20 seasons, still having a ball
2013 is the Whitecaps 20th season as a professional baseball organization. They formed in 1994 and were originally a Class-A affiliate for the Oakland Athletics. Then in 1997 they became the low Class-A affiliate for the Detroit Tigers. With Detroit a little over three hours south this was good marketing move for the team. The Tigers and Whitecaps have been affiliates ever since. The Whitecaps have had the same owners and management all 20 seasons and it is nice knowing that the higher ups care so much for the team and the city of Grand Rapids. They have also played at Fifth Third Ballpark all 20 seasons, but you would never be able to tell with the condition the stadium is in. I was blown away when they said the stadium is 20 years old. It is great shape for being that old. For a low Class-A affiliate the Whitecaps are run like a Triple-A team, which adds a sense of pride and professionalism. And being so close to the Tigers means that the Whitecaps occasionally get some Tiger players rehab with the team. In the past, Magglio Ordonez, Jeremy Bonderman, and Curtis Granderson have all rehabbed with the Whitecaps, and this year Tiger players Darin Downs and Omar Infante rehabbed with the Whitecaps. The city of Grand Rapids is a big supporter of everything the Whitecaps do and they help the Whitecaps be in the top 10 in attendance in the Midwest League almost every year. I know earlier in the year the Whitecaps were 5th in the Midwest League in attendance. The Whitecaps are home to five Midwest League titles, the Fifth Third burger, and have seen players like Brandon Inge, Cameron Maybin, Avaisail Garcia, and Bruce Rondon start their careers with the team. Overall, the Whitecaps are a first class organization and I wouldn't have asked for a better place to do my internship at.