The Kenosha Kingfish are a baseball team that plays in the collegiate summer Northwoods League. Based in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the Kingfish play their home games at Simmons Field.
| Kenosha Kingfish | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Information | |
| League | Northwoods League (Great Lakes East 2019-pres) (South Division 2013–2018) |
| Location | Kenosha, Wisconsin |
| Ballpark | Simmons Field |
| Founded | 2013 |
| League championships | 1 (2015) |
| Division championships | 1 (2015) |
| Colors | Lake Michigan Blue, Vintage Cream, King's Gold, Cardinal Red |
| Ownership | Bill Fanning, Mike Zoellner |
| Management | General Manager: Jake McGhee (2013–2016),[1] Rich Marks (2016) Zac Pallissard (2017–2018) Scott Preimesberger (2018-2019) Doug Gole (2019-2020) Ryne Goralski (2020-Present) |
| Manager | J.T. Scara |
| Media | Play-By-Play Broadcaster: Jacob Siciliano Newspaper: Kenosha News |
| Website | Official website |
History
editKenosha has been the home of multiple minor league baseball teams (Kenosha Twins, Kenosha Mammoths, Kenosha Kroakers) prior to the establishment of the Kingfish franchise in 2013. Fans submitted suggestions for the team's name, and the winning suggestion of 'Kingfish' was revealed at the team's launch party on November 23, 2013.[2]
Season summarys
edit2014 (Inaugural Season)
editThe Kingfish opened the 2014 season on the road, and played their first home series at the newly renovated Simmons Field on the weekend of May 31 and June 1. They finished the 2014 season with a 41–30 record in the Northwoods League South Division, narrowly missing the playoffs by half a game.[3]
2015
editThe Kingfish finished 2015 with a regular season record of 48–24.[4] After beating the La Crosse Loggers 7–2 in Game 1 of the Divisional Playoffs[5] and the Madison Mallards 2–1 in a close Game 2,[6] the Kingfish defeated the St. Cloud Rox, in 2 games, to win their first Northwoods League Summer Collegiate World Series.[7]
2016 (All Star Weekend)
editThe Kingfish sat at the bottom of their division for most of the season, finishing 26–46 and 9th (out of 9) in the South Division.[8][9] The Kingfish also held the 2016 NWL All Star Game with the home run derby being on the Kenosha Harbor, leading to Lake Michigan.[10] 2016 was also the Kingfish's highest attendance in a season.
2017
editKenosha started the year as one of the best teams in the Northwoods League South Division accumulating a 28–17 record. But an 8–19 finish to the year had Kenosha with a 36–36 record by the end of the season. They were eliminated from playoff contention following game #71.
2018
editThe Kingfish finished 2018 with a regular season record of 41–31.[11] They made the postseason for the second time in team history, thanks to a 28–10 second half record. However, they were eliminated in Game 1 of the Divisional Playoffs by the Kalamazoo Growlers.[12]
2020 (Battle of Kenosha)
editSince the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the Northwoods League, the Kingfish played 26 games, all at Simmons Field, against the K-Town Bobbers and won the “Battle of Kenosha” trophy.[13]
2023 (10 Seasons)
editThis season was the Kingfish's 10th season in the Northwoods League and the first year the Northwoods League started using MLB's pitch clock rule, to speed up the pace of the game.[14] Kenosha started the year accumulating a 17–16 record. But a 14–25 finish to the year had Kenosha with a 31–41 record by the end of the season. They were eliminated from playoff contention following game #71.
2024
editSimmons Field got a massive renovation, adding a turf playing surface, and a new scoreboard.[15] The Kingfish started the first half of the season with a 16–20 record, second to last in the division. But a 15–21 finish to the year had Kenosha with a 31–41 record by the end of the season. They were eliminated from playoff contention.
Alternate Identities
editThe Kingfish have adopted numerous Identities over the years. Here are the ones they used.
Kenosha Kickers
editThe Kingfish hosted a Home Alone night, which they rebranded to the Kenosha Kickers, a scene from the movie, that included a jersey auction after the game.[16]
Kenosha Twins
editThe Kenosha Twins were a Minor League Baseball team that played in Kenosha, from 1984 to 1992. They began playing in the Midwest League in 1984. The team played their home games at Simmons Field. The Twins won two championships, in 1985 and 1987, and were Northern Division champions for the first half of the 1988 season. In 2024, the Kingfish honored the 40th anniversary of the team moving to Kenosha with a jersey auction at the end of the game.
Kenosha Comets
editThe Kenosha Comets were a women's professional baseball team that played from 1943 through 1951 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. They played their home games at Simmons Field. In 2023, they rebranded as the Comets wearing green jerseys with a white K in the middle and in the hats, a white K, for Kenosha.
Mascot
editKing Elvis the First, an orange fish, is the mascot of the Kingfish. Before home games, he rides an ATV from the left field foul pole. He used to ride a zipline down the left field foul pole to deliver the ball for the first pitch.[17] In 2022, Green Bay Packers player A. J. Dillon went viral for doing an oklahoma drill, knocking out Elvis’ head.[18]
Kingfish in the Pros
editYearly Attendance
edit| Year | Attendance |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 72,838[19] |
| 2015 | 82,019[20] |
| 2016 | 87,991[21] |
| 2017 | 86,291[22] |
| 2018 | 84,482[23] |
| 2019 | 83,176[24] |
| 2020 | 8,255[25] |
| 2021 | 67,529[26] |
| 2022 | 73,946[27] |
| 2023 | 82,350[28] |
| 2024 | 85,153[29] |
References
edit- ^ "Kingfish official to head Boys and Girls Club | News". kenoshanews.com. 2016-03-02. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
- ^ "Hello, My Name is Kingfish…Kenosha Kingfish | Northwoods League". Archived from the original on 2013-11-29. Retrieved 2013-11-29.
- ^ "Northwoods 2014 – Standings". Northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
- ^ "Northwoods 2015 – Standings". northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
- ^ "Kingfish Dispatch Loggers in Game 1 – Kenosha Kingfish : Kenosha Kingfish". Northwoodsleague.com. 2015-08-11. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
- ^ "Brodner Delivers Walk-Off Hit; Kingfish Move on to Summer Collegiate World Series – Kenosha Kingfish : Kenosha Kingfish". Northwoodsleague.com. 2015-08-12. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
- ^ "Kingfish Win Northwoods League Summer Collegiate World Series – Kenosha Kingfish : Kenosha Kingfish". Northwoodsleague.com. 2015-08-15. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
- ^ "Kingfish Fall to Woodchucks in Season Finale – Kenosha Kingfish : Kenosha Kingfish". Northwoodsleague.com. 2016-08-15. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
- ^ "Northwoods 2016 – Standings". Northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
- ^ "Bechina Captures Home Run Derby at the Harbor Title". Kenosha Kingfish. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ "Home - Northwoods League". Retrieved 2023-08-20.
- ^ admin-kenosha (2018-08-14). "Kingfish Season Ends in Playoffs". Kenosha Kingfish. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
- ^ admin-kenosha (2020-06-30). "K-Town Bobbers Aim to Catch Simmons Field Faithful in 2020". Kenosha Kingfish. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ admin-kenosha (2023-05-22). "Kingfish Introduce Improvements for 2023 Season". Kenosha Kingfish. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ "Kingfish announce new scoreboard among further renovations to Historic Simmons Field". Kenosha Kingfish. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
- ^ "Kenosha Kingfish to play as Kenosha Kickers on Home Alone Night". 2024-03-25.
- ^ "Things To Do in Kenosha – Kenosha Kingfish Baseball". Visit Kenosha. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
- ^ "Mascot speaks out after being trucked by AJ Dillon: 'Did not have it at all'". NY Post. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ "Northwoods 2014 – Attendance". Northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
- ^ "Northwoods 2015 – Attendance". Northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
- ^ "Northwoods 2016 – Attendance". Northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
- ^ "Northwoods 2017 – Attendance". Northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com. Retrieved 2018-06-14.
- ^ "Northwoods League – attendance". Pointstreak Sports Technologies. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
- ^ Reichard, Kevin (2019-08-12). "2019 Summer Collegiate Attendance by Total". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
- ^ "Attendance". Northwoods League. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
- ^ Reichard, Kevin (2021-08-23). "2021 summer collegiate attendance by average - Ballpark Digest". Retrieved 2023-08-20.
- ^ Reichard, Kevin (2022-08-15). "2022 summer collegiate attendance by total - Ballpark Digest". Retrieved 2023-08-20.
- ^ Reichard, Kevin (2023-09-05). "2023 summer collegiate attendance by total - Ballpark Digest". Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ Reichard, Kevin (2024-10-28). "2024 summer collegiate attendance by total - Ballpark Digest". Retrieved 2024-10-28.