Fond du Lac Dock Spiders celebrate 10th anniversary

Chris Rugowski

Contributor

July 13, 2026

FOND DU LAC – The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders are celebrating its 10th season with major upgrades to Herr-Baker Field and new food menu additions. 

General Manager Jim Misudek said the addition of field turf is one of the biggest 2026 upgrades, making games more efficient for both teams.

He said he credits community support for helping the Dock Spiders reach 10 seasons – something he expects to continue into the future. 

Success starts with good management

Misudek, a Fond du Lac native, said his lifelong love of sports made returning as general manager a natural fit.

He said he began his career with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers as a season-long intern, an experience that further deepened his interest in the game, especially on the media side.

From there, Misudek said he moved on to the Milwaukee Brewers for two years, the Cincinnati Reds for a year, the Atlanta Braves for five years and finally the Baltimore Orioles for six years.

“I moved around a lot, and then had an opportunity to come back and do this here in Fond du Lac,” he said. “My roles in MLB were in media relations and PR, so I’d travel with the team and do all the team communications.”

Misudek said the biggest difference is scale, noting that the Dock Spiders’ entire staff would equal just one department in the major leagues.

Though, he said it’s the right number of people for the organization. 

Misudek said his experience has helped him build an organization focused on excellence on and off the field, in the front office and throughout the community.

He said watching the team from afar and now being involved are very different perspectives, recalling the early excitement as “something neat for the community.”

The Timber Rattlers were involved in bringing the team to Fond du Lac, which Misudek said made his start with the organization especially meaningful. 

“Knowing the people involved and staying in touch, bouncing ideas off each other, even when I was in the major leagues, and then seeing it come to life, in a ‘something-from-nothing’ sense, was cool,” he said. “I grew up five minutes from here, and that connection is personal to me.”

Misudek said he has seen strong growth during his time with the Dock Spiders, using his major league background to help shape and support the team and staff. 

“I want this to be a place for interns to get their start working in sports, but I also want you to bring me experience you have and show me you’re serious about it,” he said. “Whether you want to be a broadcaster, in marketing or a salesperson, the more I know you care about the game, the more opportunities I can give within that realm. I want to take your experience and make us better, too.”

Engaging the community

As the Dock Spiders mark their 10th season, Misudek said community support has been key to the team’s longevity.

He said he still hears surprise from residents, who joke, “But you just started!” 

Misudek said the milestone reflects the support of sponsors and partners, season-ticket holders, staff, interns, game-day staff and host families.

“The large facility upgrades we’ve been working on are a collaboration of everybody in the community, and of course the sponsors, partners and donors from Marion University,” he said. “It shows our community is hungry for this kind of stuff.”

Misudek said he knows people come to a game because they want to have a good time and be entertained.

“Maybe they want an escape for a few hours, to sit down with food and a beer and just watch a game,” he said. “The baseball experience is pretty universal across the board – nine innings, and three outs between each inning – and people find comfort in the familiar.”

Misudek said it’s not just the Dock Spiders seeing growth, pointing to the overall Northwoods League as it adds at least two teams next season in Indiana and at Iowa’s Field of Dreams. 

Community support, he said, is a two-way street with the Dock Spiders – when people and businesses support the team, it helps the organization grow and enhance the experience for players and fans alike.

He said the club’s mission centers on three areas: field, office and fans.

The “field” element, Misudek said, refers to the Northwoods League’s role as a developmental league where players, coaches and umpires can get their start.

The “office,” he said, focuses on staff and interns, many of whom aspire to reach the major leagues, with the Dock Spiders serving as an early stepping stone.

And the “fans” component, Misudek said, highlights the community impact, where developing players can connect with and make a difference for supporters. 

“For kids in the community, they see our players, and they may not know the difference between these guys and the Milwaukee Brewers,” he said. “For them, it’s the experience of getting an autograph, getting a ball and talking ball with a player. Even the families who hosted in the past, that’s an important part of our organization.”

Upgrading the stadium

Misudek said the field predates the Dock Spiders by about 10 years, having been built by Marian University, with offices, food service and seating added when the team arrived. 

Though smaller changes were made over the years, Misudek said the most significant building and renovation work took place this past offseason, some of which include:

• All new field turf 
• The Carbliss Corner
• New seats in section 100 with cup holders
• VIP suite refresh
• Additional patio tables
• Improved sight lines
• A clubhouse refresh
• New netting

Misudek said the new field turf surface is the biggest upgrade, improving playability and consistency.

“Weather plays a factor in people’s daily decision-making, and it’s always a topic for everybody,” he said. “In the past, that was a big factor in the daily schedule for us and where we spent our time. Now, we don’t have to worry about pulling a [on] tarp and getting everyone to stop what they’re doing to help out.”

Misudek said the upgrade is about more than just pulling a tarp, noting crews no longer have to worry about dirt turning to mud, repainting lines or maintaining grass.

Though some minor upkeep remains, he said it eliminates the need to stop operations and have 20 people pull a tarp over the field. 

“It’s beneficial for the experience of the players and the audiences in that if there was a rain delay, we’d stop play and as soon as it’s done, go right back to playing,” he said. “In the past, we would’ve had to think about how long we needed to get the field ready, then when the players needed to warm up so they’re ready. Eliminating that has been great and created a lot more efficiencies.”

Misudek said the biggest advantage of AstroTurf is consistency, allowing the surface to remain the same year-round and opening the door for far more future event opportunities.

Things like tournaments or concerts, he said, come to mind.

“Say we host a tournament and want to pack in as many games in a day and get as many people out as they can – the turnaround between games is extremely short,” he said. “When it comes to concerts now, we don’t have to worry about the stage or audience members disrupting the surface level, making ruts or killing patches of earth. This new surface allows us a lot more flexibility in event type offerings.”

Misudek said the Dock Spiders are taking a strategic approach to new events following the upgrades, focusing on what works best this season.

What else fans can expect in 2026

Misudek said fans have already seen the Dock Spiders’ 10th anniversary logo on promotional items, with additional giveaways and souvenir items planned throughout the season to mark the milestone.

So far this year, he said former manager Zac Charbonneau – now head baseball coach at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside – has thrown out a ceremonial first pitch and visited with fans. 

Misudek said the 10th season celebration will continue throughout the year, recognizing fans, staff and season-ticket holders who have supported the Dock Spiders since the beginning.

“Now that we’re into the season, we’re planning and figuring those things out,” he said.

Misudek said the Dock Spiders also highlight Wisconsin-based brands, which include a partnership with Salmon’s Meat Products in Luxemburg for premium brats and natural casing hot dogs.

He said local beer offerings include Fond du Lac Beer Company and Hoya Hop House in 2026, and, for the first time, wine will also be available at the ballpark, including Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon by the glass at Home Plate Cantina or by the bottle in the Horicon Bank VIP Suites.

For coffee lovers, Misudek said Farmer Brothers Coffee is available at the Festival Grill and main concession stand.

The Dock Spiders’ food menu, he said, also got an upgrade with three new sandwiches: the Three Little Pigs (pulled pork, bacon and brat coins), a bacon cheeseburger and the Spider Sandwich (chicken tenders with bacon strips).

“Our 10th season is a landmark moment for the Dock Spiders organization and the Fond du Lac community,” he said. “We’re proud to continue building something special in Fond du Lac as we play an unforgettable 2026 season.”

Learn more at northwoodsleague.com/fond-du-lac-dock-spiders.