WICHITA, KS- Wichita Pro Sports introduced the newest member of their family today, the Wichita Wingnuts, who begin their first season in the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball (AA) this May.
Wingnuts was chosen from over 200 entries submitted during The Wichita Eagle’s name-the-team contest as well as input submitted from numerous leaders of the business community.
“It has been a long process, but a thorough one”, said President of Wichita Pro Sports Chris Presson. “In the end we wanted a unique name and a look that would suggest fun, while still maintaining a tie-in to Wichita’s great history of aviation.”
The logo, unveiled at today’s press conference at the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame, was designed by Associated Advertising. It features a sinister baseball hiding behind the words “Wingnuts” and wearing a wingnut for a baseball cap. The team colors are red, silver and black.
Wichitan Hank Haneberg came up with the winning selection. He will receive a pair of season tickets to the 2008 Wingnuts season as well as Wingnuts merchandise. He will also receive season tickets to Wichita Pro Sports other two entities, the Wichita Thunder and the 2008 National Baseball Congress (NBC) World Series.
The Wingnuts proudly introduced Kash Beauchamp as their first field manager. Beauchamp (pronounced BEE-chum) brings 25 years of pro experience to the club, including 10 at the Independent level.
Drafted first overall by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1982 January draft, Beauchamp played 12 years of minor league baseball. During his playing career, he was a three-time all-star and in 1984 was voted the “Best Defensive Outfielder” and the “Outfielder with the Best Arm” by Baseball America. In 1993, while playing with the Northern League’s Rochester Aces, Beauchamp became the first Independent League player ever signed by a Major League Team (Cincinnati Reds).
Upon his retirement, Beauchamp served as a batting instructor with the Montreal Expos organization for three years. He took his first managerial job in 1998 with the New Jersey Jackals, leading the team to the Northeast League Title. After two more seasons with the Jackals, Beauchamp managed the Northern League’s Lincoln Saltdogs in 2001 and Adirondack Lumberjacks in 2002. Kash and the Lumberjacks moved to Bangor for the 2003 and 2004 seasons. He managed the AA’s Pensacola Pelicans in 2006.
Most recently, Beauchamp served as director of scouting and vice president of baseball operations for the South Coast League. His all-time record as manager stands at 339-324.
“We are thrilled to name Kash as our first field manager”, said Wingnuts general manager of baseball operations Josh Robertson. “He has a great resume and has built tremendous relationships throughout his 25-year baseball career, essential to helping him assemble our inaugural team.”
Beauchamp will be assisted by Pitching Coach Luke Robertson. A 27th round draft choice of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1999 amateur draft (824th overall), Robertson was a standout at Butler County College and then Kansas State University, where he compiled a combined record of 14-14. Robertson played three seasons in the Oakland A’s farm system, compiling a 12-12 record before injuries forced his retirement in 2005.
The Wingnuts formally introduced their ownership group today, led by Horn Chen. Chen has solely owned the Wichita Thunder since the franchise began Central Hockey League (CHL) play in the inaugural 1992 season. Steve Ruud, owner of the 46-year-old concrete company, R.A. Ruud and Son, Inc., spearheads the local ownership group. He is joined by Nick Easter, co-owner of NCRI, Dan Waller, vice president of Conco Construction and Gary Austerman, a partner in the law firm, Klenda, Mitchell, Austerman and Zuercher, L.L.C.
The newest members of the Wingnuts ownership team are Detroit Tigers pitcher Nate Robertson, Josh Robertson and Chris Presson. Nate, Josh and Luke Robertson are all brothers.
The American Association (AA), originally started in 1902 - and reformed in 1969 - began its current stint in October, 2005. Based in Durham, North Carolina, the Independent League fields 10 teams; including the Fort Worth Cats, El Paso Diablos, Lincoln Saltdogs and the well-known St. Paul Saints. The 96-game schedule, which runs from May thru August, will be released next week.
The Wingnuts replace the Wichita Wranglers, who relocated to Springdale, Arkansas following the 2007 Texas League season. The Wranglers had played in Wichita since 1989. They were preceded by the Wichita Pilots (1987-88), the AA’s Wichita Aeros (1970-84), the AA’s Wichita Braves (1956-58) and the Wichita Indians (1950-55).
The NBC World Series will play its 74th season from August 1-15, 2008. The NBC has been played at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium since 1935, when founder Raymond “Hap’ Dumont offered Satchel Paige, considered the greatest pitcher of the day, $1,000 to bring his touring team from Bismarck, North Dakota. Paige struck out 60 batters and won four games, as his Corwin-Churchill team beat Duncan, Oklahoma, 5-2 in the finals.
The Thunder, meanwhile, returns to action this weekend with a pair of games versus the Tulsa Oilers. Following a road game on Friday, the Thunder will host Tulsa on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at the Kansas Coliseum. For more information on baseball or hockey, please call our office at 264-GOAL or visit our websites www.wichitathunder.com and www.wichitawingnuts.com. Both sites were designed by 360wichita.
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