Sports > Columnists > Bob Lutz

  Bob Lutz  

Time will tell about Wingnuts

Who knows what we'll be saying about the Wichita Wingnuts in a month or two. If they don't figure out their cashless system for buying concessions and souvenirs, they might be run out of town by June.

I just know that for one night -- Opening Night (delayed by a day) on Thursday -- Lawrence-Dumont Stadium was a fun place to be. Except, perhaps, for those who spent two or three innings standing in line waiting to purchase a hot dog with a card, not a bill.

I have faith the Wingnuts' management will iron out that problem and that buying a cold beverage won't be as time-consuming as purchasing a new car.

I'm even thinking the Wingnuts, who play in the independent American Association, have a chance to thrive in a town that has never found consistent love for affiliated professional baseball.

It bothered me greatly when the Double-A Wranglers, a Texas League franchise for 21 years, scooted out of town after the 2007 season for the greener pastures of Northwest Arkansas. I guess it scared me to think anyone could consider the pastures in Northwest Arkansas greener than ours.

Anyway, when it was decided independent baseball would take the place of the Wranglers, I said to myself: "There's no way this is going to work. Who wants to see a bunch of players who can't hack it in real pro ball?"

After having watched one independent league game, though, I came away impressed. Not necessarily with the play -- the Wingnuts committed five errors and the pitching on both sides was really spotty.

What impressed me was the hard work the Wingnuts' front office has put into this product, from the great team uniforms to the cleanliness of L-D Stadium to the on-field promotions and games between innings.

I'm what would be defined as a baseball purist. The game and only the game is what means most. But it seemed as if people were genuinely having fun at the ballpark, which wasn't the case in recent years with the Wranglers.

I went to just a couple of games last season as a protest to the Wranglers leaving town and the ballpark was depressing. I don't need to spend my entertainment dollars to be depressed; I succeed quite well for free.

As for the Wingnuts, one night does not a legacy make. While it's impressive that the park was nearly packed on the first night, it is not unprecedented in Wichita's baseball past.

The Triple-A Aeros debuted on April 17, 1970, to a robust crowd of 6,023. Professional baseball had been absent from the city since 1957 and the Aeros existed, with varying degrees of success, until 1984.

After a two-year absence, Larry Schmittou moved his Double-A team to Wichita. The Pilots drew 5,842 on Opening Night, April 17, 1987.

Two years later, though, and after severe attendance problems, Schmittou sold the franchise to Bob Rich and the Wranglers were born. On April 17, 1989, the Wranglers debuted before a Lawrence-Dumont record crowd of 7,112.

What did you learn from that little history lesson? Hopefully, you learned that opening on April 17 is not a good omen.

None of those three franchises were able to sustain success. In fact, minor league baseball in Wichita has never risen to the level of "Must See Entertainment".

I'm not sure the Wingnuts will, either.

Wichita has established itself as a Wichita State baseball town. And as a National Baseball Congress World Series baseball town. The professional product has struggled to find its place.

The Wingnuts, at least, are off to a promising start. Consistently large crowds hopefully will convince city fathers that Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, as much as we love her, needs to be replaced with a more fan-friendly facility.

A place where a family of four can get something to eat faster than they could if they planted their own garden and waited for the food to grow.

The Wingnuts' success or failure will hinge on things like shorter and more expedient concession lines, fun promotions, cold beer, an accurate scoreboard and a clean ballpark.

This franchise has a chance to be viable. I'm pleasantly surprised.

Eagle sports columnist Bob Lutz co-hosts "Sports Daily" from 9-11 a.m. weekdays on KFH, 1240-AM and 98.7-FM. Reach him at 316-268-6597 or blutz@wichitaeagle.com.