The Beloit Snappers are a Class A minor league baseball

Minor league baseball

Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...

 team, affiliated with the Minnesota Twins

Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...

, that plays in the Midwest League

Midwest League

The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...

.

Beloit

Beloit, Wisconsin

Beloit is a city in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2010 census, Beloit had a population of 36,966. The greater Beloit area is home to more than 91,000 residents.-Claim to fame:...

 joined the Midwest League as an expansion franchise in 1982. They were a Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...

 farm team from its beginning through 2004; they switched to the Twins' farm system for the 2005 season. They adopted the Snappers nickname in 1995 after using the parent team's nickname for its first 13 seasons. The name derives from the snapping turtle

Chelydridae

Chelydridae is a family of turtles which has seven extinct and two extant genera. The extant genera are Chelydra the snapping turtles, and its larger relative Macrochelys, of which the Alligator Snapping Turtle is the only species. Both are endemic to the Western Hemisphere...

, because Beloit was formerly known as Turtle Village and there is still a Turtle Creek and a town of Turtle

Turtle, Wisconsin

Turtle is a town in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,444 at the 2000 census. The city of Beloit lies partially within the town...

. All of these are named for a turtle-shaped Indian mound

Tumulus

A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...

 on the campus of Beloit College

Beloit College

Beloit College is a liberal arts college in Beloit, Wisconsin, USA. It is a member of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest, and has an enrollment of roughly 1,300 undergraduate students. Beloit is the oldest continuously operated college in Wisconsin, and has the oldest building of any college...

.

Their home park is Harry C. Pohlman Field

Harry C. Pohlman Field

Harry C. Pohlman Field is a baseball field located in Beloit, Wisconsin, USA. The stadium was built in 1982 and holds 3,501 people. It is the home of the Beloit Snappers ....

 at Telfer Park, built in time for the 1982 season. The franchise attendance record of 10,127 was set in 1986.

The 2003 team included two sons of former major league

Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...

 players. Prince Fielder

Prince Fielder

Prince Semien Fielder is a Major League Baseball free agent who plays first base. He is currently listed at 5' 11" and . He was selected by the Brewers in the first round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft out of Eau Gallie High School in Melbourne, Florida.He is the son of former Detroit...

, the son of former American League home run

Home run

In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...

 champion Cecil Fielder

Cecil Fielder

Cecil Grant Fielder is a former professional baseball player who was a noted power hitter in the 1980s and 1990s. He attended college at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas . He played with the Toronto Blue Jays , Detroit Tigers , New York Yankees , Anaheim Angels and Cleveland Indians...

 and Tony Gwynn, Jr.

Tony Gwynn, Jr.

Anthony Keith "Tony" Gwynn, Jr. is a Major League Baseball player, who is currently with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is the son of baseball Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn.-Amateur career:...

, son of Tony Gwynn

Tony Gwynn

Anthony Keith "Tony" Gwynn, Sr. , nicknamed Mr. Padre and Captain Video, is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is statistically one of the best and most consistent hitters in baseball history. He played his entire 20-year baseball career for the San Diego Padres...

. Future major leaguer Danny Valencia

Danny Valencia

Daniel Paul Valencia is a third baseman for the Minnesota Twins.In high school, he was all-county three times and all-state twice. In college, he was Southern Conference Freshman of the Year, second-team all-conference, and on his all-regional team...

 played for the 2007 team.

Another noted Major Leaguer, Jim Morris

Jim Morris

James "Jimmy" Samuel Morris, JR is a former American professional baseball player known for his brief Major League Baseball career....

 of The Rookie fame played for the Beloit Brewers when he came out of college in the 1980s. Other former Snappers players who moved on to Major League ball include Greg Vaughn, Geoff Jenkins, Jeff D'Amico, Ron Belliard and Ben Sheets. Minnesota Twins players that have come through include Matt Garza and Kevin Slowey.

Because the Milwaukee Brewers withdrew their support due to the lack of a new stadium, efforts are underway to build one similar to facilities used by the Rockford RiverHawks

Rockford RiverHawks

The Rockford RiverHawks are a professional baseball team based in the Rockford, Illinois suburb of Loves Park, in the United States. Currently, the RiverHawks are a member of the Frontier League, which they previously played in from 2002 until 2009. From the 2002 season to 2005, the RiverHawks'...

 or the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are a minor league baseball team of the Midwest League, and the Class A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Grand Chute, Wisconsin, and are named for timber rattlesnakes. The team plays its home games at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium...

. One possible location near Janesville

Janesville, Wisconsin

Janesville is a city in southern Wisconsin, United States. It is the county seat of Rock County and the principal municipality of the Janesville, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 62,998.-History:...

 could involve renaming the team to reflect a broader Rock County audience. A Dubuque group is said to be interested as well.

Notable alumni

• Mike Adams
• Chris Barnwell
  Chris Barnwell
  Christopher Edward Barnwell is a Major League Baseball infielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.-Career:...
  
  
• Chris Bosio
  Chris Bosio
  Christopher Louis Bosio is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Milwaukee Brewers and Seattle Mariners from to and a current major league pitching coach...
  
  
• Craig Breslow
  Craig Breslow
  Craig Andrew Breslow is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Oakland Athletics. He throws left-handed, and is considered a lefty specialist....
  
  
• Greg Brock
  Greg Brock (baseball)
  Gregory "Greg" Allen Brock is a retired baseball player who played for 10 seasons in Major League Baseball. A first baseman for his entire major league career, he split his big league career evenly with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers.-Early life:Brock was born in McMinnville,...
  
  
• Tom Candiotti
  Tom Candiotti
  Thomas Caesar Candiotti is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who was known for his knuckleball. He played for the Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Indians, Toronto Blue Jays, Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Dodgers...
  
  
• Chris Capuano
  Chris Capuano
  Christopher "Chris" Frank Capuano is an American professional baseball player.-Early life:Capuano graduated from St. Thomas School in West Springfield in 8th grade...
  
  
• Alexi Casilla
  Alexi Casilla
  Alexi Casilla Lora is a Major League Baseball second baseman and shortstop for the Minnesota Twins.-Professional career:...
  
  
• Jason Childers
  Jason Childers
  Jason Lee Childers is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays organization.He is the brother of Matt Childers.-External links:...
  
  
• Matt Childers
  Matt Childers
  Matthew Wilkie Childers is an American Major League Baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan.-Career:...
  
  
• Jeff Cirillo
  Jeff Cirillo
  Jeffrey Howard Cirillo is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball. In a 14-season career, Cirillo was a .296 hitter with 112 home runs and 727 RBI in 1617 games. He was named an All-Star in and . He is the Brewers all-time career leader in batting average at .306...
  
  
• Carlos Corporan
  Carlos Corporan
  Carlos Fernando Corporan is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Houston Astros.-Professional career:...
  
  
• Jeff D'Amico
  Jeff D'Amico
  Jeffrey Charles D'Amico is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from to .D'Amico, sometimes nicknamed "Big Daddy", was a starting pitcher who played for the Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Cleveland Indians.His career record was 45 wins, 52 losses, 498 strikeouts and a...
  
  
• Tim Dillard
  Tim Dillard
  Timothy Charles Dillard is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers. He is the son of former major league infielder Steve Dillard.-College career:...
  
  
• Brian Drahman
  Brian Drahman
  Brian Stacy Drahman is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played during four seasons at the major league level for the Chicago White Sox and Florida Marlins. He was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2nd round of the secondary phase of the 1986 amateur draft...
  
  
• Brian Duensing
  Brian Duensing
  Brian Matthew Duensing is a major league baseball starting pitcher for the Minnesota Twins.-High school:...
  
  
• Cal Eldred
  Cal Eldred
  Calvin John Eldred is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for 14 seasons from to ....
  
  
• Dana Eveland
  Dana Eveland
  Dana James Eveland is a left-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher with the Los Angeles Dodgers.Eveland throws a four-seam fastball, slider, changeup, and curveball. He is 6' 1" and weighs 230 pounds....
  
  
• Prince Fielder
  Prince Fielder
  Prince Semien Fielder is a Major League Baseball free agent who plays first base. He is currently listed at 5' 11" and . He was selected by the Brewers in the first round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft out of Eau Gallie High School in Melbourne, Florida.He is the son of former Detroit...
  
  
• Tim Fortugno
  Tim Fortugno
  Timothy Shawn Fortugno is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He graduated in 1980 from Uxbridge High School ....
  
  
• Chad Fox
  Chad Fox
  Chad Douglas Fox is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Fox played for the Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, Florida Marlins, and the Chicago Cubs. He won the 2003 World Series championship as a member of the Marlins...
  
  
• Armando Gabino
  Armando Gabino
  Armando Leisdeker Gabino is a professional baseball pitcher.-Cleveland Indians :Gabino was originally signed by the Cleveland Indians on April 19, 2001, He started his career as a third baseman, but the Indians converted him into a pitcher in 2004...
  
  
• Yovani Gallardo
  Yovani Gallardo
  Yovani Gallardo is a Mexican-American right-handed starting pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers. He was selected in the second round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft out of Trimble Technical High School in Fort Worth, Texas....
  
  
• Matt Garza
  Matt Garza
  Matthew Scott Garza is a United States professional baseball pitcher with the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball.-Amateur career:He attended Washington Union High School and Fresno State.-Minnesota Twins:...
  
  
• Tony Gwynn, Jr.
  Tony Gwynn, Jr.
  Anthony Keith "Tony" Gwynn, Jr. is a Major League Baseball player, who is currently with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is the son of baseball Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn.-Amateur career:...
  
  
• Bill Hall
• Teddy Higuera
  Teddy Higuera
  Teodoro Higuera Valenzuela is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for nine years for the Milwaukee Brewers of the American League.-Early career:...
  
  
• Mike Ignasiak
  Mike Ignasiak
  Michael James Ignasiak is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched parts of four seasons in the major leagues between and , all for the Milwaukee Brewers.Mike is the younger brother of fellow former major league pitcher Gary Ignasiak.-Sources:...
  
  
• Hernan Iribarren
  Hernán Iribarren
  Hernán Alcides Iribarren is a Major League Baseball infielder who is a free agent.-Minor league career:Iribarren was first signed as an undrafted free agent by the Milwaukee Brewers on March 26, 2002...
  
  
• John Jaha
  John Jaha
  John Emil Jaha is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball who had a 10-year career from 1992 to 2001...
  
  
• Geoff Jenkins
  Geoff Jenkins
  Geoff Jenkins is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball. He previously played for the Milwaukee Brewers from until and the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008...
  
  
• Bobby Jones
  Bobby Jones (left-handed pitcher)
  Robert Mitchell Jones is a former Major League Baseball player who pitched in Major League Baseball from -. He made his MLB debut on May 18, 1997, for the Colorado Rockies....
  
  
• Mark Kiefer
  Mark Kiefer
  Mark Andrew Kiefer is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played in parts of four seasons in the majors, from until , for the Milwaukee Brewers. He pitched a total of 44 games, all in relief...
  
  
• Mike Kinkade
  Mike Kinkade
  Michael Arthur Kinkade is a former Major League Baseball player who was primarily a left fielder, but also spent time as a first baseman, right fielder, third baseman, designated hitter, and catcher....
  
  
• Danny Klassen
  Danny Klassen
  Daniel Victor Klassen is an infielder who is currently a free agent. He previously played for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Detroit Tigers....
  
  
• Dave Krynzel
  Dave Krynzel
  David Benjamin Krynzel , is a Major League Baseball outfielder. He made his major league debut on September 1, ....
  
  
• Manny Parra
  Manny Parra
  Manuel Alex "Manny" Parra is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers.-Early life:...
  
  
• Trevor Plouffe
  Trevor Plouffe
  Trevor Patrick Plouffe is an American professional baseball outfielder. He currently plays for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball.- Minor leagues :...
  
  
• B.J. Surhoff
  B.J. Surhoff
  William James "B. J." Surhoff is a former catcher, outfielder, first baseman, third baseman, and designated hitter in Major League Baseball. Over his 18-year major league career, he played every position except pitcher...
  
  
• Ty Van Burkleo
  Ty Van Burkleo
  Tyler Lee Van Burkleo was a former bench coach for the Seattle Mariners and a former first baseman in major league baseball. He played for two different major league teams in his career: the California Angels and Colorado Rockies...
  
  
• Greg Vaughn
  Greg Vaughn
  Gregory Lamont Vaughn is a former Major League Baseball left fielder and right-handed batter who played for the Milwaukee Brewers , San Diego Padres , Cincinnati Reds , Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Colorado Rockies . He was born in Sacramento, California, where he attended Kennedy High School...
  
  
• Carlos Villanueva
• Rickie Weeks
  Rickie Weeks
  Rickie Darnell Weeks is a Major League Baseball second baseman for the Milwaukee Brewers....