Milwaukee Brewers Hall of Famer Robin Yount and Brewers announcer Bob “Mr. Baseball” Uecker joined with majority owner Jim Kacmarcik and nine others to launch the summer collegiate Northwoods League’s expansion Lakeshore Chinooks in 2011, to begin play in 2012. Having such baseball greats recognize the value of the Northwoods League and want to be a part of it was an affirmation for the growing League.
With the addition of Lakeshore, the Northwoods League added a seventh team in the state of Wisconsin. The Chinooks make their home at Concordia University in Mequon, a northern suburb of Milwaukee. Concordia University is located on 200 acres of Lake Michigan shoreline. A new 2,000 seat ballpark was constructed on the campus thanks in part to a lead donation by Kapco Metal Stamping of Grafton, WI. Kapco’s President Jim Kacmarcik is also the majority owner of the Chinooks.
The Lakeshore Chinooks became the first Northwoods League franchise to make its home in a major metropolitan area. Metro Milwaukee carries a population of more than 1.7 million people. Mequon, which is 12 miles north of Milwaukee, has a population of around 24,000.
Most baseball fans will recognize the names of two of the team’s minority owners. Major League Baseball Hall of Famer, and Milwaukee Brewers great, Robin Yount and Bob Uecker, the legendary broadcaster for the Brewers.
Yount spent his entire career with the Brewers.
MLB statistics
Milwaukee Brewers (1974–1993)
Batting average – .285
Hits – 3,142
Home runs – 251
Runs batted in – 1,406
Career highlights and awards
3× All-Star (1980, 1982, 1983)
2× AL MVP (1982, 1989)
Gold Glove Award (1982)
3× Silver Slugger Award (1980, 1982, 1989)
Milwaukee Brewers #19 retired
Uecker has served as a play-by-play announcer for Milwaukee Brewers radio broadcasts since 1971. He was honored by the National Baseball Hall of Fame with its 2003 Ford C. Frick Award in recognition of his broadcasting career. He has also had numerous acting roles.
MLB statistics
Batting average – .200
Home runs – 14
Runs batted in – 74
Teams as Player
Milwaukee Braves (1962–1963)
St. Louis Cardinals (1964–1965)
Philadelphia Phillies (1966–1967)
Atlanta Braves (1967)
Teams as Broadcaster
Milwaukee Brewers (1971–present)
Career highlights and awards
World Series champion (1964)
Ford C. Frick Award (2003)
Visit our 25th Season Celebration page to read about other memorable moments previously released.