Last night I went to a Battle Creek Bombers baseball game at C.O. Brown Stadium. The Bombers are part of the Northwoods League, which consists of 16 teams spanning mostly the East Coast and northwest United States.
They are not an official minor league organization connected with MLB, but a independent league. The players are college students who are playing the summer in the league befoe going back to their college leagues later in the year. They are not paid, which preserves their NCAA standing.
The Northwoods League was founded in 1994 by a group of businessmen who wanted to bring baseball to communities in a more localized experience. Originally when they established, there were only 8 teams. Over the years they have grown to the 16 that are a part of the league today.
The teams span many smaller communities. The teams are: The Alexandria Beetles, The Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers, The Duluth Huskies, The Mankato Moondogs, The Rochester Honkers, The St. Cloud River Bats, The Thunder Bay Border Cats, The Wilmar Stingers, The Eau Claire Express, The Green Bay Bullfrogs, The Lacrosse Loggers, The Madison Mallards, The Waterloo Bucks, Wisconsin Woodchucks, The Wisconsin Rapid Rafters and of course the Battle Creek Bombers.
Tickets to the Bomber games are just $5 for General Admission, and $7 for boxed seats. They sell season tickets, and even have an exclusive Fan Deck section where you can pay $20 and partake in an all you can eat buffet and menu.
The main part of the stadium has concession stands that sell hotdogs, nachos and some of the best sweets you can imagine at a ballpark.
Going to a Bombers game is a great local community venue, and is great for a night with the family at the
ball park. The prices are quite affordable too, and over the years the Bombers have built quite a following. The Bombers mascot is 'Moe Skeeter' which is a large mosquito. He is a local favorite among the kids.
Since I have lived in Battle Creek, there were about three other teams before the Northwoods league established the Bombers here. There was a minor league team with Tampa Bay Devil Rays for about 2 or 3 years, and for one season there was a Yankees team here.
Before that there was the Michigan Battle Cats, which was also a Minor league team that had several players go on to play in the Majors and many are still playing today. There have already been several Northwoods league players go onto the Major leagues as well.
So attending a Bombers game makes for a great local excursion and a fun night at the old ball park. As a local Realtor, I support the Bombers by telling new people about them when they arrive in the area, as well as attending games myself. They are a great benefit to the community.
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