Midwest League 1980

Summary

• Midwest League Champion: Waterloo Indians (Indians)
• Team with Best Won/Lost Record: Waterloo Indians (Indians) 86/55, .610
• Most Valuable Player: Von Hayes (Waterloo/Indians)
• Prospect of the Year: Von Hayes (Waterloo/Indians)
• Manager of the Year: Rich Stelmaszek (Wisconsin Rapids/Twins)

• League Attendance: 529,603
  • 8 teams in two divisions played a 142 game, split-season schedule which began on April 11 and ended on September 1. A two-tier post-season playoff determined the league champion.
  • The MWL had teams in Iowa and Wisconsin.

Overview

Composite 1980 Won/Lost Record for Each Team

                 Nickname   Affiliate Won Lost  Pct (Rank)
Appleton         Foxes      White Sox  76  63  .547  (2)
Burlington       Bees       Brewers    70  72  .493  (5)
Cedar Rapids     Reds       Reds       59  81  .421  (7)
Clinton          Giants     Giants     62  79  .440  (6)
Quad City        Cubs       Cubs       74  65  .532  (4)
Waterloo         Indians    Indians    86  55  .610  (1)
Wausau           Timbers    Coop       57  82  .410  (8)
Wisconsin Rapids Twins      Twins      77  64  .546  (3)

First Half

Northern Division  W  L   Pct  GB    Southern Division  W  L   Pct  GB
Waterloo           48 23 .676  ---   Quad City          39 32 .549  ---
Wausau             34 36 .486 13.5   Cedar Rapids       34 36 .486  4.5
Appleton           34 37 .479 14.0   Burlington         32 39 .451  7.0
Wisconsin Rapids   32 39 .451 16.0   Clinton            30 41 .423  9.0

First half ended on June 22.

Second Half

Northern Division  W  L   Pct  GB    Southern Division  W  L   Pct  GB
Wisconsin Rapids   45 25 .643  ---   Burlington         38 33 .535  ---
Appleton           42 26 .618  2.0   Quad City          35 33 .515  1.5
Waterloo           38 32 .543  7.0   Clinton            32 38 .457  5.5
Wausau             23 46 .333 21.5   Cedar Rapids       25 45 .357 12.5

1980 Post Season

Round 1:
Waterloo d. Wisconsin Rapids, 2-1
Quad City d. Burlington, 2-1

Championship:
Waterloo d. Quad City, 2-1

1980 All Star Game

June 21 @ Davenport, IA
North 6, South 1

          North             000 140 100 - 6 13 ?
          South             100 000 000 - 1  3 ?

WP: Edwin Nunez (Wausau/Mariners)
LP: Richard Renwick (Quad City/Cubs)
MVP: none selected

Box Score and Details

1980 League Changes

Sources

• Lloyd Johnson & Miles Wolff, Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Durham: Baseball America, 2007)
• 1981 Sporting News Guide
• 1980 Baseball Blue Book
• 1989 Midwest League Record Book
• 1981 Midwest League Media Guide
• 1995 Midwest League Yearbook
• The Baseball Cube
• 1980 & 1981 Programs/Yearbooks:
  • 1980 Cedar Rapids Reds
  • 1980 Burlington Bees
  • 1980 & 1981 Waterloo Indians
  • 1980 & 1981 Appleton Foxes
  • 1981 Wausau Timbers