12/31/2006

Beach Bums take area, Frontier League by storm

Merchandising, attendance for new TC team is brisk

BY JEFF PEEK

jpeek@record-eagle.com

Record-Eagle file photo
Traverse City Beach Bums pitcher Tony Casoli tips his hat to the crowd before the final game of the team’s inaugural season at Wuerfel Park. Casoli was the Frontier League Pitcher of the Year.

TRAVERSE CITY — It was a Bummer of a summer.

And that was a good thing for northwest Michigan baseball fans.

On May 24, 2006, the Traverse City Beach Bums took their positions at Wuerfel Park for the first time — becoming the area's first minor league team in nearly 100 years — and a love affair began.

The Bums were a huge hit, both on and off the diamond.

Fans swarmed in record numbers, and not just for the baseball. They also came for the giveaways and fireworks and food and socializing.

Merchandise sales were brisk, with online purchases delivered to 49 of 50 states and several countries abroad. Beach Bums memorabilia and clothing was so popular, in fact, that team officials said total sales were more than the other nine Frontier League teams combined.

And the baseball? It was exciting, with the players exhibiting more skill than many expected from an independent league team of supposed castoffs and wannabes.

It's no wonder co-owners John and Leslye Wuerfel can't stop smiling.

"It's been incredibly rewarding and rather humbling,” Leslye Wuerfel said recently. "It's exciting how well-received it's been.

"The Grand Traverse area wrapped its arms around us.”

And the fans haven't let go.

Even in the off-season, Wuerfel said interest in the Beach Bums has remained high, with healthy merchandise and season ticket sales. The team's 2006 highlight DVD, released earlier this month, was a popular Christmas gift idea, Wuerfel said.

"We're really proud of it,” Wuerfel said. "It's a great way for fans to relive some of the memories of the summer.”

Many of those memories included spending time with family, and greeting old friends and making new ones, Wuerfel said.

"That's something we didn't really think about ahead of time,” she said. "You see a lot of the same faces night after night, and sitting with the kids (her grandchildren), I got to know people up and down that aisle real well.

"To have the opportunity to sit and chat with people was fun for us,” Wuerfel said. "I saw people I hadn't seen since high school. I know a lot of people have said the same thing.

"Having the opportunity to re-connect made it even more special.”

Traverse City manager Jeff Isom said he could feel the fans go from onlookers to active participants in a matter of months.

"When I brought my coaching staff to Traverse City in January, we talked to people around town and there was interest, but not many people really knew much about the team,” Isom said. "Things started to change when we came to town for camp in May, and by the end of the season you could tell that we were embraced by the community.

"I've been in professional ball for 14 years, and this was the third time I've been part of an inaugural season. The other two times couldn't compare to Traverse City.

"This is something special.”

By the end of the season, the Beach Bums had averaged 4,241 fans for 48 home games, leaving their final attendance at 203,574, a Frontier League record for a first-year franchise.

The team was named East Division Franchise of the Year.

On the diamond, the Bums racked up a 57-39 record, setting another mark for most wins by a first-year franchise, and they remained in the East Division playoff race until the final weekend.

The Bums also set a record for fielding percentage, and second baseman Steve Young broke the league record for sacrifice hits.

But no one had a better individual season than right-handed pitcher Tony Casoli.

Casoli, who turned 25 in August, went 13-3 with a 2.44 earned-run average, led the league in shutouts (4) and won Pitcher of the Year honors. During one stretch in late June and early July, Casoli hurled a league-record 35 consecutive scoreless innings, something he said he had never come close to doing before — "not in high school, not in college, not ever.”

"I'd never done anything like that,” Casoli said after the streak ended against Gateway on July 9. "The guys in the clubhouse started saying, 'What you're doing is pretty amazing.' In college (at Georgia Southwestern) I didn't pitch shutouts, even in seven-inning games.”

Traverse City manager Jeff Isom said he had never seen such a dominating stretch.

"I've had some pretty good pitchers, but I've never seen anything like that, obviously,” Isom said at the time. "Tony just goes out and takes command of games from start to finish. His work ethic, the way he prepares — he's just fun to watch.”

Casoli will return next summer, as will the Bums' entire starting infield. But a number of fan favorites — including the first player in franchise history, designated hitter/outfielder Mike Reese and slick-fielding center fielder Doug Garcia — won't be back.

That isn't likely to curb the fans' enthusiasm for the Beach Bums, however. Wuerfel said she saw plenty of evidence last summer to make her believe the team is in for another big year.

"Everybody was happy,” Wuerfel said of the fans. "That was the neatest part. There aren't many places where you look around and see everyone smiling.”

Opening day is May 23 at Kalamazoo. Two days later, the Bums host the Kings in their home opener at Wuerfel Park.