Byline: JOEL RIPPEL; STAFF WRITER
Dick Radatz Jr. had high hopes when he helped launch a summer league for college baseball players in 1994. 'It's funny,' Radatz said. 'I had pretty big dreams. Did then, and still do, now. I see it going beyond where we're at now.'
The Northwoods League completed its 17th regular season Monday. Since 1994 the league has grown from five to 16 teams.
The league, which added its 15th and 16th teams (in Willmar and Wisconsin Rapids) this year and has teams in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ontario, has had an increase in overall attendance every year but one (2008).
Even with a stormy summer, the league drew 853,518 fans -- an average of 1,646 per game -- this year. The attendance total came despite having 50 games -- 9 percent of the scheduled 560 games -- rained out or suspended by weather this year.
'I think with the success of our business model and the amount of interest in the league, we'll go past 16 teams,' said Radatz, who has a master's degree in sports administration and worked for several major-league organizations before starting the league. 'I can see us going into the metro areas of Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Chicago and Detroit.'
As the league president, Radatz said his day-to-day focus is on 'improvement of the league and moving forward with our video, fantasy league and foundation.'
The league made a big investment in the last year to produce webcasts from each team.
'We have a four-camera production at every ballpark,' said Radatz. 'I don't know of any other league, at any level, below the major leagues that has that.'
One thing that has contributed to the league's growth has been the caliber of play. In 2005, 72 of the league's players had been drafted by major-league teams. This season, 160 players had been drafted.
The league has the longest schedule (68 games) and most teams of the 18 summer collegiate leagues. The Cape Cod (in Massachusetts), in its 114th season, has 10 teams.
