Frequently Asked Questions for the Sale of the Timber Rattlers
Third Base Ventures, LLC has purchased Appleton Baseball Club, Inc. We are sure that you have questions. Please go read this article first, as it covers a lot of ground. Then, come back and read this FAQ: Q: Have the Timber Rattlers have been sold? Yes. Appleton Baseball Club, Inc.,
Third Base Ventures, LLC has purchased Appleton Baseball Club, Inc. We are sure that you have questions. Please go read this article first, as it covers a lot of ground. Then, come back and read this FAQ:
Q: Have the Timber Rattlers have been sold?
Yes. Appleton Baseball Club, Inc., the parent company of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and Fond du Lac Dock Spiders, has been sold to Third Base Ventures. This action was not taken lightly. We realized that the circumstances of losing the entire 2020 season due to COVID-19, the uncertainty about the 2021 season, and the upcoming changes to the landscape of professional baseball required drastic action to ensure the survival of baseball in Northeastern Wisconsin.
Q: What is Third Base Ventures?
Third Base Ventures is the new company that will run the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders. Craig Dickman, a past chairman of the board of Appleton Baseball Club, will be the majority owner. Rob Zerjav, the current Timber Rattlers president and general manager, and Brad Raaths will be the minority owners.
Q: Is the team moving out of town?
No. As part of this new arrangement, Third Base Ventures will also be purchasing the stadium. All three owners in Third Base Ventures have local ties to the Green Bay/Fox Cities area and are excited to continue playing baseball at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.
Q: Did Third Base Ventures buy the stadium, too?
Yes, the new ownership group purchased Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium from the Fox Cities Amateur Sports Authority.
Q: Why was the purchase of the stadium necessary?
The purchase of the stadium will allow the new ownership group to make necessary upgrades to the stadium as quickly as possible and provide a much need resource moving forward.
Q: I thought the Brewers owned the Timber Rattlers. Was that ever the case?
No. The Brewers have never owned the baseball team in Appleton as it has always been community-owned. The Timber Rattlers and Brewers have had a Player Development Contract since the 2009 season which amounted to the Timber Rattlers providing a place for the team to play while the Brewers provided the players and coaches.
Q: I purchased and hold a membership certificate in the Timber Rattlers. What does this mean to me?
As we forge the next era of Timber Rattlers history together, we are pleased to welcome current members of the “Owners Club” to “T-Rats Ten”. As a member of T-Rats Ten, you will receive all the same perks and benefits you have been accustomed to including complimentary tickets to Opening Day, complimentary tickets to the Team Picnic, and a team store discount. As you paid for your membership for 2020, this membership will carry over to the 2021 season and there will be no renewal costs for this upcoming season. Additional information about T-Rats Ten will be announced in the next few weeks.
Q: I thought my membership with the team was stock and I was a shareholder?
Appleton Baseball Club operated as a Not for Profit, Non-Stock Corporation under the laws of the State of Wisconsin. The membership shares have nostalgic value but have no monetary value.
Q: What is happening to Appleton Baseball Club?
The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers will still be around, but Appleton Baseball Club, Inc. will dissolve as an entity as of December 31, 2020.
Q: What does all this mean to professional baseball in the area?
This means that professional baseball will stay in Northeastern Wisconsin for well into the future. The entire Timber Rattlers staff will remain with the club, so the fun experience fans have become accustomed to will continue.
Q: Are the Timber Rattlers still a Milwaukee Brewers affiliate?
The Timber Rattlers have been extended an invitation to be the Advanced-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. We will have more details on the affiliation, our coaching staff, the length of the affiliation, and more once we have reviewed the Professional Development License. We will not be able to comment on any of this until the Professional Development License is signed. See the full article here.
Q: What is the difference between the Advanced-A and Low-A classification?
The Advanced-A classification means that players on the Timber Rattlers will be one step closer to the Major Leagues. The Low-A classification has been the place where players typically get their first taste of full-season, professional baseball. Advanced-A players usually already have that first full season under their belts and have shown enough progress to make the move up the ladder of the parent club’s minor league system. This means that some of the players who were Timber Rattlers in 2019 could be back with the Timber Rattlers in 2021.
Q: Is Matt Erickson back as the manager of the Timber Rattlers?
To be determined. The coaching staff decisions are up to the parent club.
Q: When will the 2021 season start?
To be determined. We should know more when all teams sign their PL’s and a schedule is set.
Q: Will the Brewers still send MLB players here for rehabs?
We hope that the Brewers players remain healthy and do not have any injuries that require rehabilitation assignments. If the schedules are favorable and the Brewers decide it works for them, the Timber Rattlers are ready, willing, and able to welcome any players here on rehabilitation assignments.
Q: I saw that the Midwest League has lost teams. How does this affect the Timber Rattlers?
The most likely configuration of the league will be twelve teams instead of sixteen teams. We will know more once all the Professional Development Licenses have been signed.
Q: What about prices for tickets and concessions? Are those going up?
All ticket and concession prices will remain the same as they were scheduled to be for the 2020 season. Our mission statement remains the same – Our team will create the best entertainment experience in Wisconsin so that every guest walks away with a smile and the desire to return. Our goal is to continue to provide an affordable family fun atmosphere for all fans.
25th Anniversary Green Bay Charity Softball Game Hosted by Jordan Love presented by Network Health
GRAND CHUTE, WI – Jordan Love will host the 2025 Green Bay Charity Softball Game presented by Network Health. The Game will start at 7:05pm on Friday, May 23 at Neuroscience Group Field. The event will raise money for Love’s Hands of 10ve Foundation.
Homestand Highlights: May 13-18
GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers have a lot of fun planned for you while they host the Beloit Sky Carp from May 13 through May 18. The biggest parts of the homestand are Yooper Weekend with a special ticket package for May 17 and 18 as we
Frozen Pizza Throwdown Returns to Neuroscience Group Field
GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are already rebranding as an alternate identity as the Frozen Pizzas for a game on Saturday, July 12. To continue the celebration of the World Capital of Frozen Pizzas, the team will host a Frozen Pizza Throwdown at Neuroscience Group Field on
Bachman-Turner Overdrive and The Marshall Tucker Band in Concert
GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are proud to present Bachman-Turner Overdrive and The Marshall Tucker Band with Jefferson Starship in concert for the Roll On Down The Highway 2025 Tour at Neuroscience Group Field on Thursday, July 24. Tickets for the concert benefiting Heat and Housing For
Shamrock Heights Golf Course to Host Timber Rattlers Charity Golf Outing on September 24
GRAND CHUTE, WI – The annual Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Charity Golf Outing presented by Network Health is set to be held at Shamrock Heights Golf Course in New London on Wednesday, September 24. This fun event with some great contest raises money for Timber Rattlers Give Back, the team’s official
Sky Carp Fly Past Rattlers
GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Beloit Sky Carp jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the top of the first inning and didn’t allow the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers to get back into Wednesday’s game at Neuroscience Group Field. The Sky Carp defeated the Rattlers 12-7 for their second straight win
Beloit Takes Series Opener
GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers watched an early 3-0 lead over the Beloit Sky Carp evaporate on Tuesday night at Neuroscience Group Field. The Sky Carp scored seventeen unanswered runs and went 9-for-21 with runners in scoring position as they took advantage of thirteen walks by Wisconsin
Wisconsin Earns a Series Split with a Sunday Win at Peoria
PEORIA, IL – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers took an early 4-0 lead thank to some misplays by the Peoria Chiefs on Sunday afternoon at Dozer Park. The Chiefs got back into the game, but the Rattlers held on for a 5-4 win.
Peoria’s Early Lead Too Much For Rattlers to Overcome
PEORIA, IL – The Peoria Chiefs took an early lead, built on it, and held off a late charge by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Saturday night at Dozer Park. Wisconsin trailed 7-1 after six innings on Saturday and got to within 7-5 with the tying runs in scoring position
Chiefs Pull Away from Rattlers
PEORIA, IL – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers watched the Peoria Chiefs pull away from a 2-2 tie midway through Friday’s to defeat Wisconsin 8-4 game at Dozer Park. Bryce Madron, Peoria’s number nine hitter, went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and started three key rallies for the Chiefs to pick
T-Rat Talk: Tyson Hardin
On a typical weekend day at this time last year pitcher Tyson Hardin would be settling in to wait his turn in the Mississippi State bullpen. This year, however, he’s playing a much more prominent role in the Midwest League with the Timber Rattlers.
Wisconsin Holds On After Taking Late Lead in Peoria
PEORIA, IL – In a staring contest between the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and the Peoria Chiefs on Thursday night at Dozer Park, it was the Chiefs who blinked first. Wisconsin pitchers worked through jams all night, but kept the game tied until the offense could score a late run to
Timber Rattlers to Host Mother’s Day Brunch at the Ballpark
GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers will host Mother’s Day Brunch in the Fox Communities Credit Union Fox Club at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium on Sunday, May 11. There are two sessions for brunch this year with the team on the road that day. Make
Peoria Beats Wisconsin 3-1 at Dozer Park
PEORIA, IL – The Peoria Chiefs built a 3-0 lead, and the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers could not cash in on several good opportunities to score on Wednesday afternoon at Dozer Park. The result was a 3-1 Peoria victory with Wisconsin leaving the tying runs on base in both the eighth
Rattlers Rally from Five-Run Deficit to Beat Peoria 14-9
PEORIA, IL – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers didn’t let deficit of 5-0 and 8-3 get them down in game one of their series against the Peoria Chiefs at Dozer Park on Tuesday night. The Rattlers took advantage of several bouts of wildness and got some clutch hits from Eduardo Garcia
Wisconsin Earns a Series Split with 7-3 Win over Whitecaps
GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers rallied from an early 3-0 deficit to defeat the West Michigan Whitecaps 7-3 on Sunday afternoon at Neuroscience Group Field. Wisconsin totaled eleven hits, took advantage of five walks from Whitecaps pitchers, and played flawless defense in the win.
Whitecaps Outduel Rattlers in 1-0 Decision
GRAND CHUTE, WI – The West Michigan Whitecaps scratched out the only run of Saturday’s game at Neuroscience Group Field with an eighth inning sacrifice fly to defeat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 1-0. Wisconsin was held to four hits in the game.
Letson Ks Nine as Wisconsin Beats West Michigan
GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers gave Bishop Letson plenty of support on Friday night at Neuroscience Group Field. The Rattlers scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning and Letson – after a slight hiccup in the second inning – took care of the West
Timber Rattlers Presented with Robert A. Udulutsch Award by LEAVEN Fox Cities
GRAND CHUTE, WI – LEAVEN Fox Cities presented the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and the American Culinary Federation – Fox Valley with their Robert A. Udulutsch Award at the organization’s Dinner for a Cause banquet. Charles Behrmann, Executive Chef for the Rattlers and a member of the ACF – Fox Valley,
Whitecaps Wash Away Wisconsin Leads to Hand Rattlers 6-3 loss
GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers had leads of 1-0 and 3-2 against the West Michigan Whitecaps on Thursday Night at Neuroscience Group Field. However, the East Division-leading Whitecaps rallied past Wisconsin by taking advantage of some walks with some clutch two-out hits on the way to a
Woodruff and Wisconsin Pick Up Win Over Whitecaps
GRAND CHUTE, WI – Brandon Woodruff of the Milwaukee Brewers allowed an unearned run on three hits and a walk with three strikeouts over 5-2/3 innings in his rehabilitation start for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Wednesday afternoon at Neuroscience Group Field. The Rattlers scored four runs in the second inning,
Ninth Inning Unkind to Wisconsin
GRAND CHUTE, WI – The West Michigan Whitecaps put one ball in play in the top of the ninth inning on Tuesday night against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at Neuroscience Group Field. They still managed to rally for four runs to erase a 4-3 deficit to defeat the Rattlers 7-4.
Culpepper Leads Kernels Past Wisconsin
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Kaelen Culpepper homered and drove in five runs for the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Sunday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Stadium. His performance led the Kernels to an 8-1 lead over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in the final game of the six-game series.
Pérez Powers Wisconsin Past Kernels
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Hedbert Pérez broke a 2-2 tie with a solo homer in the top of the eighth inning to push the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in front of the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Saturday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Wisconsin would go on to a 4-2 victory.
Letson & Three Relievers Shut Out Kernels for 1-0 Win
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Four Wisconsin Timber Rattlers pitchers – Bishop Letson, Bayden Root, Dikember Sanchez, and Aaron Rund – held the Cedar Rapids Kernels to four hits in a shutout for a 1-0 win at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Friday night. Letson tossed 5-1/3 scoreless innings and earned his