Thunder Bay Border Cats

Thunder Bay Border Cats

Logo
Information
LeagueNorthwoods League
LocationThunder Bay, Ontario
BallparkPort Arthur Stadium
Founded2003[1]
League championships2 (2005, 2008)
Division championships3 (2005, 2006, 2008)
ColorsRed, black, white[2]
     
MascotBoomer
ManagerJoe Ellison

The Thunder Bay Border Cats are a baseball team that plays in the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer baseball league. The league's only Canadian team, their home games are played at Port Arthur Stadium in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

The Border Cats have been Northwoods League champions twice, defeating the Madison Mallards two games to one in both 2005 and 2008. They also were in the Northwoods League championship in 2006, but lost to the Rochester Honkers.[3]

As of 2026, the Border Cats have sent 15 players to the major leagues. Matt Mangini was the first to make the jump, playing 11 games for the Seattle Mariners in 2011. Shortstop Jonathan Diaz followed two years later, playing four games with the Boston Red Sox in 2013. Diaz also spent time with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2014, almost making the team out of spring training. Pitcher Blaine Hardy became a regular in the Detroit Tigers bullpen in 2014. Seth Frankoff pitched in one game for the Chicago Cubs, while A.J. Schugel spent time with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Wes Parsons pitched a relief role.

The Border Cats sat out the 2020, 2021 and 2022 seasons due to "the ongoing uncertainty of the pandemic regarding the Canada-US border closure as well as outdoor gathering numbers".[4] A travel team known as the Minnesota Mud Puppies, based in the Twin Cities region, played the Border Cats' originally scheduled 36 road games during the 2021 season.[5] The Border Cats ultimately returned for the 2023 season.[6]

2009 All-Star Game

The 2009 Northwoods League All-Star Game was held on July 21 in Thunder Bay. This was the first time the All-Star game played in Canada. The guest speaker for the event was Ferguson Jenkins, a Canadian member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. The game was won 4-2 by the South Division squad, led by the MVP performance of Kurtis Muller, who went 3-for-5.

Notable active alumni & those reaching Majors

NamePositionTeamsStatusMLB Years
Jonathan DiazINFBoston Red Sox, Toronto Blue JaysRetired2013-2015
Matt ManginiINFSeattle MarinersNot active2010
A.J. SchugelRHPPittsburgh PiratesRetired2015-2017
Ryan Court3BSeattle MarinersRetired2019
Blaine HardyRHPDetroit Tigers, Milwaukee BrewersRetired2014-2021
Jason VoslerSSSan Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds, Seattle MarinersActive (AAA)2021-2024
Michael PapierskiCSeattle MarinersActive (AAA)2022
Greg WeissertRPNew York Yankees, Boston Red SoxActive (AAA)2022-2024
Wes ParsonsRHPAtlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies, Toronto Blue Jays, Cleveland GuardiansActive (Released)2018-2024
Seth FrankoffRHPChicago Cubs, Seattle Mariners, Arizona DiamondbacksRetired2017-2021
Jacob RobsonOFDetroit TigersRetired2021
Matthew Batten2BSan Diego PadresActive (AAA)2022-2024
Penn MurfeeRPSeattle Mariners, Chicago White SoxActive (AAA)2022-2023
Brandon WilliamsonSPCincinnati RedsActive (IL)2023-2024
Billy Cook1BPittsburgh PiratesActive2024-2025
Andy WeberSSAmarillo (AA)ActiveN/A
  Reached Majors

Year-by-year records

YearLeagueDivisionWLW%ManagerPlayoffs
2003Northwoods LeagueNorth3133.484Mitch DunnDid not qualify
2004Northwoods LeagueNorth3232.500Mitch DunnDid not qualify
2005Northwoods LeagueNorth4424.647Chad MillerWon championship
2006Northwoods LeagueNorth2938.433John HerreraLost final
2007Northwoods LeagueNorth2840.412Jared ManskeDid not qualify
2008Northwoods LeagueNorth4226.618Devin McIntoshWon championship
2009Northwoods LeagueNorth2741.397Joel BartaDid not qualify
2010Northwoods LeagueNorth3138.449Mike SteedDid not qualify
2011Northwoods LeagueNorth2940.420Mike SteedDid not qualify
2012Northwoods LeagueNorth3237.449Andy JudkinsDid not qualify
2013Northwoods LeagueNorth2149.300Dan HolcombDid not qualify
2014Northwoods LeagueNorth2349.319John HernandezDid not qualify
2015Northwoods LeagueNorth3338.465Danny BenedettiDid not qualify
2016Northwoods LeagueNorth2151.282Danny BenedettiDid not qualify
2017Northwoods LeagueNorth2743.386Mitch FellerDid not qualify
2018Northwoods LeagueNorth2250.306Mitch FellerDid not qualify
2019Northwoods LeagueGreat Plains East2447.338Eric VasquezDid not qualify
2023Northwoods LeagueGreat Plains East2741.397J.M. KellyDid not qualify
2024Northwoods LeagueGreat Plains East3534.507J.M. KellyDid not qualify
2025Northwoods LeagueGreat Plains East4030.571Joe EllisonDid not qualify
2026Northwoods LeagueGreat Plains East2741.397Joe EllisonDid not qualify
TOTAL----625822.432----

References

  1. ↑ Millea, John (July 27, 2004). "Fielding big dreams". Star Tribune.
  2. ↑ "Northwoods League Official Colors (1994 through present)". TruColor.net. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  3. ↑ Milewski, Todd (August 22, 2005). "Mallards Dethroned By Late Run". The Capital Times. Retrieved January 3, 2007.
  4. ↑ Reichard, Kevin (March 5, 2021). "Thunder Bay drops out of 2021 Northwoods League season". Ballpark Digest. August Publications.
  5. ↑ "Minnesota Mud Puppies". Northwoods League. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Border Cats return to field with commanding win". www.tbnewswatch.com. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
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