Journals

Erie SeaWolves Founded in 1989 Erie, Pennsylvania
100px 100px Team logo Cap insignia
Class-level
Current	Double-A (1999–Present)
Previous	Short-Season A (1989–1998)
Minor league affiliations
League	Eastern League (1999-Present)
Division	Western Division
Previous leagues	New York–Penn League (1989–1998)
Major league affiliations
Current	Detroit Tigers (2001–Present)
Previous	Anaheim Angels (1999–2000) Pittsburgh Pirates (1989–1998)
Minor league titles
Division titles	1997, 1999, 2001, 2007
Team data
Nickname	Erie SeaWolves (1995–Present)
Previous names	Welland Pirates (1989–1994)
Colors	Black, red, white, gray, yellow
Ballpark	Jerry Uht Park (1995-Present)
Previous parks	Welland Stadium (1989–1994)
Owner(s)/ Operator(s)	Fernando Aguirre
Manager	Lance Parrish
General manager	Greg Coleman
Media	Erie Times-News

The Erie SeaWolves are a Minor League Baseball team based in Erie, Pennsylvania. They play in the Eastern League as the Double-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. The "SeaWolves" name refers to Erie's location along Lake Erie and their original affiliation with the Pittsburgh Pirates, especially since the term "sea wolf" is a historical synonym of "pirate." The team plays at downtown Erie's Jerry Uht Park, which opened in 1995 and is part of the Louis J. Tullio Plaza along with Erie Insurance Arena and the Warner Theatre.

The SeaWolves' first game at Jerry Uht Park happened on June 20, 1995 with an Erie win over the Jamestown Jammers. José Guillén, now a Major League Baseball alumnus, hit the decisive home-run for the team.

History

The Erie SeaWolves were founded in 1989 in Welland, Ontario as the Welland Pirates as a member of the Short-Season New York–Penn League. The team played at Welland Stadium from 1989 to 1994 and were affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates. When the Welland Pirates relocated to Erie, Pennsylvania in 1995, they were renamed the "Erie SeaWolves." The relocation of the team from Welland to Erie forced the Frontier League incarnation of the Erie Sailors to relocate to Johnstown, Pennsylvania where they became the Johnstown Steal (this team is now known as the Florence Freedom, based in Florence, Kentucky). Before that, there was another team called the Erie Sailors which played in the New York - Penn League. However, they relocated to Wappingers Falls, New York (becoming the Hudson Valley Renegades) because the team's owner Marvin Goldklang did not upgrade Ainsworth Field to Major League Baseball specifications. Once the civic government secured an $8 million grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to build Jerry Uht Park, the Welland Pirates moved to Erie.</blockquote> While Erie lacked affiliated baseball in 1994, the city fielded a new independent baseball franchise in the Frontier League and reused the "Sailors" name. The SeaWolves succeed various Erie-based baseball franchises, namely every version of the Erie Sailors (the New York–Penn League franchise was also known as the Erie Orioles) and the Erie Cardinals (now known as the State College Spikes).

The SeaWolves served as a Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate from 1995 to 1998. In 1999, the Double-A Eastern League added two expansion franchises, with Erie gaining one of them. The team joined the Eastern League after it moved up from the Short-Season A level to the Double-A level. Therefore, the current SeaWolves organization is considered a continuation of the former one even though it changed classes. Minor League Baseball allowed Erie to keep their New York–Penn League records and history as a member of the Eastern League. Subsequently, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers replaced them in the New York-Penn League, which is officially considered an expansion franchise rather than a continuation of the SeaWolves.

The SeaWolves became an affiliate of the Anaheim Angels after moving to the Double-A level. The team switched to the Detroit Tigers in 2001, with whom they continue to be affiliated.

Standing their ground

Since Mandalay Sports Entertainment purchased the Erie SeaWolves in 2003, the team has been the object of several relocation rumors. In 2005, investors from Holyoke, Massachusetts hoped to lure the team to a brand new ballpark there. However, the Erie County Convention Center Authority heavily renovated Jerry Uht Park with modern amenities, thus anchoring the SeaWolves in Erie through 2012. In 2009, officials from Richmond, Virginia speculated that the SeaWolves would replace the departing Richmond Braves (now the Gwinnett Braves) in time for the 2010 season. Yet, it was the former Connecticut Defenders that filled the void. In 2011, representatives from Ottawa posited that the Canadian capital city would gain the Erie SeaWolves after their contracts for Jerry Uht Park and the Detroit Tigers end prior to the 2013 season. Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey, Jr. weighed in on the rumor in November 2011 and pleaded for Mandalay Sports Entertainment to keep the SeaWolves in Erie. In his plea, Senator Casey remarked, "The SeaWolves are an important part of the region’s economy, and it’s absolutely essential they stay in Erie and not move to Ottawa. In 2005, County of Erie taxpayers made a multi-million dollar commitment to improving the stadium; the team’s ownership should honor that commitment and keep the team where it belongs, in Erie."</blockquote> In April 2012, the Tigers extended their Player Development Contract with the SeaWolves through the 2014 season. Dan Lunetta, the Tigers' director of minor league operations, stated:

We are very pleased to be entering into this extension agreement through 2014 with the SeaWolves. Our partnership with the Mandalay ownership group since 2005 and the SeaWolves organization since 2001 has been a strong relationship. The strength of that partnership combined with continued improvements at Jerry Uht Park, the ongoing effort to grow fan support and Erie's proximity to Detroit and our other clubs makes this an easy decision.

The Erie Times-News cited a report by the Ottawa Citizen on September 12, 2012 that the SeaWolves are on the short-list for relocation to Ottawa along with the Binghamton Mets. However, Eastern League president Joe McEacharn indicated that there are relocation candidates under consideration for the 2014 season, but has not outlined which teams or when an announcement would be made.</blockquote> SeaWolves' general manager, Greg Coleman, denied that the team has been negotiating a move to Canada on September 19, 2012, indicating that "it's business as usual." Furthermore, he responded, "Nothing has changed on our part and it would be irresponsible for me to speculate. We won't allow (the announcement) to impact our business."</blockquote>

Logos and uniforms

The Erie SeaWolves' primary colors are black, red, yellow, gray and white. The primary logo comprises a stylized "pirate wolf" superimposed over two crossed baseball bats complete with sword hilts. Centered above it is the "Erie SeaWolves" wordmark in white, black, and yellow. The team also has various alternate logos, most of which derive from elements included in the primary logo. However, a distinctive one similar to secondary marks by the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers features a weathered black flag on a "sword-bat" with a red "E" on it. This logo alludes to the city of Erie's reputation as the "Flagship City," a reference to the USS Flagship Niagara that Oliver Hazard Perry commandeered during his 1813 victory over the British Royal Navy in the Battle of Lake Erie.

The home uniforms include an all-black cap complete with the "pirate wolf" logo and white jerseys featuring black piping. The "SeaWolves" wordmark is centered across the front in black letters with red outline and the "sword-bat" logo on the left sleeve. The away uniforms feature a gray jersey with black piping, the "Erie" wordmark in red with black outline, and the "sword-bat" logo on the right sleeve. The alternate jersey is red with black piping and includes the "Erie" wordmark in white with black outline. The "pirate wolf" logo is centered on the left sleeve.

When the Erie SeaWolves debuted as a New York-Penn League team in 1995, their original colors were Columbia blue, black, and orange. However, their primary logo looked much like the one the team used from 2001 through 2012. The SeaWolves caps from 1995 to 1998 were Columbia blue with black brims and buttons, charged with the "pirate wolf" and crossed-bats logo. The home uniforms featured Columbia blue pinstripes with the "SeaWolves" workmark centered across the front of the jersey in orange script with black outline and the "pirate wolf" logo located below it. The numbers were Columbia blue with black outline, both on the left sleeve and on the reverse. The away jersey was gray with the "Erie" workmark in orange with black outline, also featuring the "pirate wolf" logo offset below. The numbers were of a similar arrangement. The alternate jersey was Columbia blue with the "pirate wolf" logo centered on the left-side chest with black numbers on the back with white outline.

When the team graduated to Double-A ball and affiliated with the Angels, they adopted a navy blue, dark red, and gray arrangement. The logo during this period featured a sailing wolf with other maritime-themed elements. The caps were navy blue with gray brims, branded with a stylized wolf-head howling at a yellow moon. The home jersey featured navy blue piping and the "SeaWolves" wordmark in dark red with navy blue and white outline and the "howling wolf" logo on the left sleeve. The away jersey was gray, also with navy blue piping and the "howling wolf" logo on the left sleeve. The "Erie" wordmark was centered on the jersey in dark red with navy blue dropshadow. The numbers on the reverse were similar.

From 2001 to 2012, the Erie SeaWolves used a modified version of their original "pirate wolf" logo but with black and orange as the primary colors. The home cap was black charged with the "pirate wolf" logo. The home uniform from 2001 to 2011 featured white home jerseys with black pinstripes and the "SeaWolves" wordmark in black letters with orange dropshadow. The away jerseys originally featured the "Erie" wordmark in orange block letters with black dropshadow. In 2012, the SeaWolves changed to vintage white home uniforms with black and orange trim and the previous "SeaWolves" wordmark. The away jersey were gray with a stylized "Erie" wordmark in orange with white and black trim. There was also two alternate jerseys: 1) A black one with orange piping charged with the "pirate wolf" logo. 2) An orange one with black paneling featuring the "Wolves" wordmark in black with white dropshadow.

Culture

Mascots

File:CWolf.jpg

C. Wolf with students at an Erie-area elementary school.

The Erie SeaWolves' official mascot is an anthropomorphic, gray canidae named C. Wolf, the only talking character in the world of professional sports. He wears the team's official home jersey with pirate hat, orange and white bandanna, and eye patch. During the SeaWolves home games, C. Wolf is generally presented with the song Hungry Like The Wolf by Duran Duran. His friends include Paws (the Detroit Tigers' official mascot) as well as three anthropomorphic sausages from an Erie restaurant called Smith's Wieners: Kenny Kielbasa, Herbie Hot Dog, and Santino the Italian Sausage. In 2012, the SeaWolves introduced a new mascot named Perry (presumably after Oliver Hazard Perry), a nine-foot inflatable fish, to work alongside C. Wolf. The name was decided by a fan poll.

Promotions

"Buck Night" is a highly celebrated promotion by the Erie SeaWolves at Jerry Uht Park. It is held several times each season, allowing fans who have paid for reserved seats to purchase specified food items for only $1.00 each. The menu includes hot dogs, popcorn, soft drinks, and American-made beer.

Philanthropy

The Erie SeaWolves engage in many philanthropic efforts throughout Erie and its surrounding communities. Since December 2008, they have partnered with Erie's United States Marine Corps Reserve for an annual fundraiser called "Fill A Truck at the Uht," in which players and Marines work to fill a seven-ton military truck with Christmas presents for underprivileged children in support of Toys for Tots. The SeaWolves benefit Northwestern Pennsylvania high school students by facilitating a Student Ambassador Program, which is backed by Gannon University's Sports Management and Marketing. It allows adolescents to see how a professional baseball team operates.

Season-by-season results

Season results in New York–Penn League

Regular season

Welland Pirates – 1989 to 1994
Season	Affiliation	Manager	Record
1989	Pirates	U.L. Washington	32-44, 5th place Stedler
1990	Pirates	Jack Lind	36-42, 3rd place Stedler
1991	Pirates	Lee Driggers	30-47, 6th place Stedler
1992	Pirates	Trent Jewett	31-46, 6th place Stedler
1993	Pirates	Larry Smith	35-42, 5th place Stedler
1994	Pirates	Jeff Banister	30-44, 4th place Stedler

Erie SeaWolves – 1995 to 1998
Season	Affiliation	Manager	Record
1995	Pirates	Scott Little	34-41, 3rd place Stedler
1996	Pirates	Jeff Richardson	30-46, 4th place Stedler
1997	Pirates	Marty Brown	50-26, 1st place Stedler
1998	Pirates	Tracy Woodson	26-50, 4th place Stedler

Postseason

• 1997: Lost to Pittsfield Mets, 2 games to 0, in opening round

Season results in Eastern League

Regular season

Erie SeaWolves – 1999 to 2014
Season	Affiliation	Manager	Record
1999	Angels	Garry Templeton	81-61, 1st place South
2000	Angels	Don Wakamatsu	47-94, 6th place South
2001	Tigers	Luis Pujols	84-58, 1st place South
2002	Tigers	Kevin Bradshaw	52-89, 6th place South
2003	Tigers	Kevin Bradshaw	72-70, 3rd place South
2004	Tigers	Rick Sweet	80-62, 2nd place South
2005	Tigers	Duffy Dyer	63-79, 6th place South
2006	Tigers	Duffy Dyer	60-81, 6th place South
2007	Tigers	Matt Walbeck	81–59, 1st place South
2008	Tigers	Tom Brookens	68–74, 4th place South
2009	Tigers	Tom Brookens	71-70, 4th place South
2010	Tigers	Phil Nevin	66-76, 6th place West
2011	Tigers	Chris Cron	67-75, 5th place West
2012	Tigers	Chris Cron	57-84, 6th place West
2013	Tigers	Chris Cron	76-66, 2nd place West
2014	Tigers	Lance Parrish	71-71, 4th place West

Postseason

• 1999: Lost to Harrisburg Senators, 3 games to 1, in opening round
• 2001: Lost to Reading Phillies, 3 games to 1, in opening round
• 2004: Lost to Altoona Curve, 3 games to 0, in opening round
• 2007: Lost to Akron Aeros, 3 games to 1, in opening round
• 2013: Lost to Harrisburg Senators, 3 games to 1, in opening round

Current roster

Erie SeaWolves roster
Players				Coaches/Other
Pitchers 43 Tommy Collier 50 Edgar De La Rosa 10px 25 Jeff Ferrell 18 Chad Green 24 Austin Kubitza 45 Confesor Lara 31 Joe Mantiply 23 Whit Mayberry 10 Zac Reininger  8 Ryan Robowski 38 Joe Rogers 30 Warwick Saupold 43 Slade Smith 32 Josh Turley		Catchers  3 Austin Green 49 Drew Longley -- John Murrian 10px Infielders  1 Harold Castro 37 Wade Gaynor 55 Dean Green DH 20 Brendan Harris 17 John Prince 21 James Robbins Outfielders 36 Wynton Bernard * 15 Connor Harrell  7 Jason Krizan		Manager 13 Lance Parrish Coaches 39 Mike Henneman (pitching) 28 Gerald Perry (hitting) 10px 7-day disabled list * On Detroit Tigers 40-man roster ∞ Reserve list § Suspended list ‡ Restricted list # Rehab assignment Roster updated May 29, 2015 Transactions → More MiLB rosters → Detroit Tigers minor league players

Retired numbers

150px	150px
Sam Jethroe	Jackie Robinson
CF Retired by the Erie SeaWolves on June 6, 2005	2B Retired throughout professional baseball on April 15, 1997

External links

• Erie SeaWolves
• Erie SeaWolves coverage at Erie Times-News