| Thunder Bay Border Cats | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Information | |
| League | Northwoods League |
| Location | Thunder Bay, Ontario |
| Ballpark | Port Arthur Stadium |
| Founded | 2003[1] |
| League championships | 2 (2005, 2008) |
| Division championships | 3 (2005, 2006, 2008) |
| Colors | Red, black |
| Mascot | Boomer |
| Manager | J.M. Kelly |
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.[2]
As of 2024, the Border Cats have sent 14 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 is currently with the Toronto Blue Jays in 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".[3] 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.[4] The Border Cats ultimately returned for the 2023 season.[5]
- ^ Millea, John (July 27, 2004). "Fielding big dreams". Star Tribune.
- ^ Milewski, Todd (August 22, 2005). "Mallards Dethroned By Late Run". The Capital Times. Retrieved January 3, 2007.
- ^ Reichard, Kevin (March 5, 2021). "Thunder Bay drops out of 2021 Northwoods League season". Ballpark Digest. August Publications.
- ^ "Minnesota Mud Puppies". Northwoods League. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
- ^ "Border Cats return to field with commanding win". www.tbnewswatch.com. Retrieved May 7, 2024.