Tampere Tigers
Template:Use dmy dates Template:Short descriptionScript error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Tampere Tigers is a baseball and softball club from Tampere, Finland. The club competes in the two Finnish Baseball Leagues, Suomi Sarja and SM Sarja. Tampere Tigers were founded in 2004 by Arni Hukari and Lassi Autio. The Tigers have also a female softball team and a juniors program for kids 7-13.
History
Founding Years and Initial Growth (2005-2008)
The Tigers, named after the Japanese Hanshin Tigers, began in 2005, entering the Finnish Baseball League with 18 players. Despite finishing 5th in their debut season, they celebrated Rookie of the Year honors for Tomi Krogerus. In 2006, the Tigers aimed for a top-3 spot, narrowly missing it but showing marked improvement, with Tuomo Mesimäki and Niko Wirgentius earning league awards. By 2008, they had qualified for their first postseason, proving themselves in hard-fought games against the dominant Espoo Expos.
Key Individual Performances and League Progression (2009-2012)
Despite challenging seasons, the Tigers boasted standout individual achievements, including Tommi Harala’s league-best .514 batting average in 2009 and a league-high fielding percentage in 2010. Shifting to Suomi Sarja (First Division) in 2011, they achieved a solid 3-1-1 record before returning to SM Sarja in 2012, with Andres Mena leading the league with a .512 average.
Consistent Improvement and Suomi Sarja Playoff Success (2013-2015)
The Tigers continued to rise in the standings, with Andres Mena and Yoan Martinez consistently topping the league in batting averages. In 2015, the Tigers returned to Suomi Sarja, earning their second playoff appearance and finishing the season as runners-up, marking another high point in their early history.
Historic Championship and New Horizons (2016-2018)
2016 was a landmark year for the Tigers, who clinched their first Suomi Sarja title following an exceptional 13-2 regular season. In 2017, they expanded to both SM Sarja and Suomi Sarja, achieving a strong 3rd place in SM Sarja and back-to-back Suomi Sarja championships. They also established their first women’s softball team, playing three exhibition games and underscoring the club’s growth in both performance and structure. By 2018, the Tigers’ roster was at a record high, and they reached the Suomi Sarja playoffs once more, only to fall in the semifinals to rivals Espoo XL5.
First SM Sarja Finals and Continued Success (2019-2021)
In 2019, the Tigers reached the SM Sarja finals for the first time, finishing as runners-up in a hard-fought five-game series. While they opted out of the SM Sarja finals in 2020 due to disputes with league management, they returned in 2021 to claim their first SM Sarja title, defeating the Espoo Expos. The Tigers’ softball team also won the Finnish national title, earning both baseball and softball championships in a single season—a club milestone.
European Representation and Record-Breaking Seasons (2022-2023)
2022 was a record-breaking year with a 14-1 regular season, though the Tigers fell in the SM Sarja finals. Their first appearance in the European Cup Qualifiers in Poland highlighted the club's growing international presence. In 2023, they returned to the European Cup in Budapest, achieving their first international win against Sofia Leaders. Both Superbaseball and Fat Lizard teams topped the regular season in Finland, though both fell just short in the finals. A notable 11-game win streak in Superbaseball underscored their continued local dominance.
Strengthened Juniors and International Play (2024)
The Tigers faced a challenging Superbaseball season in 2024, finishing 3rd due to bullpen gaps, but they advanced to the Suomi Sarja semifinals with a mid-season roster boost. Competing in their third European Cup Qualifier in Stockholm, they faced some of Europe’s strongest teams. Meanwhile, the Tigers’ juniors program celebrated its second year in the Baltic Junior Games in Estonia, marking their first international win—a promising step for the next generation of Tigers players.
Players 2024
A combination of experienced players and talented young faces have brought strength and confidence to the team.
Official list of players
- Template:Flagicon Roynet Perez
- Template:Flagicon Jose Mesa
- Template:Flagicon Sergio Fernandez
- Template:Flagicon Mauricio Rosales
- Template:Flagicon Niko Mäki
- Template:Flagicon Gabriel Rosell
- Template:Flagicon Willys Reyes
- Template:Flagicon Jose Gonzales
- Template:Flagicon Juan Carlos Mendez
- Template:Flagicon Corey Niemi
- Template:Flagicon Adunais Perez
- Template:Flagicon Leodanys Ramos
- Template:Flagicon Jyri Portin
- Template:Flagicon Janne Pihlajaniemi
- Template:Flagicon Sakari Keskitalo
- Template:Flagicon Israel Perez
- Template:Flagicon Raynel Corporan
- Template:Flagicon Samuel Figueroa
- Template:Flagicon Emiliano Rivero
- Template:Flagicon Yi-Chen Li
- Template:Flagicon Danis Garcia
- Template:Flagicon Aleksandr Igitov
- Template:Flagicon Ergo Rohi
- Template:Flagicon Tauno Koppel
- Template:Flagicon Aleks Koppel
- Template:Flagicon Silvio Quevedo
- Template:Flagicon Yoan Martinez
On DL:
Template:Flagicon Henri Santala
Managers
The Tigers have had a great selection of managers and coaches. Working together with the Club's board, their main objectives have always been the development of new talents and building up a competitive team for each season.
- 2004 Template:Flagicon Lassi Autio
- 2005 Template:Flagicon Lassi Autio
- 2006 Template:Flagicon Lassi Autio
- 2007 Template:Flagicon Oliver Paredes
- 2008 Template:Flagicon Tuomo Mesimäki
- 2009 Template:Flagicon Lassi Autio
- 2010 Template:Flagicon Aki Ropo
- 2011 Template:Flagicon Lassi Autio
- 2012 Template:Flagicon Aki Ropo
- 2013 Template:Flagicon Andres Mena
- 2014 Template:Flagicon Luis Noyola
- 2015 Template:Flagicon Lassi Autio
- 2016 Template:Flagicon Mauricio Rosales
- 2017 Template:Flagicon Mauricio Rosales
- 2018 Template:Flagicon Mauricio Rosales
- 2019 Template:Flagicon Mauricio Rosales
- 2020 Template:Flagicon Mauricio Rosales
- 2021 Template:Flagicon Mauricio Rosales
- 2022 Template:Flagicon Mauricio Rosales
- 2023 Template:Flagicon Mauricio Rosales
- 2024 Template:Flagicon Mauricio Rosales
- 2025 Template:Flagicon Mauricio Rosales
Former or not currently active players
Throughout its history, the team has had an array of extra ordinary players. Some are still active in other teams in Finland and some are playing overseas. Some of the players have had previous experience playing baseball while some others learned to play in the club.
List of former players
- Template:Flagicon Yendrys Serrano Template:Flagicon Pasi Tulonen Template:Flagicon Tuomas Virtanen Template:Flagicon Luis Diaz Template:Flagicon Janne Ylänkö Template:Flagicon Miikka Aaltonen Template:Flagicon Juha-Pekka Niemi Template:Flagicon Tommi Harala Template:Flagicon Einieri Mainegra Template:Flagicon Luis Noyola Template:Flagicon Andres Mena Template:Flagicon Williams Kelly Template:Flagicon Remberto Martinez Template:Flagicon Niklas Palander Template:Flagicon Santeri Heino Template:Flagicon Toni Kemppainen Template:Flagicon Duviel Fernandez Template:Flagicon Harvey Fernandez Template:Flagicon Severi Lehtimäki Template:Flagicon Tuomo Vestola Template:Flagicon Simon Visser Template:Flagicon Cassie Andersen Template:Flagicon Anssi Rämä Template:Flagicon Riku Sjöroos Template:Flagicon Tuomas Lemmetty Template:Flagicon Markus Blommendahl Template:Flagicon Jarkko Vilkkilä Template:Flagicon Otto Nojonen Template:FlagiconJarkko Juutilainen Template:Flagicon Tomi Krogerus Template:Flagicon Tommi Harala Template:Flagicon Arni Hukari Template:FlagiconAkira Ropo Template:Flagicon Aki Ropo Template:Flagicon Toni Sjöman Template:Flagicon Oliver Paredes Template:Flagicon Juha Kurki Template:Flagicon Mikko Salmensuo Template:Flagicon Mauno Ahlgren Template:Flagicon Jarmo Rintala Template:Flagicon Aarne Juutilainen Template:Flagicon Olli Mehtonen Template:Flagicon Klaus Tamminen Template:Flagicon Niko Wirgentius Template:Flagicon Tuomo Mesimäki Template:Flagicon Abel Maranon Template:Flagicon Julian Hasegawa Template:Flagicon Ton Sjöman Template:Flagicon Jyrki Nummenmaa Template:Flagicon Samuli Ikola Template:Flagicon Tomi Karppinen Template:Flagicon Kari Harjunniemi Template:Flagicon Jarkko Kettunen Template:Flagicon Carlos Ardila Template:Flagicon Tommi Tuominen Template:Flagicon Juha Antikainen Template:Flagicon Alberto Martinez Template:Flagicon Tommi Sakki Template:Flagicon Victor Viloria Template:Flagicon Simopekka Vänskä Template:Flagicon Marc Phillipe Template:Flagicon Tomi Mäntymaa Template:Flagicon Tuomas Miskala Template:Flagicon Jarkko Mällinen Template:Flagicon Harri Moisio Template:Flagicon Edvin Suarez Template:Flagicon Konsta Eskelinen Template:Flagicon Otto Eskelinen Template:Flagicon Victor Maso Template:Flagicon Antony De la Cruz Template:Flagicon Atro-Matti Puruskainen Template:Flagicon Heikki Valkama Template:Flagicon Toivo Aaltonen Template:Flagicon Dayron Lester Template:Flagicon Markku Tikka Template:Flagicon Teemu Takala Template:Flagicon Antti Kiviniemi Template:Flagicon Markus Kailanto Template:Flagicon Don Kilpela Template:Flagicon Jake Binney Template:Flagicon Markku Tikka Template:Flagicon Henri Virinsalo Template:Flagicon Juuso Valkeala Template:Flagicon Jarmo Rintala Template:Flagicon Jarkko Vilkkilä Template:Flagicon Mikko Helin Template:Flagicon Joni Holmberg Template:Flagicon Dennys King Template:Flagicon Roope Korhonen Template:Flagicon Mikko Siltanen Template:Flagicon Samuel Kivi Template:Flagicon Narender Kumar Template:Flagicon Rafael Espinal Template:Flagicon Gilberto Ruiz Template:Flagicon Silvio Guarat Template:Flagicon Jeremi Rannikko Template:Flagicon Riku Katajamäki Template:Flagicon Eemi Huhtinen Template:Flagicon Jani Aaltonen Template:Flagicon Wilmer Wilson Template:Flagicon Elwin Rosario Template:Flagicon Martin Magris Template:Flagicon Lassi Autio Template:Flagicon Teo Scheepstra Template:Flagicon Tauno Koppel Template:Flagicon Camilla Lehtimäki Template:Flagicon Roberto Martinez Template:Flagicon Sidney Kitchen Template:Flagicon Vicente Herrera Template:Flagicon Heidi Rimpi Template:Flagicon Yuber Fajardo Template:Flagicon Petteri Peijonen Template:Flagicon Tuomas Virtanen Template:Flagicon Patrick Carney Template:Flagicon Christian Camacho
- Some of the players in this list become available and return to the team to play in a particular season while some others have already retired from the sport.
Statistics
Tigers SM Sarja record (Including post season)
| Year | Games | Win | Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 15 | 4 | 11 |
| 2006 | 12 | 4 | 8 |
| 2007 | 12 | 1 | 11 |
| 2008 | 14 | 4 | 10 |
| 2009 | 16 | 3 | 13 |
| 2010 | 15 | 3 | 12 |
| 2012 | 12 | 3 | 9 |
| 2013 | 15 | 4 | 11 |
| 2014 | 15 | 5 | 10 |
| 2017 | 16 | 9 | 7 |
| 2018 | 16 | 6 | 10 |
| 2019 | 20 | 15 | 5 |
| 2020 | 17 | 12 | 5 |
| 2021 | 20 | 15 | 5 |
| 2022 | 18 | 14 | 4 |
| 2023 | 17 | 13 | 4 |
| 2024 | 14 | 3 | 11 |
| Total | 264 | 118 | 139 |
Tigers Suomi Sarja record
| Year | Games | Win | Tie | Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2011 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 2015 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 5 |
| 2016 | 16 | 14 | 0 | 2 |
| 2017 | 15 | 14 | 0 | 1 |
| 2018 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 4 |
| 2019 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 |
| 2020 | 14 | 9 | 0 | 5 |
| 2021 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 4 |
| 2022 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| 2023 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 |
| 2024 | 16 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| Total | 144 | 94 | 5 | 46 |
Post-season record
The team won its first final in 2016.
2008:
SM Sarja playoff
Lost playoff series 0-2 vs Espoo Expos
2015:
Suomi Sarja final
Lost single final game 14-5 vs Espoo XL5
2016:
Suomi Sarja Final
Win single final game 8-5 vs Helsinki City
Note: In 2017 there was no post-season scheduled. The team won the title by winning more games (14) than the rest of the teams in the regular season
2018:
Suomi Sarja Playoffs
Win wildcard game 15-5 vs Nokia White Sox
Lost final series 0-2 vs Espoo XL5
2019:
Suomi Sarja final series
Lost final series 0-2 vs Espoo XL5
SM Sarja final series
Lost final series 1-3 vs Espoo Expos
2020:
SM Sarja final series
Lost final series 0-3 vs Espoo Expos (Forfeiting games 2 and 3)
2021:
SM Sarja final series
Win final series 3-1 vs Espoo Expos
Suomi Sarja final series
Lost final series 0-2 vs Espoo XL5
Softball Championship game
Win final game 14-9 against Helsinki Sandstorm
2022:
SM Sarja final series
Lost final series 0-3 vs Espoo Expos
2023:
SM Sarja final series (Superbaseball)
Lost final series 2-3 vs Espoo Expos
2024:
Quarter Final single game win 14-4 vs Helsinki Mets
Semi Final single game lost 2-4 vs Espoo XL5
Titles
- 2016: Suomi Sarja Champions
- 2017: Suomi Sarja Champions
- 2021: SM Sarja Champions
- 2021: Softball National Champions
See also
References
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Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Finnish Baseball Federation (info, scores, statistics)
https://finland.wbsc.org/en/events/2022-sm-sarja/teams
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External links
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- Finnish Baseball Federation (info, scores, statistics)
- https://finland.wbsc.org/en/events/2022-sm-sarja/teams
- https://finland.wbsc.org/en/events/2022-fat-lizard-league/schedule-and-results