Michigan Battle Cats

Michigan Battle Cats
Minor league affiliations
Previous classesClass A
LeagueMidwest League
DivisionEastern Division
Major league affiliations
Previous teams
Minor league titles
League titles (1)2000
First-half titles (2)
  • 1995
  • 2002
Second-half titles (4)
  • 1998
  • 1999
  • 2000
  • 2001
Team data
Previous names
Michigan Battle Cats
Previous parks
C.O. Brown Stadium

The Michigan Battle Cats were a Minor League Baseball team which began playing in the Midwest League in 1995 and called C.O. Brown Stadium in Battle Creek, Michigan, home. The franchise had previously been located in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1994 where they were called the Madison Hatters. Prior to that the team was located in Springfield, Illinois, and was known as the Springfield Cardinals. Upon moving to Battle Creek the team initially sought the name Battle Creek Golden Kazoos to help create a regional tie-in with the city of Kalamazoo, Michigan, but legal disputes led to the adoption of the Battle Cats moniker. The team became known as the Battle Creek Yankees beginning with their affiliation with the New York Yankees in 2003, and again changed names and affiliations in 2005 and became the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays. In 2007, citing declining attendance, the team moved to Midland, Michigan and became the Great Lakes Loons.