Michigan City’s minor league baseball history is centered on the Michigan City White Caps, a franchise that played in the Midwest League from 1956-1959 and featured Juan Marichal , A future Hall of Famer..

     Overview

     Michigan City, Indiana briefly hosted a professional minor league baseball in the late 1950’s.  The city’s baseball team was the Michigan City White Caps.  It competed in Midwest League from 1956–59.  The minor league team.in Hannibal, Missouri ( the Hannibal Citizens/Stags) faced financial collapse in 1955.  The player manager Al Shinn, whose in laws lived near Michigan City, Indiana proposed moving the team there.  On November 28, 1955,the league directors approved  Michigan City as a new franchise for the 1956 season.

      The team name “White Caps” referenced the white created waves of Lake Michigan

     Ames Field.

     Ames field was constructed in 1939 as a 4,000 seat multipurpose stadium with a capacity of 4,000.  It was built by the WPA in the Great Depression. It quickly became a focal point for local athletic activities.  It hosted the inaugural Michigan  City High School.Devils football game on September 15, 1939.  It also supported  semi professional baseball including the Michigan City Clubs in the 1990’s.

     Ames field became the home of the White Caps.  The field was renovated for the minor league team.  A new press box was built, as well as a new score board.  Foul ball screens and fresh paint was added. .