With the 2025 season on the horizon, the RailCats are prepping for their 23rd season on May 9th in Milwaukee against the Milkmen.

Last season, the RailCats went 30-70 for a .300 win percentage, which was the worst season in franchise history. The previous record occurred 20 years ago in 2004, their 3rd season in existence, where they went 31-65 (.323).

In 2024, the team was dead last in the East Division and the league. They haven’t made the playoffs since the 2018 season. As a team last season, they were last in runs scored, hits, doubles, RBI, total bases, walks, stolen bases, on-base percentage, batting average, and OPS for the offensive side of the game. For the pitching side of the game, they ranked last in wins, losses, runs given up, earned runs given up, hits, walks, batters hit, saves, WHIP, SLG, AVG, and ERA.

But with all the negatives of that last season, the 2025 season is a new start, and the old saying of “history repeats itself” is a statement RailCats fans can only hope for. Back in 2004, when the RailCats had the worst season record in their youthful history, the next year they went on to beat the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks in 5 games to win the 2005 Northern League Championship, which launched the RailCats into their Golden Era!

They would go on to play in 5 straight Northern League Championships from ’05 to ’09. They would win only 1 more in the 2007 season against the Calgary Vipers in 5 games. The RailCats would win their 1st and only American Association Championship (now the Miles Wolff Cup) in 2013 as they beat the Wichita Wingnuts in 4 games.

Now looking at 2004 to 2005, severe changes happened as MLB All-Star Garry Templeton was let go as the manager for RailCats legend Greg Tagert, who now has his number 27 jersey retired at the Steel Yard. But with this 2025 team, manager Lamarr Rogers is coming back for his 4th season of duty. He is also bringing back about half of the roster from the 2024 season.

Spring training is underway, and it’s safe to say that everyone on the team is competing for a spot on the opening day roster, and the clubhouse morale seems to be in a better spot. But we won’t know if history will repeat itself until September; for now, we can only hope and cheer on this team. If the team can’t win it all, I believe most fans that truly follow this team just want to be in the playoffs again!