtle Creek Stadium with new partnership". WPBN-TV. December 17, 2019.
  23. ^ "Traverse City Beach Bums vs. Windy City ThunderBolts - Frontier League - boxscore". Baseball.pointstreak.com. Pointstreak Sports Technologies. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
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