It was an edgy design that embraced, rather than ignored, Joliet’s penal history. In the end, a distinctive logo and look helped catapult the Joliet Slammers (independent; Frontier League) to a successful inaugural season and garnered recognition from Ballpark Digest for 2011 Logo of the Year. Setting up operations at Silver Cross Field was going […]
Tag Archives | silver cross field
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 […]
Slammers unveil mascot: J.L. Bird
The Joliet Slammers (independent; Frontier League) unveiled a second mascot that keeps with the jailbird theme for the team: J.L. Bird. “He can be a little mischievous,” Slammers Director of Marketing Sarah H. Eichenberger said. “But we’ve been assured that he’s perfectly friendly.” The new mascot made his debut Sunday night as he ran wild […]
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 […]
Joliet Slammers unveil logos, uniforms
The Joliet Slammers (independent; Frontier League) unveiled new logos, uniforms and team colors last night at an all-star gala, with John Dittrich leading the crowd through skits, celebrity appearances and more. Among the celebrities on hand at Joliet’s Rialto Theatre: White Sox organist Nancy Faust, Blackhawksʼ national anthem singer Jim Cornelison, and longtime Chicago broadcaster […]
Slammers to unveil logo, unis on March 10
The Joliet Slammers (independent; Frontier League) will reach a milestone on March 10, when the team’s logo and uniforms will be unveiled at an event at the city’s Rialto Theatre. Tickets are available at Silver Cross Field. Tickets are free but are limited and required for entry. The red-carpet event, “The Grand Slammer: Identity Released,” […]
Slammers make first hire: Bart Zeller
The manager is the face of a baseball team in the community, and the Joliet Slammers (independent; Frontier League) made a key hire in their early history: Bart Zeller is the team’s new field manager. A native of Chicago Heights, Ill., Zeller attended Eastern Illinois University before signing with the St. Louis Cardinals and playing […]
New for 2011: Joliet Slammers
We have a name for the new Silver Cross Field team in the independent Frontier League: the Joliet Slammers, as team ownership goes with a penal theme for its inaugural season. “We deliberated over this for many days and many nights,” said team president Bill Waliewski. “And when all the evidence was considered, we came […]
Frontier League unveils ’11 schedule; Oakland County to go dark
The independent Frontier League unveiled a 2011 schedule today that includes the new Joliet team playing out of Silver Cross Field; the big news is the the Oakland County Cruisers will go dark for the season and will not resume operations until a new ballpark is finished. Basicall, the Frontier League will be the same […]
New Joliet team launches name-the-team contest
The new Joliet team in the independent Frontier League is launching a name-the-team contest and is starting with a solid list of names already suggested by others, including our favorite: the Jailbirds. Names already on the docket also include Pioneers, ’66ers, Gems, Jackrabbits, Old-Timers, Gravel, Stonecutters, Luckys, Steelheads and Jailers. “We have had many brainstorming […]
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 […]