The former Standard Bank Stadium has been renamed, as the Windy City ThunderBolts (independent; Frontier League) have announced that their home is now known as Ozinga Field. The new naming-rights deal was unveiled by the ThunderBolts, Village of Crestwood (IL), and Ozinga. (more…)
As it celebrates its 20th season, local officials are noting that Standard Bank Ballpark in Crestwood, IL has been a major draw for sports tourism. (more…)
Another ballpark upgrade for 2015: The Windy City ThunderBolts (independent; Frontier League) are installing a new artificial-turf field at Standard Bank Stadium. (more…)
Al Oremus, a minority investor in the Windy City ThunderBolts (independent; Frontier League) has bought the remaining 80 percent of the team from Dan Brennan and Mike Stranczek, giving him sole ownership. (more…)
The Dayton Dragons sale, remembering Lou Gehrig’s riveting “Luckiest Man” speech, and a tarp accident in Cedar Rapids were the top stories this week on Ballpark Digest, as measured by page views. Here are the top stories of this week, in order of popularity: Dayton Dragons sale announcedMLB to honor Lou Gehrig this weekendSeveral Kernels […]
Good news for Windy City ThunderBolts (independent; Frontier League) fans: the team and the Village of Crestwood are funding a new scoreboard/videoboard, which should be fully operational by July 21. The 13-foot-high, 22-foot-long HD videoboard will have full video capabilities, including instant replay. This structure will be the first major improvement to the stadium since […]
The Windy City ThunderBolts (independent; Frontier League) honored the millionth fan in team history, Karen Kenny of Tinley Park, with a grand time at Standard Bank Stadium. Kenny was given a crown, sash, flowers, and a plaque, and her group of 14 were treated to free food and drink in te team’s Party Box; she also […]
The Windy City ThunderBolts (independent; Frontier League) will be hitting an impressive milestone sometime next month when the one-millionth fan in team history will walk through the Standard Bank Stadium turnstiles. The team joined the Frontier League in 1999 as the Cook County Cheetahs, playing at Hawkinson Ford Field; today the ThunderBolts play at the […]
It’s official: four teams — the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, Gary-SouthShore RailCats, Kansas City T-Bones and Winnipeg Goldeyes — will be leaving the independent Northern League for the American Association for the 2011 season. The four teams will leave behind four Chicagoland teams in the Northern League for the 2011 season, presumably with Clark Griffith still as […]
According to several sources at the ownership level, the current game plan for the independent Northern League has the four Chicagoland teams remaining in the circuit and Clark Griffith continuing as commissioner, while four teams — Winnipeg, Fargo-Moorhead, Gary-SouthShore and Kansas City — moving to the American Association. The four Chicagoland teams — Rockford RiverHawks, […]
Insiders tell us there are two scenarios for the potential realignment of the Frontier League, Northern League and American Association. Under both, the current Northern League would cease to exist — but could come back in name only in the second. Things are coming to a head in the potential independent-baseball realignment, first reported here […]
