| Traverse City Beach Bums | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||
| Minor league affiliations | |||||
| Class | Independent (2006–2018) | ||||
| League | Frontier League (2006–2018) | ||||
| Division |
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| Minor league titles | |||||
| League titles(1) | 2015 | ||||
| Division titles(1) | 2012 | ||||
| Team data | |||||
| Name | Traverse City Beach Bums (2006–2018) | ||||
| Colors | Navy, gold, white, brown, light brown[1] | ||||
| Ballpark | Wuerfel Park (2006–2018) | ||||
Owner(s)/ Operator(s) | John and Leslye Wuerfel | ||||
TheTraverse City Beach Bums were a professionalbaseball team based inChums Corner,Michigan, a southern suburb ofTraverse City. The Beach Bums played in the independentFrontier League. The team played atWuerfel Park.
The Beach Bums were established in 2006 when theRichmond Roosters franchise was purchased and moved fromRichmond, Indiana. In 2018, the franchise was sold to the owners of theWest Michigan Whitecaps who folded the Frontier League affiliation and launched a new team in theNorthwoods League, theTraverse City Pit Spitters.
The Richmond Roosters joined the Frontier League in 1995.[2] Richmond won back-to-back Frontier League championships in 2001 and 2002.[3][4][5][6] The Richmond ownership selected to sell the franchise at the conclusion of the 2005 season.[7][8]
The Beach Bums were Traverse City's first professional baseball team since 1914. Predecessors included the semi-professional Traverse City Hustlers of the 1890s, and the Class D minor leagueTraverse City Resorters (1910-1914).[9] Following the 2004 season, the Frontier League granted a franchise for Traverse City, however the league was not sure whether to consider the team for expansion or relocation. Then, in 2005, the Richmond Roosters were purchased and the franchise moved to Traverse City.[10]
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The move and a slow start in Traverse City led to a 7-year franchise absence from post-season play. The Beach Bums advanced to the 2010 Frontier League championship, dropping the series 3-1 to theRiver City Rascals. Enrique Lechuga (10-3, 2.88 ERA), closer Scott Mueller (4-4, 2.04 ERA, 14 saves), and Chase Burch (.299 BA, 19 HR, 88 RBI) paced Traverse City.[11] The team then established consistency with players such 2012 Frontier League MVP Jose Vargas (.290 BA, 29 HR, 100 RBI) but lost in the division series in 2012 and 2013. The Beach Bums added to the franchise championship history in 2015, advancing from a play-in game to take the title in a best of five series sweep, defeating theRiver City Rascals 3-0.[12][13] The 2015 Bums were led by pitchers Ian MacDougall (10-6, 2.51 ERA), Kramer Champlin (10-6, 2.05 ERA) and Andrew Brockett (3-0, 1.54 ERA, 21 saves), along with 3B Jose Vargas (.314 BA, 10 HR, 51 RBI) and OF Brandon Jacobs (.320 BA, 17 HR, 54 RBI).[14]
Declining attendance led to the team being sold at the conclusion of the 2018 season to owners of theMidwest LeagueWest Michigan Whitecaps. The franchise left the Frontier League to join the summer collegiate baseballNorthwoods League, and the team's name was changed to theTraverse City Pit Spitters.[15][16] The stadium was renamed toTurtle Creek Stadium after the sale.[17] The franchise's final Frontier League professional game was an 8-5 win over theWindy City ThunderBolts, played at Wuerfel Park on September 2, 2018, before 2,864 spectators.[18]
The team is represented in the Frontier League Hall of Fame by pitcher Scott Dunn and first baseman Chase Burch.[19][20]
| Traverse City Beach Bums | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | W-L | PCT | Place | Postseason |
| 2006 | 57-39 | .594 | 3rd in FL East | |
| 2007 | 46-50 | .479 | 4th in FL Central | |
| 2008 | 50-46 | .521 | 2nd in FL East | |
| 2009 | 42-53 | .442 | 5th in FL East | |
| 2010 | 55-41 | .573 | 2nd in FL East | League Division Series: Defeated theWindy City Thunderbolts 3-1 Frontier League Championship Series: Lost vs.River City Rascals 1-3 |
| 2011 | 51-45 | .531 | 3rd in FL East | |
| 2012 | 64-32 | .667 | 1st in FL East | League Division Series: Lost vs.Southern Illinois Miners 0-3 |
| 2013 | 55-41 | .573 | 2nd in FL East | League Division Series: Lost vs.Lake Erie Crushers 2-3 |
| 2014 | 38-58 | .396 | 6th in FL East | |
| 2015 | 56-38 | .596 | 2nd in FL East | League Play-in Game: Won vs.Rockford Aviators 5-1 Frontier League Division Series: Won vs.Normal CornBelters 2-0 Frontier League Championship Series: Won vs.River City Rascals 3-0 Frontier League Champions |
| 2016 | 42-52 | .447 | 4th in FL East | |
| 2017 | 37-59 | .385 | 6th in FL East | |
| 2018 | 44-51 | .463 | 5th in FL East | |
| Totals | 615-573 | .518 | ||
| Playoffs | 12-9 | .571 | 1 Division Title, 4 Playoff Appearances, 1 Championship | |
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