Prairie League (1995-1997)
Born: 1995
Folded: Postseason 1997
Stadium: Corbett Field
Team Colors:
Owners: Don Ziegler & Sharon Ziegler
Prairie League Championships:
Background
The Minot Mallards were a low-level pro baseball team that played three summers at tiny Corbett Field in Minot, North Dakota during the mid-1990’s. The Mallards name was a tribute to the old Minot Mallards of the Class C Northern League who played from 1958 to 1962.
The new Mallards were part of the independent (no Major League affiliation) Prairie League, which featured teams in the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
During the 1996 season, the Mallards featured a pair of former Major League journeymen on the roster. 40-year old outfielder Darrell Brown last played in the Bigs twelve years earlier for the Minnesota Twins. 36-year old infielder Brian Giles had a journeyman career with the Mets and a few other teams in the early-mid 80’s.
Former Oakland A’s and San Diego Padres first basemen Rob Nelson played for Minot in 1995. Aside from Brown, Giles and Nelson, no other Mallards players ever played a Major League game.
The Minot Mallards and the Prairie League both folded after the 1997 season.
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4 Responses
Thanks for your information and interest on the Minot Mallards! One thing…the Rob Nelson who pitched for the Mallards in 1995 was not the same Rob Nelson who appeared in the Major Leagues. The ML Rob Nelson was a first baseman who was born May 17, 1964 and hailed from Southern California, whereas our Rob Nelson, a pitcher, was born April 3, 1972 and came from West Chester, OH (a suburb of Cincinnati).
Yes, Don and Sharon Ziegler were the sole owners of the 1995 Minot Mallards. The ownership changed in 1996 to Bob Lamont, Jack Hoeven, Walt Smith and Jim Rostad. The ownership changed once again in 1997 consisting of Jim Rostad, Walt Smith, Ken Keller along with minor owners Darrel Loftesnes, Don Hiller, Jim Lervik, and Roger Brabandt.
The Minot Mallards ended in last place in the Prairie League in 1995, but turned things around and were the Prairie League Champions in both 1996 and 1997.
I think I was there for a game in 1996, what an AMAZING time ! I was there to help open a Schlotzsky’s restaurant and ended up going to a game. Bought a hat, still have it, and 2 “game used” bats. Had to fly back to Omaha to “restore order” at my manager’s restaurant. Just walked on the plane with my bats, didn’t have to check them in or anything ! Went back to Minot in 1997 when we opened a Schlotzsky’s in Bismarck to check on the restaurant there in Minot. It was winter, but I still went over to Corbett Field and took pictures of the stadium. Wish the Mallards were still around.