In 2022, the Muskegon Clippers will begin their fifth season as a member of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League. The Great Lakes League is comprised of teams from the states of Michigan and Ohio with one franchise stretching into Windsor, Ontario. The Great Lakes League was founded in 1986 and is affiliated with the National Alliance of Collegiate Summer Baseball, supported by Major League Baseball, and has proudly produced over 90 former players who have reached the major league level.
The Muskegon Clippers play their home games at historic Marsh Field. Built in 1916, the “old ballpark” has undergone numerous renovations over the past few years and features an outstanding natural grass playing surface. With 200-300 loyal fans packed into the park each night, the environment has proved to be a place where our not only our players, but opposing players as well, have loved to play. Marsh Field has been the home of Muskegon baseball for over 100 years and has a rich tradition. This ballpark has served as the home of the Muskegon Lassies of the All-American Girls Professional League as dramatized in the movie A League of Their Own. It was also the home of two minor league baseball teams, the original Muskegon Clippers (New York Yankees) and the Muskegon Reds (Detroit Tigers). Baseball historians will recognize many of the names that have appeared at Marsh Field. It is a veritable "who's who" of baseball greats. Hall of Famer Bucky Harris played for the Muskegon Reds in 1916 and Red Ruffing managed the Clippers in 1949. Other names that are easily recognizable include; Harry Heilmann, Mel Ott, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Elston Howard, Mickey Cochrane, Hank Greenberg, Charlie Gehringer, Hank Greenberg, and the immortal Satchel Paige. All of these greats once displayed their skills at Marsh Field.
The Muskegon Clippers feature a four man coaching staff when combined, have over 100 years of coaching experience at both the high school and college level. Our staff is made up of committed baseball coaches who not only care deeply about the game of baseball but their players as well. Our coaches have pledged to carry out the primary mission of our organization. Our responsibility to the players and to the schools who provide them, goes well beyond merely trying to win summer baseball games. This is a responsibility that we, as an organization, take very seriously. The primary mission of the Muskegon Clippers can be broken down into three major objectives. First and foremost, we want to ensure that our players return to their respective college programs having had a positive summer baseball experience. We believe that the Muskegon area is one of Michigan’s best kept secrets and we want our players to enjoy the benefits that our area has to offer and to enjoy the experience of playing the game of baseball at historic Marsh Field. Secondly, we want them to return to their schools as healthy as they came to us. This means that as coaches we must carefully monitor the workload of our pitchers and provide our position players with the necessary amount of rest. Finally, we want all of our players to enhance their individual skills and knowledge of the game. We hope by playing baseball at a high level and in a highly competitive environment significant growth in their skill level can occur.
The Muskegon Clippers have always strived to conduct a first-class organization. Players are housed with host families and can expect to travel to and from all games by way of charter busses, stay in quality hotels, and be provided assistance with meals while on the road. In addition, all members of the Clippers organization will have full access to the Extra Innings Hitting Facility which they may use without cost at any time. As a result of our organization’s partnership with Mercy Health Partners, all players will also have access to the downtown PEAK Performance Center where not only rehabilitation services are provided but regiments and programs aimed at helping athletes reach the “next level” of performance are available to them.
The city of Muskegon, located along the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan, is located approximately 35 minutes west of Grand Rapids. A city with approximately 40,000 people, it offers a small-town atmosphere with big city opportunities. When not at the ballpark, there is so much to enjoy along our little slice of the Lake Michigan shoreline. Summers in Muskegon mean beautiful days relaxing on the sandy beaches of Lake Michigan, fishing the many beautiful lakes and rivers that surround our city, or riding roller coasters and splashing in a water park at Michigan’s Adventure Amusement and Waterpark. There is always something to enjoy during your time in Muskegon.
On behalf of the Muskegon Clippers, we appreciate you taking the time to learn more about our organization and our community. Should you have any questions concerning the Muskegon Clippers feel free to contact us at Muskegonclippers.com. Go Clippers!
