Whitecaps nominated for Minor League Baseball's top award

COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps have been named the Midwest League's nominee for Minor League Baseball's John H. Johnson President's Award.

The John H. Johnson President's Award, Minor League Baseball's top award, honors a "complete" baseball franchise that has demonstrated franchise stability and significant contributions to its community, league and the baseball industry.

Whitecaps CEO Lew Chamberlin said the West Michigan community is to thank for the team being named the Midwest League's nominee for the President's Award.

"I think it's as much a tribute to the community as it is to our organization," Chamberlin said. "The major criteria in determining the winner of this award is franchise stability, and our stability is a result of the fabulous support of the West Michigan community.

"This nomination also reflects the hard work our staff has put in over the last two decades to make the franchise a success," Chamberlin said.

After nominees from all leagues are reviewed by the MiLB Awards Committee, recommendations are presented to the President and Executive Vice President of MiLB for a final decision. The winner will be announced and presented with the award at the Baseball Winter Meetings in Orlando, FL, in December.

Since the award's inception in 1974, three Midwest League teams have won it: Quad City (1980), Cedar Rapids (2008) and Dayton (2012).

The Whitecaps won Minor League Baseball's Larry McPhail Promotional Award for demonstrating outstanding and creative marketing and promotional efforts in 2007.

The 2014 season ticket information will be available in October.

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