Chillicothe Paints

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Chillicothe Paints
ChillicothePaintsLogo.png
Information
LeagueProspect League (Eastern Conference)
LocationChillicothe, Ohio
BallparkV.A. Memorial Stadium
Year founded1993
League championships2 (2010, 2019)
Division championships13 (1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2019) Includes regular season and postseason titles
Former league(s)Frontier League (1993-2008)
ColorsNavy Blue, Red, White      
OwnershipPaints Sports & Entertainment
ManagementBryan Wickline (Managing Partner)
ManagerJohn Penn
MediaChillicothe Gazette
Websitechillicothepaints.com

The Chillicothe Paints are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Chillicothe, Ohio, in the United States.[1] The team is a member of the summer collegiate Prospect League.[2] The Paints previously played in the professional independent Frontier League from 1993-2008.[3] The Paints play their home games at V.A. Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe.[4]

Frontier League era[]

The Chillicothe Paints were one of the eight original franchises to begin Frontier League play in 1993. Two teams, the West Virginia Coal Sox and the Tri-State Tomahawks did not complete the season as the league struggled with stability.[3] In 1994, the Paints featured Brian Tollberg who went 7-4, 2.48 ERA, and was then signed by the Milwaukee Brewers organization. Tollberg would become the first Frontier League alumnus to make the majors when he started for the San Diego Padres on June 7, 2000, pitching 7 innings in a 3-1 Padres victory.[5][6]

The league solidified and the Paints found their footing by 1996 when Chillicothe dominated the league with a 48-26 (.649) record, advancing to the Frontier League championship, losing to the Springfield Capitals 3-0 in the best of five series.[7] This was the first of six championship series appearances for the Paints during the Frontier League era, none of which resulted in a championship. The 1996 Paints were led by a trio of power bats in Scott Pinoni (.384 BA, 11 HR, 65 RBI), Jackie Jempsen (.340 BA, 13 HR, 57 RBI) and Mitch House (.305 BA, 18 HR, 53 RBI).[8]

Manager Roger Hanners had the team in the championship series again in both 1998 and 1999, dropping the 1998 series to Springfield 2-1[9][10] and the 1999 title series to the London Werewolves 2-0 in a best of three.[11] The Paints were led at this time by the stellar hitting of Gator McBride, a former Atlanta Braves farmhand, who came to Chillicothe and would finish his Frontier League career with a .423 BA, .758 slugging percentage, 27 homers, and 111 RBI. The Boston Red Sox took notice of his resurrected career and signed him after 39 games of the 1999 season.[12][13] His career was cut short by injuries sustained in an automobile accident in February 2000, forcing him into retirement.[14][15][16]

The Paints returned to the Frontier League championship in 2001 with a division-winning 51-31 (.607) record, but were upset by the Richmond Roosters 2-0 in the series.[17] Rick Blanc (13-1, 3.24 ERA), Matt McKay (.345 BA, 1 HR, 48 RBI), Darin Kinsolving (.327 BA, 10 HR, 62 RBI) and Joe Colameco (.325 BA, 10 HR, 60 RBI) paced the balanced Chillicothe squad.[18]

Former major-leaguer Glenn Wilson took over as manager in 2005[19] and took the Paints to back-to-back championship appearances, dropping the 2005 series 3-2 to the Kalamazoo Kings[20][21] and the 2006 series 3-0 to the Evansville Otters.[22] John Martinez (16-4, 3.11 ERA), Jose Rodriguez (.380 BA, 5 HR, 36 RBI), and John Ramistella (.317 BA, 20 HR, 73 RBI) led the 2005 Paints,[23] while Kurt Hartfelder (10-5, 16.7 ERA) and Travis Garcia (.289 BA, 11 HR, 66 RBI) led the 2006 team.[24] VA Memorial Stadium had grass from 1993–2005, but the ballpark installed FieldTurf in 2006, the first baseball field in the United States to have a 100% FieldTurf playing surface, including base, mound and home plate areas.[25][26]

Paints outfielder in front of the VA Memorial Stadium scoreboard in 2006

The Frontier League had changed from predominately rural and smaller towns into a surburban league over the years, and the Paints faced financial and attendance challenges as a result.[27][28] Following the 2008 season, the ownership announced that they would leave the Frontier League, becoming an amateur collegiate summer baseball team. The Paints were the longest tenured franchise in the Frontier League in 2008 and the last remaining original Frontier League team in the league.[29][30][31]

The Paints are represented in the Frontier League Hall of Fame by owner Dr. Chris Hanners, 1B Scott Pinoni, infielder Mitch House, OF Willie Edwards, pitcher Bobby Chandler, OF Gator McBride, and 3B Travis Garcia.[32]

Prospect League era[]

Since 2009, the Chillicothe Paints have competed in the Prospect League, an amateur collegiate summer league. In 2010, the Paints won their first Prospect League championship against the Danville Dans on an 11th inning walk off home run by Ian Nielsen.[33] The 2010 Paints were led by OF Jeff Holm (.359 BA, 11 HR, 60 RBI), pitcher Blake Mascarello (7-1, 2.86 ERA) and closer Kyle Lindquist (4-1, 10 saves, 2.86 ERA).[34]

The Paints celebrated their 25th season in 2017. As part of the festivities, the Paints retired longtime coach Marty Dunn's number 25 in a pregame ceremony that included former players and staff throughout the first 24 seasons of Paints baseball. That season, the Paints averaged 1,959 fans per game, setting a franchise record in both average attendance and total attendance. The 58,755 total attendance marked a new Prospect League record. The Paints ranked in the top 10 of all summer collegiate teams nationwide in per-game attendance in 2017.[35][36]

After missing the playoffs in 2016 and 2017, Chillicothe made a return to the playoffs in 2018, losing to the Kokomo Jackrabbits two games to one in the East Division Championship Series. It was the first playoff appearance for manager Brian Bigam since he took over the reins in 2016. Jack Raines was named the Prospect League's Galen Woods Fireman of the Year (Reliever of the Year).[37]

The Paints began the 2019 season 2–7, but went 41-14 the rest of the campaign (including 3–1 in the playoffs) and defeated the Danville Dans in a one-game East Division Championship Game and then, after losing game one of the Prospect League Championship Series at home to the league's newest team, the Cape Catfish, the Paints won games two and three in Cape Girardeau, Mo., to capture the franchise's second league title. Trailing 2–1 in the middle of the game, Trey Smith hit a grand slam to put Chillicothe in the lead 5–2, the eventual final score.[38][39] Closer Nate Haugh was named the Prospect League's Galen Woods Fireman of the Year (Reliever of the Year) and the team was paced by C Cole Andrews (.320 BA, 11 HR, 61 RBI) and pitcher Austin Calopietro (6-1, 2.47 ERA).[40] For the first time in team history, the Paints averaged at least 2,000 fans per game (2,037) and totaled 57,040 for the season, leading the league and ranking 15th nationally in both categories among similar type teams nationwide.[41][42]

Retired numbers[]

  • 20 - OF Gator McBride (All-Star and hit leader)
  • 22 - P Brian Tollberg (first Frontier League player to make it to the MLB with the San Diego Padres)
  • 24 - SS Travis O. Garcia (2007 FL Most Valuable Player)
  • 25 - Bench Coach Martin Dunn (Paints' Bench Coach from 1993-2015)
  • 27 - 3B Mitch House (3-time All-Star)
  • 29 - OF Steve Martin (died during the 2006 season)[43][44]
  • 30 - DH/1B Scott Pinoni (1999 Most Valuable Player; 3-time All-Star)
  • 50 - Manager Roger Hanners (1993 FL Manager of the Year, managed Paints 1993-2000)

Major Leaguers[]

  • P Brian Tollberg (Pitched for the San Diego Padres from 2000 to 2003)
  • P A.J. Achter (Pitched for the Angels and Twins from 2014–2016; Pitched for the Paints in 2009)
  • 3B Mike Cervenak (Played 10 games for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008; Spent 13 seasons in the minor leagues; played for the Paints in 1999 & 2000)

Managers[]

List of Managers
Name Seasons Regular Season Record Post-season Record Playoff App. Divisional Titles League Titles
Mark Jones 1 14–15 (.483) 0–0 0 0 0
Roger Hanners 8 289–267 (.520) 8–10 (.444) 4 4 0
Jamie Keefe 4 142–161 (.468) 3–6 (.333) 2 2 0
Glenn Wilson 2 111–79 (.584) 8–9 (.471) 2 2 0
Mark Mason 2 86–106 (.448) 0–0 0 0 0
Brian Mannino 3 98–72 (.576) 2–2 (.500) 2 2 1
Greg Cypret 4 152–98 (.608) 3–7 (.300) 4 2 0
Brian Bigam 4 129–115 (.529) 4–3 (.571) 2 1 1
Total 28 1021–913 (.528) 28–37 (.431) 16 13 2

Season-by-season records[]

League champions †
 Divisional champions *
 Playoff berth ^
Season League Division Finish Wins Losses Win% Post-season Manager
Chillicothe Paints (Frontier League)
1993 Frontier West 2nd 25 27 .481 Mark Jones/Roger Hanners
1994* 1st 33 34 .493 Lost Round 1 (Scouts) 2–1 Roger Hanners
1995 8th 21 48 .304
1996* East 1st 48 26 .649 Won Round 1 (Steal) 2–1
Lost Frontier Championship (Capitals) 2–0
1997 3rd 41 38 .519
1998* 1st 48 31 .608 Won Round 1 (Crocodiles) 2–1
Lost Frontier Championship (Capitals) 2–1
1999^ 2nd 45 38 .542 Won Round 1 (Otters) 2–0
Lost Frontier Championship (Werewolves) 2–0
2000 3rd 42 40 .512
2001* 1st 51 33 .607 Won Round 1 (Crocodiles) 2–1
Lost Frontier Championship (Roosters) 2–0 		Jamie Keefe
2002 5th 35 49 .417
2003* 1st 54 31 .635 Lost Round 1 (Otters) 2–1
2004 4th 48 48 .500
2005^ 2nd 53 42 .558 Won Round 1 (Wild Things) 3–2
Lost Frontier Championship (Kings) 3–2 		Glenn Wilson
2006^ 2nd 58 37 .611 Won Round 1 (Wild Things) 3–1
Lost Frontier Championship (Otters) 3–0
2007 2nd 47 49 .490 Mark Mason
2008 2nd 39 57 .406
Chillicothe Paints (Prospect League)
2009* Prospect East 1st 31 25 .554 Lost Prospect Championship (Gems) 2–0 Brian Mannino
2010† 1st 39 17 .696 Won Semifinal (Dans)
Won Prospect Championship (Gems)
2011 5th 26 30 .464
2012^ 2nd 36 24 .600 Lost East Division Championship (Miners) Greg Cypret
2013^ 2nd 34 26 .567 Lost EDS (Miners) 2–0
2014* 1st 40 20 .667 Won EDS (BlueSox) 2–0
Lost Prospect Championship (Gems) 2–1
2015* 1st 38 22 .633 Lost EDS (Miners) 2–1
2016 6th 23 37 .383 Brian Bigam
2017 4th 29 31 .483
2018^ 2nd 34 26 .558 Lost EDS (Jackrabbits) 2–1
2019† 1st 43 21 .672 Won EDS (Dans)
Won Prospect Championship (Catfish) 2–1

References[]

  1. ^ "Chillicothe Paints Baseball - Home". Chillicothe Paints.
  2. ^ "About the Chillicothe Paints". Chillicothe Paints.
  3. ^ a b "League History – Frontier League".
  4. ^ "VA Memorial Stadium". Chillicothe Paints.
  5. ^ "Brian Tollberg Book: "The Long-Awaited Day" chapter". Jeff Louderback. April 8, 2019.
  6. ^ "Brian Tollberg Stats". Baseball-Reference.com.
  7. ^ Soxka, Mark (September 3, 1996). "Paints come up dry". Chillicothe Gazette. p. 5 – via newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "1996 Chillicothe Paints minor league baseball Statistics". StatsCrew.com.
  9. ^ Kimsey, Doug (September 11, 1998). "Heartbroke again". Chillicothe Gazette. p. 7 – via newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Kimsey, Doug (September 11, 1998). "Paints". Chillicothe Gazette. p. 8 – via newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Kimsey, Doug (September 9, 1999). "Not Again!". Chillicothe Gazette. p. 7 – via newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Gator McBride Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  13. ^ Sonka, Monk (July 2, 1998). "'Gator' a hit with Paints fans". Chillicothe Gazette. p. 6 – via newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Gray, Phil (February 2, 2003). "New beginning". Chillicothe Gazette. p. 11 – via newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Gray, Phil (February 2, 2003). "Beginning". Chillicothe Gazette. p. 12 – via newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Engelhardt, Gordon (July 9, 2017). "Castle grad McBride named to Frontier League Hall of Fame". Evansville Courier & Press.
  17. ^ Gray, Phil (September 8, 2001). "Tough night in Chillicothe". Chillicothe Gazette. p. 6 – via newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "2001 Chillicothe Paints". The Baseball Cube.
  19. ^ Gray, Phil (April 6, 2005). "Wilson laid back and ready for the season". Chillicothe Gazette. p. 6 – via newspapers.com.
  20. ^ Johnson, Michael S. (September 20, 2005). "Hard to swallow". Chillicothe Gazette. p. 1 – via newspapers.com.
  21. ^ Johnson, Michael S. (September 20, 2005). "Paints". Chillicothe Gazette. p. 2 – via newspapers.com.
  22. ^ Gray, Phil (September 16, 2006). "Otterball does it all". Chillicothe Gazette. p. 6 – via newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "2005 Chillicothe Paints minor league baseball Statistics on StatsCrew.com". StatsCrew.com.
  24. ^ "2006 Chillicothe Paints minor league baseball Statistics on StatsCrew.com". StatsCrew.com.
  25. ^ "Always Greener". Chillicothe Gazette. March 19, 2006. p. 9 – via newspapers.com.
  26. ^ Gray, Phil (March 19, 2006). "Field". Chillicothe Gazette. p. 11 – via newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Paints have given the fans, town lots of memories". Chillicothe Gazette. September 4, 2008. p. 4 – via newspapers.com.
  28. ^ Herrnstein, John (September 7, 2008). "Letter to the Editor: Community owes a lot to Paints' owner". Chillicothe Gazette. p. 4 – via newspapers.com.
  29. ^ Gray, Phil (September 4, 2008). "The final fling". Chillicothe Gazette. p. 6 – via newspapers.com.
  30. ^ Gray, Phil (November 13, 2008). "Future of Paints comes into focus". Chillicothe Gazette. p. A5 – via newspapers.com.
  31. ^ Gray, Phil (November 13, 2008). "Paints". Chillicothe Gazette. p. A6 – via newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "Hall of Fame – Frontier League".
  33. ^ Gray, Phil (August 12, 2010). "Style points". Chillicothe Gazette. p. 9 – via newspapers.com.
  34. ^ "Chillicothe Paints | Pointstreak Stats". chillicothe.bbstats.pointstreak.com.
  35. ^ "The history of Prospect League baseball and the Central Illinois Collegiate League (CICL) | Prospect Collegiate Baseball LLC".
  36. ^ "Paints Debut 25th Anniversary Logo & Season Ticket Deal | Chillicothe Paints". www.chillicothepaints.com.
  37. ^ "Prospect League Record Book | Prospect Collegiate Baseball LLC". www.prospectleague.com.
  38. ^ Wysong, David (August 15, 2019). "Paints win 2019 Championship". Chillicothe Gazette. p. B1 – via newspapers.com.
  39. ^ Wysong, David (August 15, 2019). "Paints". Chillicothe Gazette. p. B2 – via newspapers.com.
  40. ^ "Chillicothe Paints | Pointstreak Stats". chillicothe.bbstats.pointstreak.com.
  41. ^ Reichard, Kevin (2019-08-12). "2019 Summer Collegiate Attendance by Average". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved 2019-11-04.
  42. ^ Reichard, Kevin (2019-08-12). "2019 Summer Collegiate Attendance by Total". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved 2019-11-04.
  43. ^ Gray, Phil (July 7, 2006). "Steve Martin in our hearts". Chillicothe Gazette. p. 9 – via newspapers.com.
  44. ^ Cranmer, Steve (July 17, 2006). "Remember Steve in your own personal way". Chillicothe Gazette. p. 6 – via newspapers.com.

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