Baseball in Michigan City, Indiana

Overview

The record of the Midwest League franchise in Michigan City, Indiana.

The League first reached Indiana in 1956, at Michigan City. Oh, to follow a Giants' farm club in the fifties....

Michigan City had few fans, and only limited success. But the Giants sent Manny Mota, Jose Tartabull, and Matty Alou.

And Marichal. The greatest of these is Marichal.

Summary

• Midwest League seasons: 4
• Won/Lost overall: 243/257, .486
• Best season: 69/55, .556 (1958 - 2nd place finish)
• Championship Playoffs Won: none
• Best MWL Won/Lost Record: no seasons

Michigan City joined the Midwest League in 1956. This team was the direct successor of the Hannibal franchise. The franchise failed after the 1959 season and was not replaced. (Although two new franchises joined the league in 1960, neither replaced the teams which folded during the off-season. This is best viewed as a failed expansion attempt.)

Seasonal Results
Other Leagues

Team Names

• Michigan City White Caps, 1956-59

Affiliations

• New York Giants, 1956-57
• San Francisco Giants, 1958-59

Officers, Managers, & Coaches

Ballpark

• Ames Field (new 1936; demolished 1995)
  • This Ames Field is not the current Michigan City football facility, but it was at the same location.

Attendance record

• 48,765 (1956)

Ballparks & Attendance

Best Seasons

• Hitter: Manny Mota (1957) .314, 7 HR, 91 RBI
• Pitcher: Juan Marichal (1958) 1.87, 21 wins, 246 strikeouts

Best Big League Career

• Juan Marichal (1958)

Awards

• 1958
  • Juan Marichal (Rookie of the Year)
  • Buddy Kerr (Manager of the Year)

Michigan City Highlights

Team Records

Hitters

• Batting: Rick Joseph (1959) .320
• Home Runs: John Orsino (1957) 20
• Runs Batted In: Manny Mota (1957) 91

Seasonal Hitting Leaders

Pitchers

• Wins: Juan Marichal (1958) 21
• Won/Lost (10 decisions): Juan Marichal (1958) 21-8, .724
• Earned Run Average: Juan Marichal (1958) 1.87
• Strikeouts: Juan Marichal (1958) 246

Seasonal Pitching Leaders

Notes

This summary originated as the March 10, 2001, Midwest League Tidbit on the Midwest League Mailing List.

Sources

These pages draw heavily on several sources:

• Lloyd Johnson & Miles Wolff, eds, The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Durham: Baseball America, 1997)
• Midwest League Media Guide and Record Book (Beloit: Midwest League, various years; title varies)
• Kevin Saldana, Today in Minor League Baseball History (???: SalFam Books, 1999)
• Baseball America's Almanac (Durham: Baseball America, various years)
• News sources.