| Erie SeaWolves Founded in 1989 Erie, Pennsylvania |
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| Class-level | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current | Double-A (1999–Present) | ||||
| Previous | Short-Season A (1989–1998) | ||||
| Minor league affiliations | |||||
| League | Eastern League (1999-Present) | ||||
| Division | Western Division | ||||
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Previous leagues
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New York–Penn League (1989–1998) | ||||
| Major league affiliations | |||||
| Current | Detroit Tigers (2001–Present) | ||||
| Previous |
Anaheim Angels (1999–2000) Pittsburgh Pirates (1989–1998) |
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| Minor league titles | |||||
| Division titles (4) |
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| Team data | |||||
| Nickname | Erie SeaWolves (1995–Present) | ||||
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Previous names
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Welland Pirates (1989–1994) | ||||
| Colors | Black, red, white, gray, yellow |
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| Ballpark | Jerry Uht Park (1995-Present) | ||||
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Previous parks
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Welland Stadium (1989–1994) | ||||
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Owner(s)/
Operator(s) |
Fernando Aguirre | ||||
| Manager | Lance Parrish | ||||
| General Manager | Greg Coleman | ||||
| Media | Erie Times-News | ||||
The Erie SeaWolves are a Minor League Baseball team based in Erie, Pennsylvania. They play in the Eastern League as the Double-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. The "SeaWolves" name refers to Erie's location along Lake Erie and their original affiliation with the Pittsburgh Pirates, especially since the term "sea wolf" is a historical synonym of "pirate."[1] The team plays at downtown Erie's Jerry Uht Park, which opened in 1995 and is part of the Louis J. Tullio Plaza along with Erie Insurance Arena and the Warner Theatre.
The SeaWolves' first game at Jerry Uht Park happened on June 20, 1995 with an Erie win over the Jamestown Jammers. José Guillén, now a Major League Baseball alumnus, hit the decisive home-run for the team.[2]
Contents
History[edit]
The Erie SeaWolves were founded in 1989 in Welland, Ontario as the Welland Pirates as a member of the Short-Season New York–Penn League. The team played at Welland Stadium from 1989 to 1994 and were affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates. When the Welland Pirates relocated to Erie, Pennsylvania in 1995, they were renamed the "Erie SeaWolves." The relocation of the team from Welland to Erie forced the Frontier League incarnation of the Erie Sailors to relocate to Johnstown, Pennsylvania where they became the Johnstown Steal (this team is now known as the Florence Freedom, based in Florence, Kentucky). Before that, there was another team called the Erie Sailors which played in the New York - Penn League. However, they relocated to Wappingers Falls, New York (becoming the Hudson Valley Renegades) because the team's owner Marvin Goldklang did not upgrade Ainsworth Field to Major League Baseball specifications. Once the civic government secured an $8 million grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to build Jerry Uht Park, the Welland Pirates moved to Erie.[3] While Erie lacked affiliated baseball in 1994, the city fielded a new independent baseball franchise in the Frontier League and reused the "Sailors" name. The SeaWolves succeed various Erie-based baseball franchises, namely every version of the Erie Sailors (the New York–Penn League franchise was also known as the Erie Orioles) and the Erie Cardinals (now known as the State College Spikes).
The SeaWolves served as a Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate from 1995 to 1998. In 1999, the Double-A Eastern League added two expansion franchises, with Erie gaining one of them. The team joined the Eastern League after it moved up from the Short-Season A level to the Double-A level. Therefore, the current SeaWolves organization is considered a continuation of the former one even though it changed classes. Minor League Baseball allowed Erie to keep their New York–Penn League records and history as a member of the Eastern League. Subsequently, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers replaced them in the New York-Penn League, which is officially considered an expansion franchise rather than a continuation of the SeaWolves.
The SeaWolves became an affiliate of the Anaheim Angels after moving to the Double-A level. The team switched to the Detroit Tigers in 2001, with whom they continue to be affiliated.
Ownership[edit]
When the SeaWolves began play in Erie in 1995, the team was owned by Palisades Baseball. In 2003, Palisades sold the team to Mandalay Baseball Properties, the owner of multiple Minor League Baseball teams including the Dayton Dragons and Frisco Roughriders. On March 27, 2015, Fernando Aguirre was introduced as the owner of the SeaWolves. Aguirre, the retired CEO and Chairman of Chiquita Brands International, purchased the team from Mandalay Baseball Properties for an undisclosed amount and announced his intent to keep the team in Erie.[4]
Logos and uniforms[edit]
The Erie SeaWolves' primary colors are black, red, yellow, gray and white. The primary logo comprises a stylized "pirate wolf" superimposed over two crossed baseball bats complete with sword hilts. Centered above it is the "Erie SeaWolves" wordmark in white, black, and yellow. The team also has various alternate logos, most of which derive from elements included in the primary logo. However, a distinctive one similar to secondary marks by the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers features a weathered black flag on a "sword-bat" with a red "E" on it. This logo alludes to the city of Erie's reputation as the "Flagship City," a reference to the USS Flagship Niagara that Oliver Hazard Perry commandeered during his 1813 victory over the British Royal Navy in the Battle of Lake Erie.[5]
The home uniforms include an all-black cap complete with the "pirate wolf" logo and white jerseys featuring black piping. The "SeaWolves" wordmark is centered across the front in black letters with red outline and the "sword-bat" logo on the left sleeve. The away uniforms feature a gray jersey with black piping, the "Erie" wordmark in red with black outline, and the "sword-bat" logo on the right sleeve. The alternate jersey is red with black piping and includes the "Erie" wordmark in white with black outline. The "pirate wolf" logo is centered on the left sleeve.[5]
When the Erie SeaWolves debuted as a New York-Penn League team in 1995, their original colors were Columbia blue, black, and orange. However, their primary logo looked much like the one the team used from 2001 through 2012. The SeaWolves caps from 1995 to 1998 were Columbia blue with black brims and buttons, charged with the "pirate wolf" and crossed-bats logo. The home uniforms featured Columbia blue pinstripes with the "SeaWolves" workmark centered across the front of the jersey in orange script with black outline and the "pirate wolf" logo located below it. The numbers were Columbia blue with black outline, both on the left sleeve and on the reverse. The away jersey was gray with the "Erie" workmark in orange with black outline, also featuring the "pirate wolf" logo offset below. The numbers were of a similar arrangement. The alternate jersey was Columbia blue with the "pirate wolf" logo centered on the left-side chest with black numbers on the back with white outline.
When the team graduated to Double-A ball and affiliated with the Angels, they adopted a navy blue, dark red, and gray arrangement. The logo during this period featured a sailing wolf with other maritime-themed elements. The caps were navy blue with gray brims, branded with a stylized wolf-head howling at a yellow moon. The home jersey featured navy blue piping and the "SeaWolves" wordmark in dark red with navy blue and white outline and the "howling wolf" logo on the left sleeve. The away jersey was gray, also with navy blue piping and the "howling wolf" logo on the left sleeve. The "Erie" wordmark was centered on the jersey in dark red with navy blue dropshadow. The numbers on the reverse were similar.
From 2001 to 2012, the Erie SeaWolves used a modified version of their original "pirate wolf" logo but with black and orange as the primary colors. The home cap was black charged with the "pirate wolf" logo. The home uniform from 2001 to 2011 featured white home jerseys with black pinstripes and the "SeaWolves" wordmark in black letters with orange dropshadow. The away jerseys originally featured the "Erie" wordmark in orange block letters with black dropshadow. In 2012, the SeaWolves changed to vintage white home uniforms with black and orange trim and the previous "SeaWolves" wordmark. The away jersey were gray with a stylized "Erie" wordmark in orange with white and black trim. There was also two alternate jerseys: 1) A black one with orange piping charged with the "pirate wolf" logo. 2) An orange one with black paneling featuring the "Wolves" wordmark in black with white dropshadow.[6]
Culture[edit]
Mascots[edit]
The Erie SeaWolves' official mascot is an anthropomorphic, gray canidae named C. Wolf. He wears the team's official red alternate jersey with a pirate hat, a red and white bandana, and an eye patch. His friends include Paws (the Detroit Tigers' official mascot) as well as three anthropomorphic sausages from an Erie sausage manufacturer named Smith's Provisions: Kenny Kielbasa, Herbie Hot Dog, and Santino the Italian Sausage.[7] In 2012, the SeaWolves introduced a new mascot named Perry (presumably after Oliver Hazard Perry), a nine-foot inflatable fish, to work alongside C. Wolf. The name was decided by a fan poll.[8]
Promotions[edit]
"Buck Night" is a highly celebrated promotion by the Erie SeaWolves at Jerry Uht Park. It is held several times each season, allowing fans who have paid for reserved seats to purchase specified food items for only $1.00 each.[9] The menu includes hot dogs, popcorn, soft drinks, and American-made beer.[10]
Community Service[edit]
The Erie SeaWolves engage in many philanthropic efforts throughout Erie and its surrounding communities. Key team initiatives include UPMC Health Plan Paint the Park Pink Weekend to benefit local cancer charities, Northwest Savings Bank Gloves for Kids equipment drive, and Sensory-Friendly Day at the Ballpark in partnership with the Autism Society of Northwest Pennsylvania. The team also sponsors youth sports and education programs through the SeaWolves Community Fund. On September 16, 2015, the Erie SeaWolves earned the Erie Times-News Commitment to Erie Award for community service by a business with 50 or fewer employees.[11]
Season-by-season results[edit]
Season results in New York–Penn League[edit]
Regular season[edit]
| Welland Pirates – 1989 to 1994 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Affiliation | Manager | Record | |
| 1989 | Pirates | U.L. Washington | 32-44, 5th place Stedler | |
| 1990 | Pirates | Jack Lind | 36-42, 3rd place Stedler | |
| 1991 | Pirates | Lee Driggers | 30-47, 6th place Stedler | |
| 1992 | Pirates | Trent Jewett | 31-46, 6th place Stedler | |
| 1993 | Pirates | Larry Smith | 35-42, 5th place Stedler | |
| 1994 | Pirates | Jeff Banister | 30-44, 4th place Stedler | |
| Erie SeaWolves – 1995 to 1998 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Affiliation | Manager | Record | |
| 1995 | Pirates | Scott Little | 34-41, 3rd place Stedler | |
| 1996 | Pirates | Jeff Richardson | 30-46, 4th place Stedler | |
| 1997 | Pirates | Marty Brown | 50-26, 1st place Stedler | |
| 1998 | Pirates | Tracy Woodson | 26-50, 4th place Stedler | |
Postseason[edit]
- 1997: Lost to Pittsfield Mets, 2 games to 0, in opening round
Season results in Eastern League[edit]
Regular season[edit]
| Erie SeaWolves – 1999 to 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Affiliation | Manager | Record | |
| 1999 | Angels | Garry Templeton | 81-61, 1st place South | |
| 2000 | Angels | Don Wakamatsu | 47-94, 6th place South | |
| 2001 | Tigers | Luis Pujols | 84-58, 1st place South | |
| 2002 | Tigers | Kevin Bradshaw | 52-89, 6th place South | |
| 2003 | Tigers | Kevin Bradshaw | 72-70, 3rd place South | |
| 2004 | Tigers | Rick Sweet | 80-62, 2nd place South | |
| 2005 | Tigers | Duffy Dyer | 63-79, 6th place South | |
| 2006 | Tigers | Duffy Dyer | 60-81, 6th place South | |
| 2007 | Tigers | Matt Walbeck | 81–59, 1st place South | |
| 2008 | Tigers | Tom Brookens | 68–74, 4th place South | |
| 2009 | Tigers | Tom Brookens | 71-70, 4th place South | |
| 2010 | Tigers | Phil Nevin | 66-76, 6th place West | |
| 2011 | Tigers | Chris Cron | 67-75, 5th place West | |
| 2012 | Tigers | Chris Cron | 57-84, 6th place West | |
| 2013 | Tigers | Chris Cron | 76-66, 2nd place West | |
| 2014 | Tigers | Lance Parrish | 71-71, 4th place West | |
| 2015 | Tigers | Lance Parrish | 64-78, 6th place West | |
Postseason[edit]
- 1999: Lost to Harrisburg Senators, 3 games to 1, in opening round
- 2001: Lost to Reading Phillies, 3 games to 1, in opening round
- 2004: Lost to Altoona Curve, 3 games to 0, in opening round
- 2007: Lost to Akron Aeros, 3 games to 1, in opening round
- 2013: Lost to Harrisburg Senators, 3 games to 1, in opening round
Current roster[edit]
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Erie SeaWolves roster
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| Players | Coaches/Other | |||
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Pitchers
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Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
Designated Hitter
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Manager Coaches
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Alumni[edit]
Retired numbers[edit]
 |
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| Sam Jethroe | Jackie Robinson |
| CF Retired by the Erie SeaWolves on June 6, 2005 |
2B Retired throughout professional baseball on April 15, 1997 |
References[edit]
- ^ "Sea wolf". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 2012-11-23.
- ^ "Jerry Uth Park". Erie County Convention Center Authority. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
- ^ "Erie SeaWolves relocation rumor rises anew" (PDF). Erie Times-News. Retrieved 2012-09-12.
- ^ http://www.goerie.com/article/20150328/BASEBALL01/303279824/businessman-aguirre-buys-seawolves-plans-to-keep-team-in-erie
- ^ a b "Double-A Erie updates nautical logo". MiLB.com. Retrieved 2012-11-23.
- ^ "Erie SeaWolves make first uniform change since 2001". Erie Times-News. Retrieved 2012-11-23.
- ^ "C-Wolf to welcome sidekick other new attractions at Erie SeaWolves home opener". Erie SeaWolves. Retrieved 2012-09-04.
- ^ "C-Wolf to welcome sidekick other new attractions at Erie SeaWolves home opener". Erie Times-News. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
- ^ "Buck Night Package". Erie SeaWolves. Retrieved 2012-11-23.
- ^ "Erie SnapShot: Having fun for less at the Erie SeaWolves’ Buck Night". Erie Times-News. Retrieved 2012-11-23.
- ^ http://www.goerie.com/smith-provision-waldameer-among-honorees-at-2015-commitment-to-erie-awards
External links[edit]
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