South Bend Silver Hawks

MiLB infobox
name = South Bend Silver Hawks
founded = 1988
city = South Bend, Indiana
misc =

uniform
class level = Single-A (1988-present)
past class level=
current league = Midwest League (1988-present)
conference =
division = Eastern Division
past league =
majorleague = Arizona Diamondbacks (1997-present)
pastmajorleague = Chicago White Sox (1988-1996)
nickname = South Bend Silver Hawks (1994-present)
pastnames = South Bend White Sox (1988-1993)
ballpark = Stanley Coveleski Regional Stadium (1988-present)
pastparks =
leaguechamps = 1989, 1993, 1991, 1997, 2001 "(co-champions with Kane County)", 2005
divisionchamps = 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2006, and 2008
misc6 =
owner = Joe Kernan
manager = Mark Haley
gm = John Baxter

The South Bend Silver Hawks are a U.S. Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Arizona Diamondbacks, that plays in the Midwest League.

South Bend, Indiana was awarded a Midwest League franchise in 1988. Originally affiliated with the Chicago White Sox and bearing the name of the parent club, the team was renamed in 1994. The name "Silver Hawks" was chosen to as an homage to the Studebaker Silver Hawk, which was once manufactured in South Bend. In 1997 the team switched affiliations to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Their most notable players are Brandon Webb and Justin Upton, who was the #1 overall draft pick in 2005.

The team's home park is Coveleski Stadium, built in 1987 and named for Stan Coveleski, the Hall of Fame pitcher who once resided in South Bend. The franchise attendance record of 258,424 was set in 1994.

Despite playing through rumors of sale and relocation in the near future to Marion, Illinois, the Silver Hawks managed a championship season in 2005, beating the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers three games to two to win the 2005 Midwest League Championship. The team also won league titles in 1989 and 1993.

Former Indiana Governor (and former South Bend Mayor) Joe Kernan recently bought the team, thus keeping the team in South Bend.

The team has one mascot, Swoop. Professional wrestler Brian Costello often MCs various contests between innings.

References

* Dinda, J. (2003), "South Bend, Indiana, in the Midwest League," http://www.mwlguide.com/cities/southbend/index.html

External links

* [http://www.silverhawks.com Silver Hawks web site]
* [http://www.futurebacks.com FutureBacks - In-depth Silver Hawks coverage]
* [http://www.diamondbacksbullpen.org DiamondbacksBullpen - Coverage of the Arizona Diamondbacks at all levels]