Tyler Wildcatters

  Black  MascotRigger WildCatterManagerBill Stein (1994)
Wayne Krenchicki (1995)
Dave Hilton (1996)
Darrell Evans (1997)General ManagerLee Smith (1994)
Joe Scrivner (1995-96)
Mark O’Brien (1996–97)

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 offices were located at 414 South Bonner Avenue in the historic Brick Streets District of Tyler, Texas.

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 1995–1997; 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 1979–1986 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 1998–1999.
  • Ken Shamburg – Played for the WildCatters from 1994–1996; 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

Season W L Win % Place
First/Second Half 		Attendance
1994 42 46 .477 T-2nd/3rd 55,914
1995 48 52 .480 3rd/4th 55,251
1996 36 63 .364 6th/5th 58,572
1997 48 40 .545 2nd/3rd 71,435

All-Time WildCatters Player Register

  • 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)

References