Lansing Lugnuts

The Lansing Lugnuts are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Athletics. They are located in Lansing, Michigan, and play their home games at Jackson Field.

The Midwest League came to Lansing after owners Tom Dickson and Sherrie Myers moved the team to work with the city for a public-private lease to build a new stadium. Mayor David Hollister, and the City Council worked to attract the owners and build the stadium for downtown economic development. The team began playing in downtown Lansing in 1996. The franchise began as the Lafayette Red Sox in Lafayette, Indiana, in 1955; after two seasons it became the Waterloo Hawks, moving to Waterloo, Iowa, where it stayed for 36 seasons. Before the 1994 season it moved to Springfield, Illinois, but only spent two seasons there before moving to Lansing. The franchise was an affiliate of the Kansas City Royals on two occasions in three cities: as the Waterloo Royals from 1969 through 1976, as the Sultans of Springfield in 1995, and then, upon the team's move to Lansing, from 1996 through 1998. The Lugnuts were then an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs from 1999 through 2004 before joining the Jays' farm system for the 2005 season. In September 2014, the Jays extended their agreement with the Lugnuts through the 2016 season. In October 2016, their player development contract was extended through the 2018 season. Since 2021, they have been be the High-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics.

The Lugnuts' ballpark, Jackson Field, opened in 1996. The stadium seats over 10,000 fans and is one of the most handicapped accessible stadiums in the country. The franchise attendance record of 538,326 was set during its inaugural year. They won the Midwest League Championship in 1997 and 2003. The Lugnuts have their own original song which plays immediately after the national anthem for every home game accompanied by their mascot, Big Lug.

In conjunction with Major League Baseball's restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Lugnuts were organized into the High-A Central. In 2022, the High-A Central became known as the Midwest League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization.

The Lansing Lugnuts are a Minor League Baseball team based in Lansing, Michigan. They are affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays and compete in the Midwest League. The team's name pays homage to the city's history as a major manufacturing hub for automobiles, as lug nuts are a key component in assembling cars.

The Lugnuts play their home games at Cooley Law School Stadium, a modern ballpark located in downtown Lansing. The stadium offers a family-friendly atmosphere with affordable ticket prices, making it a popular destination for baseball fans of all ages.

The team has a dedicated fan base known for their enthusiastic support and passionate cheers during games. The Lugnuts have a strong tradition of developing talented players who go on to have successful careers in Major League Baseball.

Overall, the Lansing Lugnuts are a beloved and respected team in the Minor League Baseball community, known for their competitive spirit, exciting games, and commitment to excellence both on and off the field.