The Kalamazoo Growlers are a baseball team based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, that play in the Northwoods League, a summer collegiate baseball league. The team plays its home games at Homer Stryker Field, inside Honor Credit Union Stadium.
History On June 2013, the Kalamazoo City Commission approved a contract with Kalamazoo Baseball, LLC to bring a team back to the city. Kalamazoo had been without a baseball team since the Kalamazoo Kings of the Frontier League disbanded in 2011. The contract stipulated that the Northwoods League would pay expenses associated with the team's home games, practice and the maintenance of Homer Stryker Field.
In November 2013, the team was formally introduced as the Kalamazoo Growlers, a tribute to the city's brewing tradition (referencing growlers) as well as the American black bears that can be heard "growling" in the forests of Michigan.
The Growlers played their first game as part of an opening day double-header on May 28, 2014, losing to the then-defending league champion Madison Mallards 6-2. They won the second game of the double-header 6-5, securing their first ever win. The Growlers played their first home game on May 30, 2014, beating the Battle Creek Bombers 13-3. The announced attendance of their first home game (4,910 people) broke the record for highest attendance in any Northwoods League game.
On July 24, 2018, the team hosted the Northwoods League All Star Game as well as a celebration for the league's 25th anniversary. Three Growlers players represented the South Division in the game, which was a victory over the North Division 2-1. Three Growlers also competed in the Home Run Derby, which was won by Growlers Player Zach Daniels who hit three home runs.
In 2020, the Northwoods League responded to the Covid-19 pandemic by organizing teams into small regional pods. The Growlers were placed in the Michigan South Division with the Battle Creek Bombers and a new team identity created by the Growlers called the Kalamazoo Mac Daddies. The Mac Daddies was a temporary team operated by the Growlers' organization and was disbanded after the 2020 season.
In 2022, the Growlers secured a playoff berth with the top record in the Great Lakes East sub-division for the first half of the season. In a best-of-three subdivision series, the Growlers swept the Traverse City Pit Spitters. In the single-game Great Lakes Division championship, the Growlers defeated the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters. The League Championship game was held at historic Wade Stadium in Duluth, Minnesota on 8/18/22. Kalamazoo led from the second inning on and defeated Duluth 8-3. The Growlers won their first Northwoods League Championship.
In 2024, the Growlers made the playoffs by having the best record in the second half of play in the Great Lakes East subdivision. They competed against the Rockford Rivets In the single-game Great Lakes Division championship, the Growlers defeated the Madison Mallards. The Northwoods League Championship game was held at Homer Stryker Field on 8/15/24. At the end of 7 innings, the score was tied 7-7 and would stay at that until the bottom of the 14th inning. Brandon Sanchez hit a sacrifice fly and scored Gabe Springer. The Growlers won their second league championship.
Seasons YearW-L-TWPCTPlaceI-94 Rivalry (vs. Battle Creek)Postseason201429-43.4038th NWL SouthWon: 5-3Did not qualify201517-55.2369th NWL SouthLost: 0-8Did not qualify201633-39.4585th NWL SouthLost: 2-6Did not qualify201728-44.3896th NWL SouthLost: 1-7Did not qualify201841-31.5692nd NWL South Won: 5-3 Wild Card: Beat the Kenosha Kingfish 5-3.
Division Championship: Lost to the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders 3-1.201937-35.5142nd NWL GLEWon: 8-4Subdivision Championship: Lost to the Traverse City Pit Spitters 2 games to 0. 202040-25-6.5971st NWL MISWon: 19-13-3Lost to the Kalamazoo Mac Daddies 4-2202126-46.3616th NWL GLEWon: 6-6 (Retained, tiebreaker goes to previous winner)Did not qualify202236-35.5073rd NWL GLEWon: 9-3Subdivision Championship: Beat the Traverse City Pit Spitters 2 games to 0.
Division Championship: Beat the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters 8-6
League Championship: Beat the Duluth Huskies 8-3202346-24.6571st NWL GLEWon: 10-2Subdivision Championship: Lost to the Traverse City Pit Spitters 2 games to 1.202442-30.5832nd NWL GLEWon: 10-2Subdivision Championship: Beat the Rockford Rivets 2 games to 1.
Division Championship: Beat the Madison Mallards 3-2
League Championship: Beat the La Crosse Loggers 8-7 in 14 innings.202537-35.5142nd NWL GLELost: 5-7Subdivision Championship: Lost to the Traverse City Pit Spitters 2 games to 0.202636-36.5004th NWL GLEWon: 8-3Did not qualifyOverall (Regular Season)448-478-6.484
Mascot
The mascot of the team is an anthropomorphic black bear named Porter. He was named after a dark style of beer and wears jersey number 64 (number of ounces held in a growler), which pays homage to Kalamazoo's microbreweries. The original mascot was named Barlee, but the team lost the rights of the name to the Hillsboro Hops of the Northwest League.
MLB alumni On August 9, 2019, John Schreiber became the first former Growler to reach the major leagues when he made his major league debut pitching in relief for the Detroit Tigers.
The following is a complete list of Growlers who have appeared in MLB:
Name MLB teams played for Years with Growlers MLB Debut John Schreiber Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Kansas City Royals 2014 August 9, 2019 Caleb Baragar San Francisco Giants 2014 July 25, 2020 Brandon Hughes Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks 2015 May 17, 2022 Charles Leblanc Miami Marlins, Los Angeles Angels 2015 July 30, 2022 David Hensley Houston Astros, Miami Marlins 2016 August 27, 2022 Matt Mervis Chicago Cubs, Miami Marlins 2018 May 5, 2023 Zack Gelof Oakland Athletics, Athletics 2019 July 14, 2023 Joe Boyle Oakland Athletics, Tampa Bay Rays 2018 September 17, 2023 Joey Loperfido Houston Astros, Toronto Blue Jays 2018 April 20, 2024 Blake Dunn Cincinnati Reds 2020–2021 June 4, 2024 Niko Kavadas Los Angeles Angels 2018 August 16, 2024 Grant Wolfram Baltimore Orioles 2016 April 26, 2025Tanner AndrewsToronto Blue Jays2016May 25, 2026Mike ParedesMinnesota Twins2019May 31, 2026Ivan Johnson Cincinnati Reds2018June 30, 2026
External links Kalamazoo Growlers official site Kalamazoo Growlers roster Northwoods League official site
References