Draft:Royal Oak Leprechauns

  • Comment: Lacking in significant coverage from reliable sources. Most everything here is either primary/non-independent, or routine coverage that would otherwise be insignificant to establish the notability of this team. Utopes (talk / cont) 07:55, 19 January 2024 (UTC)
  • Comment: Still does not have enough independent sources. DrowssapSMM 03:17, 13 December 2023 (UTC)

Royal Oak Leprechauns
Information
LeagueNorthwoods League (Great Lakes East 2024-pres)
LocationRoyal Oak, Michigan
BallparkMemorial Park
Founded1999[1]
Former league(s)Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League
ColorsGreen, King's Gold
   
MascotPaddy O’Dinger
OwnershipMark Sackett
ManagementGeneral Manager: Mark Sackett
ManagerJonathan Vance
MediaPlay-By-Play Broadcaster: Alex Miller
WebsiteOfficial website

The Royal Oak Leprechauns are a summer collegiate baseball team playing in the Northwoods League, based in Royal Oak, Michigan. The Leprechauns play their home games at Memorial Park.[2]

History

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In 2015, the team became a 501(c)(3) organization and signed with the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League as the Irish Hills Leprechauns playing out of Siena Heights University in Adrian, Michigan. [3]

In 2018, Leprechauns owner and general manager, Mark Sackett considered relocating the team to Grand Rapids, Michigan[4] but ultimately came to a 10 year agreement with the city of Royal Oak to move the team to Memorial Park, as the Royal Oak Leprechauns. [4]

In 2020, New York Yankees all-star and gold glove winning infielder, D.J. LeMahieu began supporting the Leprechauns as a primary investor, funding numerous renovations to Memorial Park.[5] In 2023, LeMahieu transitioned to the role of Leprechauns president. [6]

In October 2023, it was announced that the Leprechauns would be leaving the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League and joining the Northwoods league for the 2024 season.[7] Over 340 players from the Northwoods League have advanced to play Major League Baseball[8]. The Leprechauns are the fourth team from Michigan to join the Northwoods League which just completed its 30th season in 2023. [9]

Mascot

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Paddy O’Dinger, a leprechaun, is the mascot of the Leprechauns.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "Royal Oak Leprechauns". Royal Oak Michigan. 10 September 2018.
  2. ^ "Homepage". Royal Oak Leprechauns. 10 September 2018.
  3. ^ "Royal Oak Leprechauns | Royal Oak, MI". City of Royal Oak Website.
  4. ^ a b Paul, Tony (May 14, 2021). "College baseball stars setting up shop in Royal Oak: Here's how the Leprechauns came to be". The Detroit News.
  5. ^ Galli, Brad (June 4, 2022). "Year Two Begins for Royal Oak Leprechauns, College Summer Wooden Bat Team DJ Lemahieu Helped Start". WXYZ Detroit. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  6. ^ Paul, Tony (June 1, 2021). "'It's gonna be a great thing': Yankees' DJ LeMahieu finances Royal Oak summer team". The Detroit News.
  7. ^ "Northwoods League Welcomes the Royal Oak Leprechauns for 2024". Official Northwoods League Website. 19 October 2023.
  8. ^ "NWL Alumni Page". Official Northwoods League Website. Retrieved 2024-06-05.
  9. ^ Champion, Brandon (October 19, 2023). "Royal Oak Leprechauns to become Michigan's 4th Northwoods League team". MLive - Sports.
  10. ^ "Meet Paddy O'Dinger Our Mascot". Royal Oak Leprechauns. 16 December 2023.
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Category:Northwoods League teams Category:Amateur baseball teams in Michigan Category:Sports in Royal Oak, Michigan Category:Baseball teams established in 1999