The continuing effort to stabilize pro baseball in Joliet was boosted after new Joliet Slammers (independent; Frontier League) ownership and management met with local fans. In theory, Joliet should be a good baseball market if the numbers are correct. And while indy baseball initially did OK at Silver Cross Field during the early days of […]
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Joliet Slammers sale imminent
A sale of the Joliet Slammers (independent; Frontier League) is close to fruition, with changes to the Silver Cross Field memo of understanding expected to be approved Monday night by the city council. The city council doesn’t have a direct say in the sale of the Slammers, but does have an indirect one: if the […]
Slammers hit bumps in second season
A sophomore slump can hit franchises, too, as the Joliet Slammers (independent; Frontier League) are seeing some setbacks at the gate and on the field. The team had a pretty good debut in 2011, drawing 2,311 fans a game and generating some genuine enthusiasm for the franchise after the old Joliet Jackhammers (independent; Northern League) […]
Slammers work hard to regain community trust
The Joliet JackHammers almost salted the territory after failing to pay bills the past few seasons, but the Joliet Slammers (independent; Frontier League) are working hard to regain community trust — and succeeding. The JackHammers folded after owing $400,000 to vendors and $200,000 to the city for rent at Silver Cross Field — a deficit […]
Waliewski: Split duties as Slammers prez, broadcaster
Bill Waliewski will serve two roles this season with the Joliet Slammers (independent; Frontier League): Besides serving as team president, he’s be the color analyst on WJOL game broadcasts, joining Mark Vasko in the broadcast booth. We can’t remember a situation where a team president served double duty as a broadcaster, but the Slammers are […]
New group takes control of Joliet ballpark
The regime change in Joliet, Ill., is complete, as a new ownership group led by Alan Oremus takes control of Silver Cross Field and sets up operations today. Now comes the fun part: prepping for the 2011 season. Steel City Baseball paid $915,000 for the privilege of playing at Silver Cross Field, along with all […]
The Week That Was: Dec. 5
It was a week of league shifts, ownership changes, new team names and crumbling ballparks in the baseball world. Here are the most popular stories of the past week on Ballpark Digest, as meausured by page views. New for 2012: Sugar Land Skeeters Bernie Robbins Stadium in state of disrepair Joliet to enter Frontier League […]
Joliet approves Steel City Baseball lease for Silver Cross Field
The pieces are almost all in place for Steel City Baseball to field an independent Frontier League team in Joliet’s Silver Cross Field, as the City Council approved a 10-year lease; John Dittrich will be GM of the new effort. Yesterday was a big deal for Steel City Baseball, headed by local resident Alan Oremus, […]
Steel City Baseball Club LLC buys Joliet assets
Steel City Baseball Club LLC has closed on a purchase of the lease to Joliet’s Silver Cross Field and other physical assets held by the owners of the Joliet JackHammers (independent; Northern League), clearing the way for a new independent Frontier League team to play there next season. The city will consider a new lease […]
Joliet to enter Frontier League if lease approved
A new Joliet team could be entering the independent Frontier League for the 2011 season if the city on Monday approves a sale of the Silver Cross Field lease from the current Joliet JackHammers (independent; Northern League) ownership. The city is expected to debate a sale of the lease to a group led by Alan […]
Joliet bid to enter Frontier League under consideration
To understand the issues surrounding a pitch by Joliet officials to have a Frontier League team play at Silver Cross Field next season, there’s one important thing to remember: Peter Ferro isn’t actually selling the Northern League‘s JackHammers. He’s merely selling equipment and a ballpark lease. Everything will now make sense. The latest. We’re told […]
Joliet city officials to lobby at Frontier League meetings
Joliet city officials feel so strongly about the Joliet JackHammers entering the Frontier League that they plan to attend league meetings next Monday to make their case, throwing an another roadblock to all four Northern League teams entering en masse into a new indy league effort. It was assumed that Joliet would be part of […]
Joliet throws monkey wrench in league mergers
Tom Thanas, the Joliet City Manager overseeing the sale of the Joliet JackHammers (independent; Northern League), says that the team would not be playing in a new North American League, saying that the city would not allow a move; instead, he and city officials would dictate participation in the competing Frontier League. Thanas is involved […]