Kenosha Kingfish

Kenosha Kingfish

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Information
LeagueNorthwoods League (Great Lakes East 2019-pres)
(South Division 2013–2018)
LocationKenosha, Wisconsin
BallparkSimmons Field
Founded2013
Division championships1 (2015)
League championships1 (2015)
ColorsLake Michigan blue, cardinal red, king's gold, white, dark gold, vintage cream[1]
           
OwnershipBill Fanning, Mike Zoellner
ManagementGeneral Manager: Jake McGhee (2013–2016),[2] Rich Marks (2016) Zac Pallissard (2017–2018) Scott Preimesberger (2018-2019) Doug Gole (2019-2020) Ryne Goralski (2020-Present)
ManagerAidan Wirshing
MediaPlay-By-Play Broadcaster: Dominick Liacone Newspaper: Kenosha News
WebsiteOfficial website

The Kenosha Kingfish are a baseball team that plays in the collegiate summer Northwoods League. Based in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the Kingfish play their home games at Simmons Field.

History

Background

Prior to the establishment of the Kingfish, Simmons Field had been the home of multiple amateur and minor league baseball teams over the years, including the Kenosha Comets (AAGPBL), Kenosha Twins (Midwest League), and Kenosha Mammoths (Frontier League).

The city had previously been host to the Kenosha Kroakers, one of the five original Northwoods League (NWL) franchises, who played in the NWL from 1994-1998 and had several players go on to MLB careers, including Clint Barmes, George Sherrill, and Bobby Kielty.[3]

After the announcement of the NWL's return to Kenosha, fans submitted suggestions for the team's name, and the winning suggestion of 'Kingfish' was revealed at the team's launch party on November 23, 2013.[4]

Inaugural Season

The Kingfish opened their inaugural 2014 season on the road, and played their first home series at the newly renovated Simmons Field on the weekend of May 31 and June 1. They finished the 2014 season with a 41–30 record in the Northwoods League South Division, narrowly missing the playoffs by half a game.[5]

2015 (Championship Season)

The Kingfish finished 2015 with a regular season record of 48–24.[6] After beating the La Crosse Loggers 7–2 in Game 1 of the Divisional Playoffs[7] and the Madison Mallards 2–1 in a close Game 2,[8] the Kingfish defeated the St. Cloud Rox, in 2 games, to win their first Northwoods League Summer Collegiate World Series.[9]

2016 (All-Star Game)

2016 was notable in that the Kingfish hosted the NWL All Star Game and Home Run Derby. Among those playing in the game were Daulton Varsho, Caleb Boushley, and Mason McCoy.[10] 2016 was also the Kingfish's highest attendance in a season.

2020 (Covid-19 Pod Season)

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Northwoods League created several hyper-regional "pod" divisions, many of which included new alternate identities of existing teams. The K-Town Bobbers joined the Kingfish in the Kenosha Division, with all games being played at Simmons Field. The Bobbers were not a new NWL franchise but rather a one-year alternate identity managed by the Kingfish. Future MLB All-Star Drake Baldwin suited up for the Bobbers.[11] The season culminated in a victory by Kingfish in the "Battle of Kenosha."[12]

Alternate Identities

The Kingfish have adopted numerous alternate identities for single-game promotions over the years.

Kenosha Kickers

The Kingfish hosted a Home Alone night, which they rebranded to the Kenosha Kickers, a scene from the movie, that included a jersey auction after the game.[13]

Kenosha Twins

The Kenosha Twins were a Minor League Baseball team that played in Kenosha, from 1984 to 1992. They began playing in the Midwest League in 1984. The team played their home games at Simmons Field. The Twins won two championships, in 1985 and 1987, and were Northern Division champions for the first half of the 1988 season. In 2024, the Kingfish honored the 40th anniversary of the team moving to Kenosha with a jersey auction at the end of the game.

Kenosha Comets

The Kenosha Comets were a women's professional baseball team that played from 1943 through 1951 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. They played their home games at Simmons Field. In 2023, they rebranded as the Comets wearing green jerseys with a white K in the middle and in the hats, a white K, for Kenosha.

Mascot

King Elvis the First, an orange fish, is the mascot of the Kingfish. Before home games, he rides an ATV from the left field foul pole. He used to ride a zipline down the left field foul pole to deliver the ball for the first pitch.[14] In 2022, Green Bay Packers player A. J. Dillon went viral for doing an oklahoma drill, knocking out Elvis’ head.[15]

Alumni in MLB

The following is a list of Kingfish and Bobbers players who have gone on to play in Major League Baseball.[16]

Name MLB teams played for Years with Kenosha MLB Debut
Rico Garcia Colorado Rockies, San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles, Oakland Athletics, Washington Nationals, New York Mets, New York Yankees 2014–2015 August 27, 2019
Brett Harris Oakland Athletics / Athletics, Boston Red Sox 2020 (Bobbers) May 3, 2024
Will Wagner Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres 2018 August 12, 2024
Drake Baldwin Atlanta Braves 2020 (Bobbers) March 27, 2025
Colton Gordon Houston Astros 2018 May 14, 2025
Ryan Fitzgerald Minnesota Twins 2014 May 16, 2025
Carson McCusker Minnesota Twins 2018 May 16, 2025

Yearly Attendance

Year Attendance
2014 72,838[17]
2015 82,019[18]
2016 87,991[19]
2017 86,291[20]
2018 84,482[21]
2019 83,176[22]
2020 8,255[23]
2021 67,529[24]
2022 73,946[25]
2023 82,350[26]
2024 85,153[27]
2025 86,341[28]
2026 78,808[29]

References

  1. ↑ "Northwoods League Official Colors (1994 through present)". TruColor.net. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  2. ↑ "Kingfish official to head Boys and Girls Club | News". kenoshanews.com. 2016-03-02. Archived from the original on 2017-05-10. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
  3. ↑ "Northwoods League Alumni in Major League Baseball" (PDF). Northwoods League. March 14, 2025. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Hello, My Name is Kingfish…Kenosha Kingfish | Northwoods League". Retrieved 2013-11-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  5. ↑ "Northwoods 2014 – Standings". Northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
  6. ↑ "Northwoods 2015 – Standings". northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
  7. ↑ "Kingfish Dispatch Loggers in Game 1 – Kenosha Kingfish : Kenosha Kingfish". Northwoodsleague.com. 2015-08-11. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
  8. ↑ "Brodner Delivers Walk-Off Hit; Kingfish Move on to Summer Collegiate World Series – Kenosha Kingfish : Kenosha Kingfish". Northwoodsleague.com. 2015-08-12. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
  9. ↑ "Kingfish Win Northwoods League Summer Collegiate World Series – Kenosha Kingfish : Kenosha Kingfish". Northwoodsleague.com. 2015-08-15. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
  10. ↑ "Northwoods League Announces 2016 All-Star Selections". Northwoodsleague.com. 2016-07-08. Retrieved 2026-08-17.
  11. ↑ Northwoods League (2020-08-01). "Drake Baldwin Drives in Four in 11-7 Win for K-Town". Kenosha Kingfish. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
  12. ↑ Northwoods League (2020-06-30). "K-Town Bobbers Aim to Catch Simmons Field Faithful in 2020". Kenosha Kingfish. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
  13. ↑ "Kenosha Kingfish to play as Kenosha Kickers on Home Alone Night". 2024-03-25.
  14. ↑ "Things To Do in Kenosha – Kenosha Kingfish Baseball". Visit Kenosha. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
  15. ↑ "Mascot speaks out after being trucked by AJ Dillon: 'Did not have it at all'". NY Post. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
  16. ↑ "Northwoods League Alumni in Major League Baseball" (PDF). Northwoods League. September 16, 2025. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Northwoods 2014 – Attendance". Northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
  18. ↑ "Northwoods 2015 – Attendance". Northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
  19. ↑ "Northwoods 2016 – Attendance". Northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
  20. ↑ "Northwoods 2017 – Attendance". Northwoods.bbstats.pointstreak.com. Retrieved 2018-06-14.
  21. ↑ "Northwoods League – attendance". Pointstreak Sports Technologies. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
  22. ↑ Reichard, Kevin (2019-08-12). "2019 Summer Collegiate Attendance by Total". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
  23. ↑ "Attendance". Northwoods League. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
  24. ↑ Reichard, Kevin (2021-08-23). "2021 summer collegiate attendance by average - Ballpark Digest". Retrieved 2023-08-20.
  25. ↑ Reichard, Kevin (2022-08-15). "2022 summer collegiate attendance by total - Ballpark Digest". Retrieved 2023-08-20.
  26. ↑ Reichard, Kevin (2023-09-05). "2023 summer collegiate attendance by total - Ballpark Digest". Retrieved 2024-06-02.
  27. ↑ Reichard, Kevin (2024-10-28). "2024 summer collegiate attendance by total - Ballpark Digest". Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  28. ↑ "Attendance (2025)". Retrieved August 17, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Attendance (2026)". Retrieved August 17, 2026.
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