Madison, WI
The PR department is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the 2004 World Champions Madison Wolves. In what can be argued to be the BEST TEAM IN THE HISTORY OF THE BBA (what can we say we are bias here in the PR Dept). Finishing with a record of 112-50 and a winning percentage of .691.
In that championship season they scored 921 runs, and allowed 565 runs. The team had 3 future HOFers on the roster, and had all 5 starting pitchers with at least 15 wins. The team lead the league with a prolific offense averaging 5.6 runs a game (a full run over league average), coupled with a league leading lights out pitching staff allowing only 3.5 runs a game (1.1 a game lower than league average). This team was destined for the ages.
As the PR department has just reminded me, that this is a win total record that stood in the BBA until the Louisville Sluggers surpassed it with 115 wins in 2030 (26 years later)!! But still stands as a Johnson league record for wins in a season 40 years after the fact. The team had the Sawyer Silk & Joe Gillstrom newcomer of the year award players on the roster. Oh yeah, might as well throw in another 6 players to make the all-star team for good measure.
The franchise will be celebrating this anniversary all season long. Starting by revealing the new logo the team will be wearing as patch on their sleeves for the entire 2045 season. The team will also be emblazed Shotz field to celebrate as well.
Lets take a look at the teams hitters...
Why not start with the HOF big "Bopper" himself. What can be said that already hasn't? The 2004 Sawyer Silk Winner, had some impressive stats, in 2004. Posting a .352/.374/.612, slash with 642 AB, 46 HR, 8 SB, 121 R, 155 RBI, and 9.0 WAR. With numbers like that its easy to see how this team won 112 games. At the age of 27, this was probably Bobbers' best overall season as a pro. He's had many, but you can add a championship ring onto this one.
Going two for two with HOFers, the 5th pick in the 1995 draft played along side Bopper from 1997-2018. The "Cricket" posted some good numbers also, with a .359/.452/.596 slash and 10.9 WAR. Puckett led the league in 7 hitting categories in 2014. (AVG, OBP, OBPS, wRC+, WAR, Runs Created, and Runs). Just like his teammate for all those seasons, Puckett was also 27yo in this his first championship run.
Ferris was the ironman on the team playing a team high 154 games started and posting a 5.2WAR for the season. Again another guy who was in the right place at the right time. 2004 (26yo) was his best career in the BBA, and he really came into his own this season. He had career highs in AVG, SLG, OPS, OPS+, and wRC. His OBP was his 2nd highest of his career, only bested by his .363 vs .360 while playing for Calgary in 2013.
The big left handing hitting 1B didn't have a long career in the BBA, (6 years), but he made them count in his second to last season (he retired from the league in 2006). He batted a respectable .285/.357/.399, but was a defensive stalwart for the team with the glove, posting a 10 range and a 3.0ZR at first. Not bad for a platoon player.
Holding down the backstop for the majority of the season, this 30yo switch hitting catcher refused to yield to the younger Bolder. He help managed this staff to a league leading 3.15 ERA, while slashing .338/.378/.419 and posting a 3.2WAR. He threw out over 40% of runners. He only played two seasons with the Wolves, but he made his presence felt.
The 3rd HOFer from the team, Bolt was the 35yo veteran journeyman (previous stops in Montreal and San Antonio) on the team. 2004 was to be his final season in Madison (before leaving for FA to California) the following season. Spending as much time on the DL as the field in 2004, he was still able to post a .324/.394/.546 slash. He split time between LF (225), RF (80), and CF (168.2) while posting 2.4 WAR. When he was in the lineup, he provided additional protection around Kengos and Puckett.
The "Big Show" as he was know was only in his second full season in the BBA in 2004 (he played 9 games in 2003). The first round pick (19th overall) didn't take long to make an impression, nor did he have the luxury to. In his first full season he won the Joe Gillstrom Newcomer of the Year award posting .308/.389/.526 slash line, 18HRs 145 wRC+, and 2.7 WAR. He then won the Hitter of the series in the Cartwright cup. The icing on the cake was he was awarded the Hitter of the series by BBA Writers Association of America for his Landis play. Sadly, he played in only 5 more seasons for Madison, he left via free agency in 2009, signing with Brussels in the EBA.
The 31yo LF bounced around between Madison/Vegas/Madison over the 2002-2004 seasons. He was dealt away during the 2004 season to Calgary (for Carroll), after playing in 75 games for the team in 2004 (starting in 72 of them).
The 29yo 6 year BBA veteran CF held down the position for the majority of the season appearing in 114 games, (a career high) up until that time for him. He posted a .242/.325/.383 and a team low for starters with 1.0 WAR. His defense was OK making 0 errors and, posting a 2.5ZR for the entire season. But the team needed an extra boost and traded for Carroll during the season, moving Hurt to platoon in LF & RF the remainder of the season.
Carroll aka "Clapper" arrived in Madison in 2004 as part of the trade that sent Pio to Calgary. He came in and was penciled in as the starting CF day one. He was was a significant defensive upgrade to Vio, and more reliable than Burt. He posted some eye-popping #s defensively 12.6ZR, to go along with his 296/.387/.524 and 3.5WAR in only 51 games, starting 50 of them.
The 29yo was in his 7th season in the Brewster, and his 4th and final with Madison. He didn't get much playing time with Maldonado, appearing in 65 games and starting 40. He did what he was asked though, playing 4 games at 1B (starting 1), and 7 games in LF (starting 1), while starting in 38 games as a Catcher.
Jaiden was the swiss army knife of this team. In his second year with the club, he played 7 positions during the 2004 season (missing only P and C - of which he did catch a game in 2005), 1B (86), 2B (11), 3B (10), SS (9), LF (1), CF (5), and RF (1), starting in 49 of them, while posting a 4.5 ZR for all positions combined. He also had a +WAR of .4, while contributing .260/.319/.382 slash. Nothing to make an all-star team, but its just what Madison needed.
Pyburn was the 2nd part of the 1B platoon that season. The 33yo 9 year veteran signed an off-season 3 year contract with Madison (he spent his first 9 season in Valencia). In his first season he appeared in 46 games, starting 44 of them. He was an OK defender posting a 10.75 range, but a -3.4ZR. Not starting every data at 1B he did put up some decent offensive numbers, .344/.376/.575 and a 148 wRC+ and 1.0 WAR.
ANOTHER home grown player from that 1995 draft (along with Puckett, Ferris, & Ayers) to find his way on this championship roster, this was Johnson's highwater mark for his BBA career. Don't let the low games started number fool you. Yes he only started 13 games all season LF (7), RF (6), he appeared in 100 games that season. Heck he even came into catch one game! Just like Jaiden, Johnson did whatever was asked to help this team win, and when you post a .344/.376/.575 with a OBP of 1.054, they will find a place for you to play.
Lets take a look at the teams Starting Rotation...
It hard to say who was the Ace on this staff, (they were all so good), but the 26yo Rasumssen gets the nod. Going 19-1, tossing 237 innings in 33 starts while striking out 188 and walking only 40. He allowed a team low of HRs (22), Complete Games (2), ERA (2.81), Shutouts (2). It this his six year in the BBA, (all with Madison), this was his best season to date. (Hmmm this seems to be a theme). He was named the pitcher of the Cartwright Series that got franchise back to the Landis after a 4 year absence
Willis was yet another player from Madison's 1995 draft class. He lead the league in Wins (21), and in Winning % (.778). He threw 3 complete games for the Wolves, yet another pitcher posting a sub 3 ERA coming in at 2.92. He was dialed in 2004, walking only 37 while striking out 172 batters. He was tied in the team lead for games started as well with 33. He was one of 3 starters for Madison with over 230 innings pitched. You gave him rock, and he gave you on averaged 7+ innings an outing.
I don't wanna be wrong if this is "Wright". The "Vacuum" as he was known around the locker room was everything that Madison needed him to be in 2004. This 31yo many thought was on the downward side of his career, lead the league in Strikeouts (270), Hits/9 (7.40), and OpAVG (.227). He lead the team in complete games (9), Innings Pitched (243.2), Walks allowed (69), K/9 (9.97), OOBP (.287), OOPS (.648). In his 33 starts he averaged over 7 innings a start as well. At 31yo, he must have reached back to grab some of that 2001 magic in his arm to get back to the Landis. He culminated his season by being named the Pitcher of the Landis series.
Another 31yo (a late bloomer into the BBA) was only his 3rd season in the bigs. In his rookie campaign he was part of the staff that lost the 2001 Landis to Vegas. He would not be denied in his second trip in 2004. Posting his best statistical season to date (in 2004). He threw 188 innings (best was 114.2 prior), ERA (3.87), P-WAR (3.3). Pitching into his 40s (44), he played 15 years in the Brewster after making his debut at 28. He would leave Madison in 2007, returning to the team via a trade in 2012 to help in that teams Landis run, but at the age of 39 couldn't quite capture the magic again.
The 26yo was in his 3rd season in the league and a 2x All-star the future looked bright for this kid. He was have a great season, going 15-3 with a 3.34 ERA, he was even batting .227! But in a shocking move was traded to Seattle before the deadline for veteran 35yo SP Jim "Gimmic" Brochutrup. It was done for some veteran leadership to help the club get over that "hump" has GM Wilson said. Ayers went on to have a 10 year career with Seattle. Sadly, he'd never get to a Landis series in the rest of his career.
Coming to the team in the above mentioned trade, Brochtrup was brought in to just what GM Wilson wanted to. Help win a championship! He came in and fit right into the rotation, starting 12 games going 8-2 with a 2.91 ERA, with an impressive WHIP under 1 (.97), and WAR of 3.1. Pitching well in the first round of the playoffs and getting Madison over that preverbal "hump".
Lets take a look at the Bullpen...
The 29yo Bradshaw appeared in 22 games starting 1. We went 1-2 with 2.87 ERA, while striking out 97 and walking only 13. He posted a 3.1 WAR. Another player from this team who had a short BBA career (6 seasons) all with Madison, he mulled around in the MiLB system for 9 seasons before getting his shot. But in that short time, he did bring home some hardware, being part of both of Madison's 2 championships.
Another role player the 29yo Vanhorn was primarily a role player with the team this season. Another home grown product of the 1995 draft, he appeared in two of Madison's Landis runs in 2001 & 2004, before leaving Madison for the EBA in 2007. He appeared in 32 games going 1-0 with one save in 26 innings.
The Yin to Vanorns's Yang. The 27yo Selem appeared in 36 games tossing 35.1 innings with a 0-1 record. He did well enough to hang around for 10 years on the Wolves roster winning 2 Landis with the team. Nothing spectacular, but came to work and did his job for 10 seasons in Madison.
The 29yo Right throwing Gonzalez appeared in 47 games posting a 1.47 ERA in his 54 innings pitched, along with 7 holds. 2004 was his best full-season in (BAPIP, WHIP, and ERA+) in comparison to his seasons leading up to it with Buffalo, California, and Hawaii. Arriving in Madison in 2001, he pitched into his 40s - playing 16 seasons for the club.
The Lefty part of the setup team for Madison, the 26yo Garcia appeared in 40 games, with a 4-0 record and notching 4 saves in 8 opportunities on the season with a 2.85 ERA. Striking out 54 and allowing only 19 walks. He also had 4 holds, with a FIP of 2.69.
The other half of the setup team in Madison, the 30yo Bax aka "Warrior" appeared in 53 games going 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA in 59 innings pitched. He had 5 holds in 2004. Bax played 9 seasons in the BBA, 8 with Madison winning 2 Landis's.
The "Fat Cat" Marco was in his 8th season as the Wolves closer with 7 consecutive seasons of 30 or more saves. He had a team high 62 appearances, and notched 39 saves in 43 opportunities, good enough for 3rd in the league in 2004.
Lets take a look at the Head Coach and GM...
Never coaching in the BBA before, Seymour spent his previous 8 season (1996-2002) in the Wolves Minor leagues coaching. One in AA, and 7 in AAA with the Nashville Saints. In 2003 GM Wilson saw enough of Remy Geauthreux, and promoted Hilton to become the Manager of the team. What a move it was! Seymour finished first in his first 7 seasons at the helm of the Wolves. In his 15 seasons as manager of the team, he made the playoffs 9 times, winning 2 championships. He only finished below .500 4 times. He finished with a overall record of 1337-1053 .560%. Not bad for a first time coaching in the BBA.
Taking over the club in 1999, Wilson inherited a team that came off of 2 consecutive playoff appearances, and was built for a title run. He was able to continue that success by making the playoffs in his first 11 seasons as GM. But what the fans wanted was a Landis, not more one-and-done type of playoffs. He was able to make it to the Landis in only his third season (2001), but fell short. By the time 2004 came around, he was ready to push his chips to the center of the table and go all-in. He pulled off quite of few trades in that 2004 season, bringing in some key pieces (via trade and Minors) to help get this team over the hump, and it paid off. He and Seymour were able to take Madison back to the Landis in 2009 to win their 2nd title, and again in 2012, but fell short. Chris stayed at the helm for 40+ seasons before looking for his next challenge with the expansion Portland Lumberjacks. But bringing two titles to Madison, Mr. Wilson will never have to buy a meal or drink in this town as long as he lives.
