Top Menu

Vendors seeking back payments from Will County, Illinois teams

Illinois LincolnsA bad summer could end up being much worse for Will County CrackerJacks and Illinois Lincolns owner Jamie Toole, as creditors seek payment for housing and promotional expenses.

Toole shut down both teams from play in the summer-collegiate Midwest Collegiate League before the end of the year, arguing philosophical differences with league ownership. The league says over $20,000 is owed; Toole says the amount is less because of a disputed expansion fee of $6,500. 

The financial situation has since worsened; Prestwick Country Club has filed a $9,100 lawsuit against the teams for nonpayment on a golf outing and dinner held at the beginning of the year. In addition, Centennial Commons — the Joliet Junior College campus facility where players stayed — has started going after players for unpaid summer-housing bills. The team promised players free housing during the season, but when payment wasn’t forthcoming from the team, players were targeted for payment.

It was a bad summer at the box office as well for the two teams: the CrackerJacks drew just  242 fans a game, while the Lincolns attracted 137 fans a game.

RELATED STORIES: Toole pulls two teams from Midwest Collegiate League

—-

Share your news with the baseball community. Send it to us at editors@augustpublications.com.

Are you a subscriber to the weekly Ballpark Digest newsletter? You can sign up for a free subscription at the Newsletter Signup Page.

Join Ballpark Digest on Facebook and on Twitter!

Follow Ballpark Digest on Google + and add us to your circles!

, , , , , , , ,