Witter Field is a baseball

ballpark A ballpark, or baseball park, is a type of sports venue where baseball is played. The playing field is divided into two field sections called the infield and the outfield. The infield is an area whose dimensions are rigidly defined in part ba ...

located at 521 Lincoln Street in

Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin Wisconsin Rapids is a city in and the county seat of Wood County, Wisconsin, United States, along the Wisconsin River. The population was 18,877 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is a principal city of the Marshfield, Wisconsin, M ...

, United States. It was built in 1928. It served as the home park for multiple

minor league Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities/markets. This term is used in Nort ...

teams: the Wisconsin Rapids White Sox,

Wisconsin Rapids Senators Wisconsin ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest of the United States. It borders Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michig ...

and

Wisconsin Rapids Twins The Wisconsin Rapids Twins were a Class A Minor League Baseball team that existed from 1963 to 1983, playing in the Midwest League. Affiliated with the Washington Senators (1963) and the Minnesota Twins (1964-1983), they were located in Wiscons ...

. Currently, it hosts the

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 ...

's Wisconsin Rapids Rafters and youth teams.

Witter Field History

The ballpark was home to the Wisconsin Rapids White Sox (1941–42; 1946–53) of the Class-D

Wisconsin State League The Wisconsin State League was a class D level baseball league that began in 1905, changing its name to the Wisconsin–Illinois League in 1908 and operating through 1914. The league re–organized under that name in 1926. Another Wisconsin Stat ...

. The League folded after the 1953 season, leaving Witter without professional baseball until a new team in 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 ...

started play. The

(1963) and

(1964-1983) would play for the next two decades. Following the 1983 season, the franchise moved to Simmons Field in

Kenosha, Wisconsin Kenosha () is a city in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of cities in Wisconsin, fourth-most populous city in Wisconsin, with a population of 99,986 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. S ...

. In 2010, baseball returned, as the current tenant, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters of the summer collegiate

began play in June, 2010. The park was built in 1928 and dedicated in 1934. The site housed the Lincoln High School facility, beginning in 1902 and the field was called "Lincoln Athletic Field" until 1940 when it became "Witter Field" in honor of Isaac Witter.
The wooden grandstand bleachers were replaced in 1950. 227 seats from the demolished

Milwaukee County Stadium Milwaukee County Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Opened in 1953 Milwaukee Braves season, 1953, it was primarily a baseball park for Major League Baseball's Milwaukee Braves and later the Milwaukee Brewers. It was also ...

were installed in 2010. From 2005-2008 Witter Field hosted the youth WIAC state baseball tournament. On July 18, 2011, Witter Field hosted the Northwoods League All-Star Game.

Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by a private foundation. It serves as the central collection and gathering space for the history of baseball in the United S ...

inductee

Paul Molitor Paul Leo Molitor (born August 22, 1956), nicknamed "Molly" and "the Ignitor", is an American former professional baseball player and manager. During his 21-year playing career in Major League Baseball (MLB), he played for the Milwaukee Brewers (1 ...

was present for All-Star festivities.

The site today

It is currently the home to local High School baseball, Legion Baseball and hosts the

's Wisconsin Rapids Rafters. The site also contains the Wisconsin Rapids Recreation Complex featuring the Wisconsin Rapids Aquatic Center, tennis courts,

pickleball Pickleball is a racket or paddle sport in which two or four players use a smooth-faced paddle to hit a perforated, hollow plastic ball over a net until one side is unable to return the ball or commits a rule infraction. Pickleball is played i ...

courts, ice skating, a warming house, a football field and a skate park.

Notable players

The park has hosted numerous Major League Baseball, Major League alumni, some of note include: * Ben Heller (2012) *

(1977) Appeared in games at stadium as member of the Burlington Bees * Allan Anderson (1983)

List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders In baseball, earned run average (ERA) is a statistic used to evaluate pitchers, calculated as the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. A pitcher is men by a baserunner who reached base while batting against that pitc ...

; 1988 AL ERA Leader * Mark Davidson (1982–83) *

Mark Portugal Mark Steven Portugal (born October 30, 1962) is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher who played in the major leagues from 1985 to 1999. Career Portugal attended Norwalk High School in Norwalk, California. He was signed by the Minnes ...

(1982) * Rich Yett (1981) *

Jim Eisenreich James Michael Eisenreich ( ; born April 18, 1959) is an American former Major League Baseball player with a 15-year career from 1982 to 1984 and 1987 to 1998. He played for the Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals of the American League, and th ...

(1980–81) 15 MLB Seasons; First Recipient of

Tony Conigliaro Award The Tony Conigliaro Award is a national recognition instituted in 1990 by the Boston Red Sox to honor the memory of Tony Conigliaro. It is given annually to a Major League Baseball (MLB) player who best "overcomes an obstacle and adversity thro ...

Gary Gaetti Gary Joseph Gaetti (, ; born August 19, 1958), is an American former professional baseball third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins (1981–1990), California Angels (1991–1993), Kansas City Royals (1993– ...

(1980) gg; 4 x GG; 2 x MLB AS; 1987 ALCS MVP *

Kent Hrbek Kent Alan Hrbek (; born May 21, 1960), nicknamed "Herbie", is an American former Major League Baseball first baseman. He played his entire 14-year baseball career with the Minnesota Twins (1981–1994). Hrbek batted left-handed and threw right-ha ...

(1980) MLB AS * Rick Stelmaszek (1978-80 MGR) * Bud Bulling (1975–76) * John Castino (1976) 1979 AL Rookie of the Year *

Rick Sofield Richard Michael Sofield (born December 16, 1956) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He was the Pittsburgh Pirates third base coach from 2013 to 2016 and was the manager of their Class-A South Atlantic League team the West Virginia Po ...

(1976) MLB Player, Coach * Jerry Garvin (1974) * Gary Ward (1974) 2 x MLB AS * Alvis Woods (1974) *

Randy Bass Randy William Bass (born March 13, 1954) is an American politician and former baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) and Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), and served in the Oklahoma Senate. Bass made his MLB debut in 1977, p ...

(1973) * Tom Johnson (1972) * Glenn Borgmann (1971) * Bill Campbell (1971) MLB AS; 1977 AL Saves Leader * Jim Hughes (1971) * Dave McKay (1971) MLB Player/Coach *

Johnny Goryl John Albert Goryl (born October 21, 1933) is an American former infielder, manager and coach in Major League Baseball. A right-handed batter and thrower who stood tall and weighed , Goryl apprenticed in the farm systems of the Boston / Milwauk ...

(1970, 1973–75, MGR) MLB MGR *

Steve Barber Stephen David Barber (February 22, 1938 – February 4, 2007) was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) left-handed pitcher. He pitched for the Baltimore Orioles and six other teams from 1960 to 1974. Barber spent his first eight years with th ...

(1969) 2 x MLB AS *

Rick Dempsey John Rikard Dempsey (born September 13, 1949) is an American former professional baseball player.Bill Zepp William Clinton Zepp (born July 22, 1946), is an American former professional baseball player. A right-handed pitcher, he attended the University of Michigan and later played professional baseball for four years from 1968 to 1971, including stint ...

(1968) * Steve Braun (1967) *

Tom Hall Tom Hall (born September 2, 1964) is an American video game designer best known for his work with id Software on titles such as '' Doom'', '' Wolfenstein 3D'' and ''Commander Keen''. He has also been the co-founder of Ion Storm, together wit ...

(1967) * Charlie Manual (1967, MGR 1983) MLB MGR: 1000 wins; MGR: 2008 World Series Champion - Philadelphia Phillies *

Graig Nettles Graig Nettles (born August 20, 1944), nicknamed "Puff", is an American former Major League Baseball third baseman. During a 22-year baseball career, he played for the Minnesota Twins (1967–1969), Cleveland Indians (1970–1972), New York Yankee ...

(1966) 2 x GG; 6 x MLB AS 1976 AL Home Run Leader;1981 ALCS MVP *

George Mitterwald George Eugene Mitterwald (born June 7, 1945) is an American former professional baseball player, coach (baseball), coach and manager (baseball), manager. He played in 887 Major League Baseball games played, games for the Minnesota Twins and Chic ...

(1965, 1968) * Pat Kelly (1964) MLB AS * Jim French (1963) *

Wayne Terwilliger Willard Wayne Terwilliger (June 27, 1925 – February 3, 2021), nicknamed "Twig", was an American professional baseball second baseman. He played nine seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) between 1949 and 1960 for the Chicago Cubs, Brooklyn Dod ...

(1963, MGR) *

Johnny Schaive John Edward Schaive (February 25, 1934 – May 11, 2009) was a backup second and third baseman who played in Major League Baseball between the and seasons. Listed at tall and , Schaive batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Springfield ...

(1953) *

Jim Landis James Henry Landis (March 9, 1934 – October 7, 2017) was an American professional baseball player. Landis played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a center fielder on six teams from 1957 through 1967. While playing eight seasons for the Chica ...

(1952) 5 x GG in CF; 2 x MLB AS * Glen Stewart (1949) * Bill Fischer (1942) *

Cy Buker Cyril Owen Buker (February 5, 1918 – October 11, 2011) was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945. The 26-year-old rookie right-hander stood and weighed . Buker is one of many ballplayers who only appe ...

(1942) *

Max Patkin Max Patkin (January 10, 1920 – October 30, 1999) was an American baseball player and clown, best known as the Clown Prince of Baseball (a play on "Crown Prince"). Patkin was the third "officially" crowned Clown Prince of Baseball, after Al Sch ...

(1941) Long Time baseball entertainer, featured in ''Bull Durham''; 1988 King of Baseball

References

{{NWL ballparks Buildings and structures in Wood County, Wisconsin Baseball venues in Wisconsin Minor league baseball venues Tourist attractions in Wood County, Wisconsin 1928 establishments in Wisconsin Sports in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin Sports venues completed in 1928 Defunct Midwest League ballparks