Tyler Wildcatters

{{More citations needed|date=December 2009}} {{Use American English|date=March 2026}} {{infobox baseball team | name = Tyler WildCatters | logo = Tyler Wildcatters Logo.jpg | founded = 1994 | folded = 1997 | league = Texas–Louisiana League | stadium = Mike Carter Field | city = Tyler, Texas | colors = Teal {{Color box|#008080|border=darkgray}} Black {{Color box|black|border=darkgray}} | general_manager = Lee Smith (1994) Joe Scrivner (1995-96) Mark O’Brien (1996–97) | manager = Bill Stein (1994) Wayne Krenchicki (1995) Dave Hilton (1996) Darrell Evans (1997) | mascot = Rigger WildCatter |logo_size=150}} The '''Tyler WildCatters''' were a minor league baseball team located in Tyler, Texas. The team, which existed from 1994 to 1997, played in the independent Texas–Louisiana League, and was un-affiliated with any major league baseball team. Their home stadium was historic Mike Carter Field, which has been home to various professional, semi-professional, and collegiate Baseball teams dating back to 1941. Their founding in 1994 marked the first time Tyler had a baseball team in 39 years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tyler-courier-times-tyler-wildcatter/173844373/|title=Tyler WildCatters Open In Beaumont Friday|work=The Tyler Courier-Times|first=Paul|last=Stone|date=May 26, 1994|page=21|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

==Notable WildCatters== *'''Greg Brummett''' – Played for the WildCatters in 1996; made a brief appearance in 1993 with the Minnesota Twins and San Francisco Giants. *'''Larry Carter''' – Played for the WildCatters in 1994; The only WildCatter to throw a no-hitter (a 4-0 Tyler victory on June 21, 1994, against the Beaumont Bullfrogs); served as WildCatters' pitching coach for all four seasons of the team's existence; played for the San Francisco Giants in 1992. *'''Sean Collins''' – Played for the WildCatters from 1995 to 1997; the WildCatters' all-time leader in runs (176), triples (12) and stolen bases (82); played seven seasons of professional Baseball (1989–1990, 1994–1998) -- peaking at the Double-A level with the Tulsa Drillers in 1998; appeared in the 1991 movie ''Talent for the Game'', starring Edward James Olmos and Lorraine Bracco. *'''Darrell Evans''' – Managed the WildCatters in 1997; played a 19-year major league career from 1969 to 1988 with the Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, and Detroit Tigers. *'''Dave Hilton''' – Managed the WildCatters in 1996; played a four-year major league career with the San Diego Padres beginning in 1972. *'''Jessie Hollins''' – Played for the WildCatters in 1997; appeared with the Chicago Cubs in 1992. *'''Billy Johnson''' – Played for the WildCatters in 1994 and 1996; the WildCatters' all-time pitching leader in victories (17), strikeouts (182) and innings pitched (234.2); played six seasons of professional Baseball (1989–1992, 1994, 1996) -- peaking at the Class A level with the Charleston Wheelers (1990–1991) and the Waterloo Diamonds in 1992. *'''Wayne Krenchicki''' – Managed the WildCatters in 1995; played in the majors from 1979 to 1986 with the Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, and Montreal Expos. *'''Ken Patterson''' – Played for the WildCatters in 1996; played a six-year major league career from 1988 to 1994 with the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs and California Angels. *'''Todd Rizzo''' – Played for the WildCatters in 1994; played for the Chicago White Sox from 1998 to 1999. *'''Ken Shamburg''' – Played for the WildCatters from 1994 to 1996; the WildCatters' all-time leader in games played (286), at-bats (1,061), hits (317), doubles (82), home runs (45), runs batted in (192) and walks (134); played eleven seasons of professional Baseball (1989–1999) -- peaking at the Triple-A level with the Rochester Red Wings for portions of the 1990–1992 seasons and with the Denver Zephyrs in 1992. *'''Bill Stein''' – Managed the WildCatters in 1994; played a 13-year career beginning in 1972 with the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago White Sox, Seattle Mariners, and Texas Rangers.

==Yearly Records== {| class="wikitable" |- ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="2%" | Season ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="1%" | W ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="1%" | L ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="2%" | Win % ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | Place First/Second Half ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="2%" | Attendance |- |align=center | 1994 || align=center | 42 || align=center | 46 || align=center | .477 || align=center |T-2nd/3rd || align=center |55,914 |- |align=center | 1995 || align=center | 48 || align=center | 52 || align=center | .480 || align=center |3rd/4th || align=center |55,251 |- |align=center | 1996 || align=center | 36 || align=center | 63 || align=center | .364 || align=center |6th/5th || align=center |58,572 |- |align=center | 1997 || align=center | 48 || align=center | 40 || align=center | .545 || align=center |2nd/3rd || align=center |71,435 |}

==All-Time WildCatters Player Register== {{colbegin|colwidth=20em}} *James Baldridge, RHP (1994) *Rob Batchler, RHP (1995–1996) *Michael Benavidez, RHP (1997) *Joe Bertucci, UTL (1995) *Britton Bonneau, 2B-SS (1994) *Luther Bowen, RHP (1997) *John Bowles, 1B-3B (1996) *Jeff Brown, LHP (1994) *Greg Brummett, RHP (1996) *Ron Caridad, RHP (1997) *Larry Carter, RHP (1994) *Tommy Carter, LHP (1996) *Chris Cassels, 1B-3B-DH (1997) *Ramon Cedeno, OF (1997) *Matt Cesare, SS (1994) *John Codrington, RHP (1997) *Billy Coleman, RHP (1997) *Sean Collins, OF-2B (1995–1997) *Troy Conkle, SS-RHP (1994–1996) *Jim Cooney, C-1B (1996) *James Craver, OF (1994) *Derek Dana, C (1994–1995) *Ray Davis, RHP (1997) *Danny DiPace, OF-3B (1997) *Sean Doran, RHP (1994) *Steve Emmons, 1B (1997) *Cody Farr, LHP (1994–1995) *Jason Farrow, RHP (1997) *Rich Faulks, LHP (1994) *Eric Ford, 2B-3B (1995) *Gary Frank, 2B (1997) *Cory Gafford, C (1997) *Javier Gomez, RHP (1997) *Clay Gould, OF (1994–1995) *Rafael Guerrero, OF-1B (1997) *Lincoln Gumbs, UTL (1997) *Chris Hancock, LHP (1995–1996) *Richie Hare, OF (1996) *James Harris, 3B (1994–1995) *Kelly Hartman, LHP (1997) *Tim Haugh, LHP (1994–1995) *Derek Henderson, 3B (1996–1997) *Erin Higgins, LHP (1996) *Jessie Hollins, RHP (1997) *Rod Huffman, RHP (1994) *Todd Ingram, RHP (1996) *Ray Jackson, OF (1994) *Billy Johnson, RHP (1994, 1996) *Jack Johnson, C (1997) *Brett Jones, RHP (1994–1995) *Rich Kelley, LHP (1995) *Ron Kitchen, RHP (1996–1997) *Josef Klam, C (1996) *Kerry Knox, LHP (1995, 1997) *Tom Koerick, C (1996) *Damian Leyva, LHP (1994) *Steve Long, RHP (1996) *Steve Maddock, RHP (1997) *Aaron Martin, LHP (1997) *Jerry Martin, RHP (1997) *Paul Meador, LHP (1995–1996) *Mark Mesewicz, LHP (1996) *Troy Mooney, RHP (1994) *Jeff Motes, 2B-SS (1996) *Jason Motley, 1B (1996) *Billy Norcross, 1B (1994–1995) *Joe Norris, RHP (1997) *Clemente Núñez, RHP (1997) *Steve Ortiz, LHP (1997) *Ken Patterson, LHP-DH (1996) *Steve Peck, RHP (1995) *Carlos Perez, 1B-OF (1996–1997) *Sandy Pichardo, 2B-SS (1997) *Dan Popple, RHP (1995) *Joe Porcelli, LHP (1994) *Dan Rambo, RHP (1995) *Zach Randle, 2B-SS (1995) *Ronnie Rantz, LHP (1995) *O.J. Rhone, OF (1995) *Tony Rich, 2B (1996) *Elvin Rivera, RHP (1995) *Todd Rizzo, LHP (1994) *Chris Rusciano, RHP (1996) *Fabian Salmon, RHP (1995) *Todd Samples, OF (1995) *Tom Schneider, LHP (1995) *Ken Shamburg, OF-1B (1994–1996) *John Simmons, LHP (1996) *Alex Slattery, RHP (1996) *Jason Smiga, SS (1996–1997) *Joel Smith, C (1994) *Karl Stanley, RHP (1994) *Earl Steinmetz, RHP (1997) *Terry Tewell, C (1995) *Matt Torres, C (1994) *John Turner, 2B-3B (1994–1995) *Rocky Turner, OF (1996) *Mark Tuttle, RHP (1995) *Colby Weaver, C (1996) *Brian Williams, RHP (1996) *Lanny Williams, UTL (1994–1996) *Doug Wollenburg, 2B (1996) *Pat Woodruff, OF (1994–1995) {{colend}}

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Defunct minor league baseball teams Category:Sports in Tyler, Texas Category:Baseball teams disestablished in 1997 Category:Defunct baseball teams in Texas Category:Defunct independent baseball league teams Category:Professional baseball teams in Texas Category:Baseball teams established in 1994 Category:1994 establishments in Texas Category:1997 disestablishments in Texas