Gary SouthShore RailCats

The Gary SouthShore RailCats are a professional baseball team based in Gary, Indiana, in the United States. The RailCats are a member of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. The RailCats started as a member of the Northern League in 2002, operating as a travel team for a season before moving in to the U.S. Steel Yard in 2003, where they have played since. In 2011, the team became a member of the modern American Association.

Gary SouthShore RailCats
Team logo Cap insignia
Information
LeagueAmerican Association (North Division)
LocationGary, Indiana
BallparkU.S. Steel Yard
Year founded2001
League championships3 (2005, 2007, 2013)
Division championships4 (2006, 2007, 2009, 2018)
Former league(s)
Colorsgreen, maroon
         
Retired numbers42, 45, 23
OwnershipSalvi Sports Enterprises
ManagerGreg Tagert
General ManagerBrian Flenner
MediaWEFM 95.9
Post-Tribune
The Times of Northwest Indiana
Websiterailcatsbaseball.com

During their time in the Northern League, the RailCats were the only team to ever reach the Championship Series five years in a row (2005–09). The RailCats won Northern League championships in 2005 and 2007, and the American Association championship in 2013.

History

2001 'Inception'

On January 23, 2001, the Northern League announced that it had awarded a franchise to Northwest Sports Ventures, LLC .[1] In June a Limited Liability Company by the name of Victory Sports Group was officially registered in Missouri, led by Michael A. Tatoian.

The city signed a fifteen-year lease with the team ownership for the future baseball stadium.

In September 2001, the team was officially named the Gary SouthShore RailCats, drawing its name from both the city's deep history of freight lines and the South Shore Line commuter train (visible over the left field wall at the stadium).

2002—2010 'Northern League'

The stadium construction was behind schedule forcing the RailCats to play their first season entirely on the road. The city of Gary paid a financial penalty for failure to complete the stadium on time, which helped finance their season. The RailCats traveled approximately 12,000 miles (19,000 km) to play 90 games. Despite that, RailCats manager Joe Calfapietra was named the Northern League Manager of the Year after his club won 35 games, the most ever by a team that played exclusively on the road.

In 2002, the RailCats signed a ten-year naming rights agreement with United States Steel Corporation for the stadium. Joe Calfapietra resigned as Manager citing that he wanted to be closer to home. He later signed with the New Jersey Jackals. The RailCats hired former Major League All-Star Garry Templeton to Manage the team. Unfortunately, stadium or not, the RailCats were little more than a pushover, firmly stuck in last place.

Garry Templeton returned as coach for another season leading the Cats in their worst season in 2003. In June, they had a 14-game losing streak which was the longest in Northern League history. They completed the season in last place again securing the record for the most losses for a season in Northern League history. The RailCats announced that Templeton would not be offered his job next season. He later signed with the Fullerton Flyers.

Before the 2005 season, the RailCats hired Greg Tagert as manager. Tagert made a number of roster changes, and turned the RailCats from losers to winners almost immediately, ending the first half with a .563 average, the first winning average in team history. The Northern League All-Star game was held at the U.S. Steel Yard. The second half went the same as the first but ended with an upset victory making the worst team in 2004, the 2005 Champions. The RailCats beat the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks to win the title.

Tagert returned as manager in 2006. The Cats were first in their division, second overall for the season. They returned to the championship series to face the RedHawks again. This time losing the title.

Tagert returned for the 2007 season. He proved that he could make the RailCats a legacy team. The RailCats appeared unstoppable all season. Winning first place both halves. The season was fraught with controversy between the Alberta teams and the rest of the league. Despite this fact, the Calgary Vipers made it to the championship series. The RailCats spared the league the embarrassment of having a team that was leaving the league win the championship, as the Cats beat the Vipers.

Prior to the 2008 season the Cats signed Tagert to an extended contract to keep him at least until the completion of the 2010 season. Patrick A. Salvi and his wife Lindy purchased the RailCats. Patrick is the managing partner of the law firm of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C. With the loss of the Alberta teams, the league contracted to six teams. Due to the size, the league opted to have a single-division full season. Tagert again led the Cats in a winning season, ending in second place. They lost the championship series to the fourth place Kansas City T-Bones who beat the first place RedHawks in the playoffs to make it to the series.

The Cats again proved a force to be reckoned with in the 2009 season as they ended the season in first place yet again and made it to the championship season for the fifth straight season. They lost to RedHawks.

The 2010 Cats finished in fourth place in the Northern League, their worst place finish in five years. For the first time since 2004, the RailCats did not reach the championship series, being swept by the RedHawks in the league semifinals.

2011— 'American Association'

On October 13, 2010, the RailCats left the Northern League, along with the RedHawks, T-Bones, and the Winnipeg Goldeyes to join the American Association for the 2011 season.[2]

In 2020, the league announced that the RailCats were not selected as one of 6 teams to participate in a condensed season as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] They will go on hiatus for the season, with plans to return in 2021.

Fast Facts
Founded: 2001
Playoff appearances: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2017, 2018
Divisional titles won: 2006, 2007, 2009
League Championships won: 2005, 2007, 2013
Broadcasts: WEFM 95.9 FM, or audio and video streaming via the RailCats Website

Year-by-year record
          First Half   Second Half   Overall      
Season League Division W–L Finish W–L Finish W–L Win% Playoffs
2002 NL South 16–28 5th 18–27 3rd 35–55 .389 Did not qualify
2003 NL East 15–30 5th 21–24 5th 36–54 .400 Did not qualify
2004 NL South 13–35 5th 18–30 5th 31–65 .323 Did not qualify
2005 NL South 27–21 3rd 27–21 3rd 54–42 .563 Won championship
2006 NL South 24–24 2nd 27–22 1st 51–46 .526 Lost championship
2007 NL South 30–18 1st 28–20 1st 58–38 .604 Won championship
2008 NL N/A 56–40 2nd N/A N/A 56–40 .583 Lost championship
2009 NL N/A 57–39 1st N/A N/A 57–39 .594 Lost championship
2010 NL N/A 52–48 4th N/A N/A 52–48 .520 Lost in 1st round
2011 AA Central 54–46 2nd N/A N/A 54–46 .540 Did not qualify
2012 AA Central 50–50 3rd N/A N/A 50–50 .500 Did not qualify
2013 AA Central 58–41 2nd N/A N/A 58–41 .586 Won championship
2014 AA Central 53–47 2nd N/A N/A 53–47 .530 Did not qualify
2015 AA Central 45–55 3rd N/A N/A 45–55 .450 Did not qualify
2016 AA Central 52–48 2nd N/A N/A 52–48 .520 Did not qualify
2017 AA Central 57–43 2nd N/A N/A 57–43 .570 Lost first round
2018 AA North 59–41 1st N/A N/A 59–41 .590 Lost first round
2019 AA North 40–59 5th N/A N/A 40–59 .404 Did not qualify

Playoffs

Current roster
Gary SouthShore RailCats roster
Active (22-man) roster Coaches/Other

Pitchers
N/A

  

Catchers
N/A

Infielders
N/A

Outfielders
N/A

  

Manager

Coaches

  • 50 Victor Burgos (hitting)
  • 15 Doug Coe (third base)
  • 59 Marty Joyce (first base)
  • 43 Alain Quijano (pitching)
  •    Chuck Schultz (clubhouse manager)
  •    Stephanie Swank (trainer)

Disabled list
‡ Inactive list
§ Suspended list

Roster updated June 17, 2020
Transactions

Notable alumni[4]

Retired numbers
Jackie Robinson Joe Gates[5] Willie Glen[6]
2B
Retired throughout
professional baseball
on April 15, 1997		 1B Coach
Retired by the
Gary SouthShore RailCats
on May 21, 2010		 P
Retired by the
Gary SouthShore RailCats
on July 5, 2014

Official websites

Official blogs

Media

References
  1. NORTHERN LEAGUE ANNOUNCES GARY FRANCHISE
  2. Four Clubs Added to American Association
  3. "American Association unveils plans for 2020 season". americanassociationbaseball.com. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  4. All-Time Roster
  5. RailCats assistant coach Joe Gates remembered for his baseball spirit, Northwest Indiana Times, Apr 6, 2010. Accessed April 21, 2017. "RailCats assistant coach Joe Gates remembered for his baseball spirit"
  6. RailCats retire Willie Glen's No. 23, Northwest Indiana Times, July 5, 2014. Accessed April 21, 2017. "RailCats retire Willie Glen's No. 23"

* nlfan.com - yearly league standings & awards

Achievements
Preceded by
St. Paul Saints
2004		 Northern League Champions
Gary SouthShore RailCats
2005		 Succeeded by
Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
2006
Preceded by
Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
2006		 Northern League Champions
Gary SouthShore RailCats
2007		 Succeeded by
Kansas City T-Bones
2008
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