Midwest League 1994

Summary

• Midwest League Champion: Cedar Rapids Kernels (Angels)
• Team with Best Won/Lost Record: Rockford Royals (Royals) 89-50, .640
• Most Valuable Player: Sal Fasano (Rockford/Royals)
• Prospect of the Year: Alex Rodriguez (Appleton/Mariners)
• Manager of the Year: John Mizerock (Rockford/Royals)

• League Attendance: 2,469,999
  • 14 teams in two divisions played a 140 game, split-season schedule.
  • The MWL had teams in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

Overview

Composite Record for Each Team

                Nickname        Affiliate    Won Lost  Pct (Rank)
Appleton        Foxes           Mariners     75  64   .540  (4)
Beloit          Snappers        Brewers      76  64   .543  (3)
Burlington      Bees            Expos        55  82   .401 (14)
Cedar Rapids    Kernels         Angels       77  62   .554  (2)
Clinton         LumberKings     Giants       57  82   .410 (13)
Fort Wayne      Wizards         Twins        66  73   .475 (10T)
Kane County     Cougars         Marlins      71  68   .511  (7)
Madison         Hatters         Cardinals    66  73   .475 (10T)
Peoria          Chiefs          Cubs         68  70   .493  (9)
Quad City       River Bandits   Astros       57  81   .413 (12)
Rockford        Royals          Royals       89  50   .640  (1)
South Bend      Silver Hawks    White Sox    72  67   .518  (6)
Springfield     Sultans         Padres       69  71   .493  (8)
West Michigan   Whitecaps       Athletics    74  65   .532  (5)

First Half

North         W  L   Pct  GB   South        W  L   Pct  GB
Rockford      44 25 .638  ---  Springfield  38 32 .543  ---
Appleton      39 30 .565  5.0  Madison      37 33 .529  1.0
South Bend    38 31 .551  6.0  Peoria       34 35 .493  3.5
Kane County   37 32 .536  7.0  Cedar Rapids 31 38 .449  6.5
Beloit        36 34 .514  8.5  Quad City    29 39 .426  8.0
West Michigan 34 35 .493 10.0  Clinton      28 41 .406  9.5
Fort Wayne    33 36 .478 11.0  Burlington   25 42 .373 11.5

First half ended on June 18.

Second Half

North         W  L   Pct  GB   South        W  L   Pct  GB
Rockford      45 25 .643  ---  Cedar Rapids 46 24 .657  ---
West Michigan 40 30 .571  5.0  Peoria       34 35 .493 11.5
Beloit        40 30 .571  5.0  Springfield  31 39 .443 15.0
Appleton      36 34 .514  9.0  Burlington   30 40 .429 16.0
South Bend    34 36 .486 11.0  Madison      29 40 .420 16.5
Kane County   34 36 .486 11.0  Clinton      29 41 .414 17.0
Fort Wayne    33 37 .471 12.0  Quad City    28 42 .400 18.0

1994 Post Season

Round 1:
Rockford d. West Michigan, 2-0
Cedar Rapids d. Springfield, 2-0

Championship:
Cedar Rapids d. Rockford, 3-1

1994 All Star Game

June 20 @ Fort Wayne, Indiana
South 3, North 2

          South             000 201 000 - 3 9 ?
          North             002 000 000 - 2 9 ?

WP: Greg Bobbit (Peoria/Cubs)
LP: Jim Cole (Beloit/Brewers)
MVP: Bobby Henley (Burlington/Expos)

Box Score and Details

MWL changes during the 1993-94 off-season

Franchise changes

• Clinton LumberKings changed name (from Giants).
• Madison Hatters moved (from Springfield) and changed names (from Cardinals).
• South Bend Silver Hawks changed name (from White Sox).
• Sultans of Springfield moved (from Waterloo) and changed name (from Diamonds). This move occurred in April, shortly before the season began.
• West Michigan Whitecaps moved (from Madison) and changed name (from Muskies).

Other highlights

West Michigan's Old Kent Park was new.

Sources:

• USA Today Baseball Weekly
• Baseball America
• Baseball America's 1995 Almanac
• Carrie Packard (Clinton assistant GM)
• Branson White's Rookie Season
• 1995 Midwest League Yearbook
• 1994 & 1995 Programs/Yearbooks:
  • 1994 Madison Hatters
  • 1994 & 1995 South Bend Silver Hawks
  • 1994 & 1995 West Michigan Whitecaps
  • 1994 & 1995 Peoria Chiefs
  • 1994 & 1995 Cedar Rapids Kernels
  • 1994 & 1995 Kane County Cougars
  • 1994 & 1995 Burlington Bees
  • 1994 Fort Wayne Wizards
  • 1994 Appleton Foxes
  • 1995 Rockford Cubbies
  • 1995 Clinton LumberKings
  • 1995 Sultans of Springfield
  • 1995 Michigan Battle Cats