A Home Run Night with the Lansing Lugnuts

Mark one off the “To-Do in Lansing” list and take me out to the ballgame.   

Another of the 19 things visitors should do in Lansing is off the list: I went to a Lansing Lugnuts game. I did not realize that this ball club has such a long and storied history.  

Beginning as the Lafayette Chiefs in Indiana in 1955, the team moved to Iowa, where they spent almost four decades going by the names Waterloo Hawks, Royals, and Diamonds. They became the Sultans of Springfield when they moved to Illinois in 1994. In 1996, the team was bought by Tom Dickson and Sherrie Myers, moved to Lansing, and named the “Lugnuts.”  

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This High-A team has paved the way for several different Major League teams over the years, including the Kansas City Royals, Chicago Cubs, and Toronto Blue Jays. Currently, the Lansing Lugnuts are affiliated with the Athletics—formerly the Oakland Athletics/A’s.  There have also been quite a few Major League Players who spent some time in the Nuts House: Carlos Beltrán and Noah Syndergaard just to name a couple. Current Lugnuts Tommy White, Joshua Kuroda-Grauer, Gage Jump, and Rodney Green are on track to be in the big leagues soon. I’m no expert, but they looked pretty good to me. 

With an average pitch speed of 93 mph and a crowd that was one of the biggest so far this season, it was a great night for a ball game. I’m happy to report the Lugnuts won this particular game 7—3 over the Fort Wayne TinCaps and helped me remember why I like baseball. Thanks for another amazing experience, Lansing. This “To-Do” gets two thumbs way, way up.