Gary SouthShore RailCats

Gary SouthShore RailCats
Team logo Cap insignia
Information
League	American Association of Professional Baseball (2011-present) (East Division)
Location	Gary, Indiana
Ballpark	U.S. Steel Yard
Year founded	2001
League championships	3 (2005, 2007, 2013)
Division championships	4 (2006, 2007, 2009, 2018)
Former league(s)	Northern League (2002–2010)
Colors	Green and maroon
Retired numbers	42, 45, 23
Ownership	Salvi Sports Enterprises
Manager	Vacant
General Manager	Anthony Giammanco
Media	WEFM 95.9 Post-Tribune The Times of Northwest Indiana
Website	railcatsbaseball.com

The Gary SouthShore RailCats are a professional baseball team based in Gary, Indiana, in the United States. The RailCats are members of the American Association of Professional Baseball, an official Partner League of Major League Baseball.^[1] The RailCats started as a member of the Northern League in 2002, operating as a travel team for a season before moving in to U.S. Steel Yard in 2003, where they have played since. In 2011, the team became a member of the modern American Association.

During their time in the Northern League, the RailCats were the only team to ever reach the championship series five years in a row (2005–2009). The RailCats won Northern League championships in 2005 and 2007, and the American Association championship in 2013.

History[]

Inception (2001)[]

On January 23, 2001, the Northern League announced that it had awarded a franchise to Northwest Sports Ventures, LLC.^[2] In June, a limited liability company by the name of Victory Sports Group was officially registered in Missouri, led by Michael A. Tatoian. The city signed a fifteen-year lease with the team ownership for the future baseball stadium. In September 2001, the team was officially named the Gary SouthShore RailCats, drawing its name from both the city's deep history of freight lines and the South Shore Line commuter train (visible over the left field wall at the stadium).

Northern League (2002–2010)[]

With stadium construction behind schedule, the RailCats were forced to play their first season entirely on the road. The city of Gary paid a financial penalty for failure to complete the stadium on time, which helped finance their season. The RailCats traveled approximately 12,000 miles (19,000 km) to play 90 games. Despite this, the club won 35 games, the most ever by a team that played exclusively on the road, and RailCats manager was named the Northern League Manager of the Year.

In 2002, the RailCats signed a ten-year naming rights agreement with United States Steel Corporation for the stadium. Joe Calfapietra resigned as manager citing that he wanted to be closer to home. The RailCats hired former major league All-Star Garry Templeton to manage the team. The RailCats were little more than a pushover, firmly stuck in last place.

Garry Templeton returned as coach for another season leading the Cats in their worst season in 2003. In June, they had a 14-game losing streak which was the longest in Northern League history. They completed the season in last place again securing the record for the most losses for a season in Northern League history. Templeton was not retained for the next season.

Before the 2005 season, the RailCats hired Greg Tagert as manager. Tagert made a number of roster changes, and turned the RailCats from losers to winners almost immediately, ending the first half with a .563 average, the first winning average in team history. The Northern League All-Star Game was held at U.S. Steel Yard. The second half went the same as the first but ended with an upset victory making the worst team in 2004, the 2005 champions. The RailCats beat the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks to win the title.

Tagert returned as manager in 2006. The Cats were first in their division, second overall for the season. They returned to the championship series to face the RedHawks again. This time losing the title.

Tagert returned for the 2007 season. He proved that he could make the RailCats a legacy team. The RailCats appeared unstoppable all season. Winning first place both halves. The RailCats made it to the championship series against the Calgary Vipers and won their second league title.

Prior to the 2008 season, the Cats signed Tagert to an extended contract to keep him at least until the completion of the 2010 season. Lawyer and his wife, Lindy, purchased the RailCats. The league contracted to six teams. Due to the size, the league opted to have a single-division full season. Tagert again led the Cats in a winning season, ending in second place. They lost the championship series to the fourth-place Kansas City T-Bones, who beat the first place RedHawks in the playoffs to make it to the series.

The Cats ended the 2009 season in first place, yet again, and made it to the championship season for the fifth-straight season, but lost to the RedHawks.

The 2010 Cats finished in fourth place in the Northern League, their worst place finish in five years. For the first time since 2004, the RailCats did not reach the championship series, being swept by the RedHawks in the league semifinals.

American Association (2011–present)[]

On October 13, 2010, the RailCats left the Northern League, along with the RedHawks, T-Bones, and the Winnipeg Goldeyes to join the American Association for the 2011 season.^[3]

In 2020, the RailCats were not selected as one of six teams to participate in a condensed American Association season as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.^[4] They went on hiatus for the 2020 season, and returned to play in 2021.

After finishing in last place in the North Division with a 39-61 record in 2021, Greg Tagert left the organization after 17 years to join the San Francisco Giants organization.^[5]

Season-by-season records[]

					First Half			Second Half			Overall
	Season		League		Division	W–L		Finish	W–L		Finish	W–L		Win%		Playoffs
	2002		NL		South	16–28		5th	18–27		3rd	35–55		.389		Did not qualify
	2003		NL		East	15–30		5th	21–24		5th	36–54		.400		Did not qualify
	2004		NL		South	13–35		5th	18–30		5th	31–65		.323		Did not qualify
	2005		NL		South	27–21		3rd	27–21		3rd	54–42		.563		Won championship
	2006		NL		South	24–24		2nd	27–22		1st	51–46		.526		Lost championship
	2007		NL		South	30–18		1st	28–20		1st	58–38		.604		Won championship
	2008		NL		N/A	56–40		2nd	N/A		N/A	56–40		.583		Lost championship
	2009		NL		N/A	57–39		1st	N/A		N/A	57–39		.594		Lost championship
	2010		NL		N/A	52–48		4th	N/A		N/A	52–48		.520		Lost in 1st round
	2011		AA		Central	54–46					2nd	54–46		.540		Did not qualify
	2012		AA		Central	50–50					3rd	50–50		.500		Did not qualify
	2013		AA		Central	58–41					2nd	58–41		.586		Won championship
	2014		AA		Central	53–47					2nd	53–47		.530		Did not qualify
	2015		AA		Central	45–55					3rd	45–55		.450		Did not qualify
	2016		AA		Central	52–48					2nd	52–48		.520		Did not qualify
	2017		AA		Central	57–43					2nd	57–43		.570		Lost first round
	2018		AA		North	59–41					1st	59–41		.590		Lost first round
	2019		AA		North	40–59					5th	40–59		.404		Did not qualify
	2020		AA													Did not play due to COVID-19
	2021		AA		North	39—61					6th	39–61		.390		Did not qualify

Playoffs[]

• 2005 season: Defeated St. Paul 3–2 in semifinals; defeated Fargo-Moorhead 3–2 to win championship
• 2006 season: Defeated Schaumburg 3–2 in semifinals; lost to Fargo-Moorhead 3–1 in championship
• 2007 season: Defeated Winnipeg 3–2 in semifinals; defeated Calgary 3–2 to win championship
• 2008 season: Defeated Winnipeg 3–1 in semifinals; lost to Kansas City 3–1 in championship
• 2009 season: Defeated Kansas City 3–2 in semifinals; lost to Fargo-Moorhead 3–1 in championship
• 2010 season: Lost to Fargo-Moorhead 3–0 in semifinals
• 2013 season: Defeated Fargo-Moorhead 3–1 in semifinals; defeated Wichita 3–1 to win championship
• 2017 season: Lost to Wichita 3–0 in semifinals
• 2018 season: Lost to St. Paul 3–1 in semifinals

Roster[]

Gary SouthShore RailCats roster v t
Active (22-man) roster				Coaches/Other
Pitchers 41 Jack Eisenbarger 10 Chris Erwin 64 Nick Garcia 66 Adam Heidenfelder 37 Trevor Lubking 49 Aaron Phillips 80 Keisy Portorreal 58 John Sheaks 81 Carlos Vega 56 Josh Vincent 46 Andrew Vonderschmidt		Catchers 30 Marshall Skinner 72 Jackson Smith Infielders 44 Daniel Lingua 31 Jose Mercado  8 Hayden Schilling  7 Thomas Walraven  2 Michael Woodworth  1 Brandon Zaragoza Outfielders 25 Billy Cooke 14 Raymond Jones 18 Jesus Marriaga 34 Alec Olund 11 M.J. Rookard 20 Zach Welz		Manager TBD Coaches 35 Marty Joyce (third base) Stephanie Lohman (trainer) 19 Tony Rodriguez (first base) 22 Matt Schmidt (hitting) 13 Tom Thornton (pitching) Disabled list ‡ Inactive list § Suspended list Roster updated February 11, 2022 Transactions

Notable alumni[]

Source:^[6]

Retired numbers[]

Jackie Robinson	Joe Gates[7]	Willie Glen[8]
2B Retired throughout professional baseball on April 15, 1997	1B Coach Retired by the Gary SouthShore RailCats on May 21, 2010	P Retired by the Gary SouthShore RailCats on July 5, 2014

References[]

Specific

General

• nlfan.com – yearly league standings and awards

External links[]

• Official website
• RailCats page on OurSports Central
• nlfan.com RailCats Guide

Achievements
Preceded by St. Paul Saints 2004	Northern League champions Gary SouthShore RailCats 2005	Succeeded by Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 2006
Preceded by Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 2006	Northern League champions Gary SouthShore RailCats 2007	Succeeded by Kansas City T-Bones 2008