Tombstone
Born: December 1993 – The Springfield Cardinals relocate to Madison, WI
Moved: September 14, 1994 (Michigan Battle Cats)
First Game: April 8, 1994 (L 5-1 vs. Peoria Chiefs)
Last Game: September 2, 1994 (L 10-1 vs. Cedar Rapids Kernels)
Midwest League Championships: None
Stadium
Ownership & Affiliation
Owner: William Collins III, Tim Cullen et al.
Major League Affiliation: St. Louis Cardinals
Attendance
Background
The Madison Hatters were a One-Year Wonder in the Class A Midwest League during the summer of 1994.
The Hatters arrived in Madison as a result of a musical chairs shuffling of Midwest League clubs during the offseason of 1993-94. Madison had a long-running Oakland A’s farm club – the Madison Muskies – that left town for a new ballpark in Grand Rapids, Michigan after the 1993 season. The St. Louis Cardinals promptly shifted their Midwest League affiliate from Springfield, Illinois to fill the vacancy at Madison’s Warner Park.
Four players from the 1994 Hatters roster ultimately made it to the Major Leagues: outfielder Joe McEwing and pitchers Rich Croushore, Brady Raggio and Jay Witasick.
The End
Warner Park was an issue. Although only 11 years old, it failed to meet the new minimum standards required by the National Association of Professional Baseball League’s for a Class A facility. Accordingly, American Baseball Capital, Inc., the owners of the Hatters, signed only a one-year lease. When attendance proved disappointing and unworthy of a major investment to upgrade Warner Park, the team moved out after one season. The club shifted to Battle Creek, Michigan and becoming the Michigan Battle Cats for the 1995 season.
The departure of the Hatters in September 1994 marked the end of affiliated pro baseball in Madison. The Madison Black Wolf (1996-2000) of the independent Northern League played at Warner Park during the late 1990’s. After the Black Wolf departed, the Madison Mallards of the collegiate Northwoods League arrived in 2001. The Mallards remain active as of this writing. They draw terrific crowds and are regarded as one of the best wooden-bat league organizations in the United States.
As for the Madison Hatters franchise, it still exists today after several subsequent name changes and relocations. The franchise plays on today in Midland, Michigan and is known as the Great Lakes Loons.
Voices
“The staff was under the belief that we were going to try to make things work in Madison, but it would depend on our level of success. My impression as the season approached its culmination was that the ownership group had intended to move all along without a new ballpark built along the beltway. That probably wasn’t a reasonable goal given the short stay and little time spent forging the relationships that would have been required to accomplish that.
It was unfortunate because the front office staff really enjoyed Madison and believed we could have succeeded even in Warner Park. Ultimately, [Mallards owner Steve Schmitt] has proven us right with the Mallards’ success, which has been great to see!”
– Andy Milovich, Director of Stadium Operations 1994 (2018 FWiL Interview)
Downloads
2018 FWiL Interview with Hatters Director of Stadium Operations Andy Milovich
Links
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