Tyler Wildcatters
The Tyler WildCatters were a minor league baseball team located in Tyler, Texas. The team, which existed from 1994 to 1997, played in the independent Texas–Louisiana League, and was un-affiliated with any major league baseball team. Their home stadium was historic Mike Carter Field, which has been home to various professional, semi-professional, and collegiate Baseball teams dating back to 1941. Their founding in 1994 marked the first time Tyler had a baseball team in 39 years.
Notable WildCatters
- Greg Brummett – Played for the WildCatters in 1996; made a brief appearance in 1993 with the Minnesota Twins and San Francisco Giants.
- Larry Carter – Played for the WildCatters in 1994; The only WildCatter to throw a no-hitter ; served as WildCatters' pitching coach for all four seasons of the team's existence; played for the San Francisco Giants in 1992.
- Sean Collins – Played for the WildCatters from 1995–1997; the WildCatters' all-time leader in runs, triples and stolen bases ; played seven seasons of professional Baseball -- peaking at the Double-A level with the Tulsa Drillers in 1998; appeared in the 1991 movie Talent for the Game, starring Edward James Olmos and Lorraine Bracco.
- Darrell Evans – Managed the WildCatters in 1997; played a 19-year major league career from 1969 to 1988 with the Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, and Detroit Tigers.
- Dave Hilton – Managed the WildCatters in 1996; played a four-year major league career with the San Diego Padres beginning in 1972.
- Jessie Hollins – Played for the WildCatters in 1997; appeared with the Chicago Cubs in 1992.
- Billy Johnson – Played for the WildCatters in 1994 and 1996; the WildCatters' all-time pitching leader in victories, strikeouts and innings pitched ; played six seasons of professional Baseball -- peaking at the Class A level with the Charleston Wheelers and the Waterloo Diamonds in 1992.
- Wayne Krenchicki – Managed the WildCatters in 1995; played in the majors from 1979–1986 with the Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, and Montreal Expos.
- Ken Patterson – Played for the WildCatters in 1996; played a six-year major league career from 1988 to 1994 with the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs and California Angels.
- Todd Rizzo – Played for the WildCatters in 1994; played for the Chicago White Sox from 1998–1999.
- Ken Shamburg – Played for the WildCatters from 1994–1996; the WildCatters' all-time leader in games played, at-bats, hits, doubles, home runs, runs batted in and walks ; played eleven seasons of professional Baseball -- peaking at the Triple-A level with the Rochester Red Wings for portions of the 1990–1992 seasons and with the Denver Zephyrs in 1992.
- Bill Stein – Managed the WildCatters in 1994; played a 13-year career beginning in 1972 with the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago White Sox, Seattle Mariners, and Texas Rangers.
All-Time WildCatters Player Register
- James Baldridge, RHP
- Rob Batchler, RHP
- Michael Benavidez, RHP
- Joe Bertucci, UTL
- Britton Bonneau, 2B-SS
- Luther Bowen, RHP
- John Bowles, 1B-3B
- Jeff Brown, LHP
- Greg Brummett, RHP
- Ron Caridad, RHP
- Larry Carter, RHP
- Tommy Carter, LHP
- Chris Cassels, 1B-3B-DH
- Ramon Cedeno, OF
- Matt Cesare, SS
- John Codrington, RHP
- Billy Coleman, RHP
- Sean Collins, OF-2B
- Troy Conkle, SS-RHP
- Jim Cooney, C-1B
- James Craver, OF
- Derek Dana, C
- Ray Davis, RHP
- Danny DiPace, OF-3B
- Sean Doran, RHP
- Steve Emmons, 1B
- Cody Farr, LHP
- Jason Farrow, RHP
- Rich Faulks, LHP
- Eric Ford, 2B-3B
- Gary Frank, 2B
- Cory Gafford, C
- Javier Gomez, RHP
- Clay Gould, OF
- Rafael Guerrero, OF-1B
- Lincoln Gumbs, UTL
- Chris Hancock, LHP
- Richie Hare, OF
- James Harris, 3B
- Kelly Hartman, LHP
- Tim Haugh, LHP
- Derek Henderson, 3B
- Erin Higgins, LHP
- Jessie Hollins, RHP
- Rod Huffman, RHP
- Todd Ingram, RHP
- Ray Jackson, OF
- Billy Johnson, RHP
- Jack Johnson, C
- Brett Jones, RHP
- Rich Kelley, LHP
- Ron Kitchen, RHP
- Josef Klam, C
- Kerry Knox, LHP
- Tom Koerick, C
- Damian Leyva, LHP
- Steve Long, RHP
- Steve Maddock, RHP
- Aaron Martin, LHP
- Jerry Martin, RHP
- Paul Meador, LHP
- Mark Mesewicz, LHP
- Troy Mooney, RHP
- Jeff Motes, 2B-SS
- Jason Motley, 1B
- Billy Norcross, 1B
- Joe Norris, RHP
- Clemente Núñez, RHP
- Steve Ortiz, LHP
- Ken Patterson, LHP-DH
- Steve Peck, RHP
- Carlos Perez, 1B-OF
- Sandy Pichardo, 2B-SS
- Dan Popple, RHP
- Joe Porcelli, LHP
- Dan Rambo, RHP
- Zach Randle, 2B-SS
- Ronnie Rantz, LHP
- O.J. Rhone, OF
- Tony Rich, 2B
- Elvin Rivera, RHP
- Todd Rizzo, LHP
- Chris Rusciano, RHP
- Fabian Salmon, RHP
- Todd Samples, OF
- Tom Schneider, LHP
- Ken Shamburg, OF-1B
- John Simmons, LHP
- Alex Slattery, RHP
- Jason Smiga, SS
- Joel Smith, C
- Karl Stanley, RHP
- Earl Steinmetz, RHP
- Terry Tewell, C
- Matt Torres, C
- John Turner, 2B-3B
- Rocky Turner, OF
- Mark Tuttle, RHP
- Colby Weaver, C
- Brian Williams, RHP
- Lanny Williams, UTL
- Doug Wollenburg, 2B
- Pat Woodruff, OF