Midwest League 1996

Summary

• Midwest League Champion: West Michigan Whitecaps (Athletics)
• Team with Best Won/Lost Record: Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals) 79-57, .581

• Most Valuable Player: Larry Barnes (Cedar Rapids/Angels)
• Prospect of the Year: Britt Reames (Peoria/Cardinals)
• Manager of the Year: Roy Silver (Peoria/Cardinals)
• Executive of the Year: Scott Lane (General Manager, West Michigan)

• League Attendance: 3,168,632
  • 14 teams in three divisions played a 140 game, split-season schedule which began on April 4 and ended on September 2. A three-tier post-season playoff, which included two wild card selections based on full-season records, determined the league champion.
  • The MWL had teams in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

• Best Big League Career: It will be a few years....

Overview

Composite Record for Each Team

                Nickname        Affiliate    Won Lost  Pct (Rank)
Beloit          Snappers        Brewers      69  67   .507  (6T)
Burlington      Bees            Giants       65  73   .471 (11)
Cedar Rapids    Kernels         Angels       63  72   .467 (12)
Clinton         LumberKings     Padres       64  70   .478 (10)
Fort Wayne      Wizards         Twins        69  67   .507  (6T)
Kane County     Cougars         Marlins      65  68   .489  (9)
Lansing         Lugnuts         Royals       68  71   .489  (8)
Michigan        Battle Cats     Red Sox      60  78   .435 (13)
Peoria          Chiefs          Cardinals    79  57   .581  (1)
Quad City       River Bandits   Astros       70  61   .534  (4)
Rockford        Cubbies         Cubs         70  65   .519  (5)
South Bend      Silver Hawks    White Sox    54  82   .397 (14)
West Michigan   Whitecaps       Athletics    77  61   .558  (3)
Wisconsin       Timber Rattlers Mariners     77  58   .570  (2)

First Half

West         W  L   Pct  GB  Central     W  L   Pct  GB  East          W  L   Pct  GB
Quad City    34 28 .548  --- Wisconsin   46 21 .687  --- West Michigan 38 30 .559  ---
Burlington   34 34 .500  3.0 Peoria      37 29 .561  8.5 Fort Wayne    34 32 .515  3.0
Clinton      31 34 .477  4.5 Kane County 30 33 .476 14.0 South Bend    30 36 .455  7.0
Cedar Rapids 29 38 .433  7.5 Beloit      31 35 .470 14.5 Michigan      31 38 .449  7.5
                             Rockford    30 36 .455 15.5 Lansing       29 40 .420  9.5

First half ended on June 16.

Second Half

West         W  L   Pct  GB  Central     W  L   Pct  GB  East          W  L   Pct  GB
Quad City    36 33 .522  --- Peoria      42 28 .600  --- West Michigan 39 31 .557  ---
Cedar Rapids 34 34 .500  1.5 Rockford    40 29 .580  1.5 Lansing       39 31 .557  ---
Clinton      33 36 .478  3.0 Beloit      38 32 .543  4.0 Fort Wayne    35 35 .500  4.0
Burlington   31 39 .443  5.5 Kane County 35 35 .500  7.0 Michigan      29 40 .420  9.5
                             Wisconsin   31 37 .456 10.0 South Bend    24 46 .343 15.0

1996 Post Season

Round 1:
Quad City d. Cedar Rapids, 2-1
Wisconsin d. Peoria, 2-1
West Michigan d. Lansing, 2-1
Rockford d. Beloit, 2-1

Round 2:
Wisconsin d. Quad City, 2-1
West Michigan d. Rockford, 2-0

Championship:
West Michigan d. Wisconsin, 3-1

1997 All Star Game

June 19 @ Grand Chute, Wisconsin
East 10, West 4

          line score unavailable

WP: Shannon Stephens (Kane County/Marlins)
LP: Valerio de los Santos (Beloit/Brewers)
MVP: Jeff Liefer (South Bend/White Sox)

Box Score and Details

MWL changes during the 1995-96 off-season

League changes

The League adjusted its divisional structure. The Eastern and Central Divisions now had 5 teams, and the Western Division had 4.

Franchise change

• The Sultans of Springfield became the Lansing Lugnuts.

Other highlights

Lansing's Oldmobile Park was new.

West Michigan expanded Old Kent Park.

Sources:

• 1996 Whitecaps Media Guide
• Baseball America's 1997 Almanac
• Joe Hulsebus' MWL Web Page [now sadly retired]
• Lansing State Journal
• USA Today Baseball Weekly
• Baseball America
• National Association WebPage
• Minor League mail list
• 1996 & 1997 Programs/Yearbooks:
  • 1996 & 1997 South Bend Silver Hawks
  • 1996 & 1997 West Michigan Whitecaps
  • 1996 Cedar Rapids Kernels
  • 1996 Clinton LumberKings
  • 1996 & 1997 Michigan Battle Cats
  • 1996 & 1997 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
  • 1996 & 1997 Lansing Lugnuts
  • 1997 Quad City River Bandits
  • 1997 Burlington Bees
  • 1997 Beloit Snappers