Fond du Lac Panthers

• Location: Fond du Lac, WI
• League: Wisconsin State League 1940-1942, 1946-1953
• Affiliation: New York Yankees 1942, 1946-1952
• Ballpark:

Personal Recollection

In 1953, I was a pitcher on the Oshkosh Giants in the Class D Wisconsin State League. The Fond du Lac Panthers were also in this league. My recollection is that it operated as an "independent" franchise, without a full-time major league team affiliation. However, I do recall vaguely that they may have had some sort of tentative working agreement with the New York Yankees. Joe Tuminelli was a veteran player on the Panthers and a great hitter in this Class D professional league. He was close to leading the league in hitting, and also hit with power (home-runs). I believe he may have been a third baseman. Joe Tuminelli also may have played in Canada prior to his 1953 season in Fond du Lac.

Can we find the career stats on these two players? The Panthers also had another player, a veteran, who may have played first base. I think he was possibly an "African-Hispanic" player from South America, with the last name of "Caution" (?). Anyhow, he was a smooth graceful fielder, hitter, and runner. He seemed much older than us younger rookie players in the league. A Panther pitcher I recall was a local younger player named Don Jaber, who probably had the best pitching record on the team. His hometown was actually Fond du Lac. Fond du Lac was located only 20 miles from Oshkosh. Don Jaber probably continued his pro career after 1953, possibly in the Yankee farm system.

--Bill O'Donnell

Year-by-Year Record

Year	Record	Finish	Manager	Playoffs
1940	64-49	2nd	Harry Rice	Lost League Finals
1941	46-64	6th	Harry Rice
1942	53-49	3rd	Ray Powell	Lost in 1st round
1946	62-48	3rd	James Adlam	none
1947	58-67	7th	James Adlam	none
1948	68-57	4th	Fred Collins	none
1949	59-63	5th	Fred Collins	none
1950	65-57	4th	Wayne Tucker
1951	59-61	5th	James Adlam	none
1952	43-78	8th	James Adlam (21-42) / John Wilkinson (22-36)	none
1953	68-55	4th	Joe Consoli