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Tampere Tigers

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Tampere Tigers
Full nameTampere Tigers Baseball Club
Founded2004
StadiumTampere Tigers Baseball Field, Tampere
ChairmanHonduras Mauricio Rosales
ManagerHonduras Mauricio Rosales (2016–present)
LeagueSM Sarja - Finnish Baseball League & Suomi Sarja - Finnish Baseball First Division
2024SM Sarja: Third Place

Suomi Sarja: Third place Softball: N/A

Juniors: N/A

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

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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 Tampere Tigers became Suomi Sarjaa Champions for the first time in 2016
The Tampere Tigers became Suomi Sarjaa Champions for the first time in 2016.

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)

The 2021 Tampere Tigers softball, National Champions

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

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A combination of experienced players and talented young faces have brought strength and confidence to the team.

Finnish International Sergio Fernandez, considered one of the best players in the history of baseball in Finland and a regular in the Finnish National Team plays with the Tigers

Official list of players

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  • Cuba Roynet Perez
  • Cuba Jose Mesa
  • Cuba Sergio Fernandez
  • Honduras Mauricio Rosales
  • Finland Niko Mäki
  • Cuba Gabriel Rosell
  • Dominican Republic Willys Reyes
  • Mexico Jose Gonzales
  • Venezuela Juan Carlos Mendez
  • Finland Corey Niemi
  • Cuba Adunais Perez
  • Cuba Leodanys Ramos
  • Finland Jyri Portin
  • Finland Janne Pihlajaniemi
  • Finland Sakari Keskitalo
  • Dominican Republic Israel Perez
  • Dominican Republic Raynel Corporan
  • Dominican Republic Samuel Figueroa
  • Venezuela Emiliano Rivero
  • Taiwan Yi-Chen Li
  • Dominican Republic Danis Garcia
  • Estonia Aleksandr Igitov
  • Estonia Ergo Rohi
  • Estonia Tauno Koppel
  • Estonia Aleks Koppel
  • Finland Silvio Quevedo
  • Finland Yoan Martinez

On DL:

Finland Henri Santala

Andres Mena of Cuban origin is one of the best players in the league and in the Finnish National Team roster. He started his career in Finland playing as a short stop for the Tigers

Managers

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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.

Tiger's pregame meeting, getting ready to take on their rivals
  • 2004 Finland Lassi Autio
  • 2005 Finland Lassi Autio
  • 2006 Finland Lassi Autio
  • 2007 Venezuela Oliver Paredes
  • 2008 Finland Tuomo Mesimäki
  • 2009 Finland Lassi Autio
  • 2010 Finland Aki Ropo
  • 2011 Finland Lassi Autio
  • 2012 Finland Aki Ropo
  • 2013 Cuba Andres Mena
  • 2014 Mexico Luis Noyola
  • 2015 Finland Lassi Autio
  • 2016 Honduras Mauricio Rosales
  • 2017 Honduras Mauricio Rosales
  • 2018 Honduras Mauricio Rosales
  • 2019 Honduras Mauricio Rosales
  • 2020 Honduras Mauricio Rosales
  • 2021 Honduras Mauricio Rosales
  • 2022 Honduras Mauricio Rosales
  • 2023 Honduras Mauricio Rosales
  • 2024 Honduras Mauricio Rosales

Former or not currently active players

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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

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  • Cuba Yendrys Serrano Finland Pasi Tulonen Finland Tuomas Virtanen Dominican Republic Luis Diaz Finland Janne Ylänkö Finland Miikka Aaltonen Finland Juha-Pekka Niemi Finland Tommi Harala Cuba Einieri Mainegra Mexico Luis Noyola Cuba Andres Mena Dominican Republic Williams Kelly Cuba Remberto Martinez Finland Niklas Palander Finland Santeri Heino Finland Toni Kemppainen Cuba Duviel Fernandez Cuba Harvey Fernandez Finland Severi Lehtimäki Finland Tuomo Vestola Australia Simon Visser Australia Cassie Andersen Finland Anssi Rämä Finland Riku Sjöroos Finland Tuomas Lemmetty Finland Markus Blommendahl Finland Jarkko Vilkkilä Finland Otto Nojonen FinlandJarkko Juutilainen Finland Tomi Krogerus Finland Tommi Harala Finland Arni Hukari FinlandAkira Ropo Finland Aki Ropo Finland Toni Sjöman Venezuela Oliver Paredes Finland Juha Kurki Finland Mikko Salmensuo Finland Mauno Ahlgren Finland Jarmo Rintala Finland Aarne Juutilainen Finland Olli Mehtonen Finland Klaus Tamminen Finland Niko Wirgentius Finland Tuomo Mesimäki Cuba Abel Maranon Japan Julian Hasegawa Finland Ton Sjöman Finland Jyrki Nummenmaa Finland Samuli Ikola Finland Tomi Karppinen Finland Kari Harjunniemi Finland Jarkko Kettunen Colombia Carlos Ardila Finland Tommi Tuominen Finland Juha Antikainen Colombia Alberto Martinez Finland Tommi Sakki Cuba Victor Viloria Finland Simopekka Vänskä Canada Marc Phillipe Finland Tomi Mäntymaa Finland Tuomas Miskala Finland Jarkko Mällinen Finland Harri Moisio Cuba Edvin Suarez Finland Konsta Eskelinen Finland Otto Eskelinen Cuba Victor Maso Dominican Republic Antony De la Cruz Finland Atro-Matti Puruskainen Finland Heikki Valkama Finland Toivo Aaltonen Cuba Dayron Lester Finland Markku Tikka Finland Teemu Takala Finland Antti Kiviniemi Finland Markus Kailanto United States Don Kilpela United States Jake Binney Finland Markku Tikka Finland Henri Virinsalo Finland Juuso Valkeala Finland Jarmo Rintala Finland Jarkko Vilkkilä Finland Mikko Helin Finland Joni Holmberg Cuba Dennys King Finland Roope Korhonen Finland Mikko Siltanen Finland Samuel Kivi India Narender Kumar Dominican Republic Rafael Espinal Nicaragua Gilberto Ruiz Cuba Silvio Guarat Finland Jeremi Rannikko Finland Riku Katajamäki Finland Eemi Huhtinen Finland Jani Aaltonen Cuba Wilmer Wilson Dominican Republic Elwin Rosario Italy Martin Magris Finland Lassi Autio Finland Teo Scheepstra Estonia Tauno Koppel Finland Camilla Lehtimäki Finland Roberto Martinez Canada Sidney Kitchen Mexico Vicente Herrera Finland Heidi Rimpi Cuba Yuber Fajardo Finland Petteri Peijonen Finland Tuomas Virtanen United States Patrick Carney Cuba 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

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Tigers SM Sarja record (Including post season)

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Tampere Tigers in 2016
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

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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

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The Tigers celebrating the 2017 title after defeating XL5 in Turku

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 2021 National Champions

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

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  • 2016: Suomi Sarja Champions
  • 2017: Suomi Sarja Champions
  • 2021: SM Sarja Champions
  • 2021: Softball National Champions

See also

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References

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Finnish Baseball Federation (info, scores, statistics)

https://finland.wbsc.org/en/events/2022-sm-sarja/teams

Official website

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