The Wausau Timbers were a

minor league baseball Minor League Baseball (MiLB) is a professional baseball organization below Major League Baseball (MLB), constituted of teams affiliated with MLB clubs. It was founded on September 5, 1901, in response to the growing dominance of the National Le ...

team, located in

Wausau, Wisconsin Wausau ( ) is a city in Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. It is located along the Wisconsin River and had a population of 39,994 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is the core city of the Wausau ...

. The Timbers were members of the Class A

Midwest League The Midwest League is a Minor League Baseball league established in 1947 and based in the Midwestern United States. A Class A league for most of its history, the league was promoted to High-A as part of Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganizat ...

from 1975 to 1990. The franchise was sold in 1991 and moved to

Geneva, Illinois Geneva is a city in and the county seat of Kane County, Illinois, United States. It is located in the far western side of the Chicago suburbs. Per the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the population was 21,393. Geneva is part of a Tri-Ci ...

, where it became the

Kane County Cougars The Kane County Cougars are a professional baseball team located in Geneva, Illinois, and are members of the American Association of Professional Baseball, an official Partner League of Major League Baseball (MLB). They play their home games a ...

History

The franchise first played 1975 in Wausau as the Wausau Mets. The club maintained an affiliation with the

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National ...

through 1978. Without an affiliation the team changed its name to the Timbers and played two years as a co-op with players mainly from the

Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. Since , the team ...

, Texas Rangers, and

Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. The Mariners compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West Division. The team joined the American ...

. In 1981 the club signed a player development contract with the Mariners. The affiliation with the Mariners lasted nine seasons. In 1990 the club signed on with the

Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles (also known as the O's) are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. As one of the America ...

and played their final season in Wausau.

The Ballpark

The Timbers played at Athletic Park, 324 E. Wausau Ave. Wausau, Wisconsin Built in

1936 Events January–February * January 20 – The Prince of Wales succeeds to the throne of the United Kingdom as King Edward VIII, following the death of his father, George V, at Sandringham House. * January 28 – Death and state funer ...

, Athletic Park was home to the Timbers of the Class-A

(1975–1990) and previous minor league teams: the Wausau Lumberjacks (1936–1942, 1946–1949, 1956–57) and the Wausau Timberjacks (1950–1953). The ballpark has hosted the Wisconsin Woodchucks of the summer collegiate

Northwoods League The Northwoods League is a collegiate summer baseball wooden bat league. All players in the league must have National Collegiate Athletic Association, NCAA eligibility remaining in order to participate. The league is amateur, and players are not ...

, beginning in 1994.

Notable alumni

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

Edgar Martínez Edgar Martínez (born January 2, 1963), nicknamed "Gar" and "Papi", is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball player who is currently the senior director of hitting strategy coach for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). H ...

(1984) Inducted 2019

Notable alumni

Manny Alexander Manuel De Jesús Alexander (born March 20, 1971) is a Dominican former professional baseball infielder. He has played for the Baltimore Orioles (–, –), New York Mets (), Chicago Cubs (1997–), Boston Red Sox (), Texas Rangers () and San Die ...

(1990) *

Neil Allen Neil Patrick Allen (born January 24, 1958) is an American former professional baseball pitcher and coach. He played for the New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, and Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball fr ...

(1976) *

Juan Berenguer Juan Bautista Berenguer (born November 30, 1954) is a Panamanian former long relief pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played for eight teams from 1978 to 1992. Listed at 5'11 , 200 lb. , Berenguer batted and threw right-handed. He was ...

(1975) *

Damon Buford Damon Jackson Buford (born June 12, 1970) is an American former professional baseball center fielder. He played for the Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB) between 1 ...

(1990) * Ivan Calderon (1981–1982) MLB All-Star * Chuck Carr (1988) 1993 NL stolen base leader *

Roy Lee Jackson Roy Lee Jackson (born May 1, 1954) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played for the New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, and Minnesota Twins across 10 seasons. Early years Jackson was born in Opelika, Alabama ...

(1975) *

Bill Monbouquette William Charles Monbouquette (August 11, 1936 – January 25, 2015) was an American professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a right-handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox (1958–65), Detroit Tigers (19 ...

(1976, MGR) 4× MLB All-Star * Ed Nunez (1980–1981) *

Jim Presley James Arthur Presley (born October 23, 1961) is a former professional baseball player who played as an infielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1984 to 1991. He played for the Seattle Mariners, Atlanta Braves, and San Diego Padres As a yo ...

(1980–1981) MLB All-Star *

Harold Reynolds Harold Craig Reynolds (born November 26, 1960) is an American former professional baseball player and current television sports commentator. He played in Major League Baseball as a second baseman from to , most prominently as a member of the Se ...

(1981) 2× MLB All-Star; 1987 AL stolen base leader *

Alex Trevino Alex is a given name. Similar names are Alexander, Alexandra, Alexey or Alexis. People Multiple *Alex Brown (disambiguation), multiple people * Alex Cook (disambiguation), multiple people * Alex Forsyth (disambiguation), multiple people *Alexand ...

(1977) *

Omar Vizquel Omar Enrique Vizquel González (; born April 24, 1967), nicknamed "Little O", is a Venezuelan former professional baseball shortstop. During his 24-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career, Vizquel played for the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Indi ...

(1986) 11× Gold Glove; 3× MLB All-Star *

Mookie Wilson William Hayward "Mookie" Wilson (born February 9, 1956) is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder and coach who played for the New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays over 12 major league seasons. He is best remembered as the Met who ...

(1977) MLB All-Star *

Ned Yost Edgar Frederick Yost III (; born August 19, 1954) is an American former Major League Baseball catcher and manager of the Milwaukee Brewers and Kansas City Royals. He played for the Brewers, Texas Rangers, and Montreal Expos. Since 2025, he has ...

(1975) Manager, 2015 World Series champion -

Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team ...

Gregg Zaun Gregory Owen Zaun (; born April 14, 1971) is an American baseball analyst, public speaker and a former professional baseball catcher, currently he is the interim manager for the Tigres de Quintana Roo of the Mexican League. He played for nine ...

(1990)

Record

References

External links

Wausau Timbers at The Baseball Cube
Defunct Midwest League teams Sports in Wausau, Wisconsin Baltimore Orioles minor league affiliates Seattle Mariners minor league affiliates Defunct baseball teams in Wisconsin New York Mets minor league affiliates Professional baseball teams in Wisconsin 1975 establishments in Wisconsin 1990 disestablishments in Wisconsin Baseball teams established in 1975 Baseball teams disestablished in 1990 {{Wisconsin-baseball-team-stub