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| Joliet Slammers | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Information | |||||
| League | Frontier League (West Division) | ||||
| Location | Joliet, Illinois | ||||
| Ballpark | Duly Health and Care Field | ||||
| Founded | 2010 | ||||
| Nickname(s) | Jailbirds | ||||
| League championships | 2 (2011, 2018) | ||||
| Division championships | 2 (2011, 2016) | ||||
| Colors | Green, orange, black, white | ||||
| Mascot | Spikes & J.L Bird | ||||
| Playoff berths |
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| Ownership | Mike Veeck Bill Murray Night Train Veeck | ||||
| Manager | Mike Pinto | ||||
| General Manager | Heather Mills | ||||
| Media | 1340 WJOL, The Herald-News, The Joliet Bugle | ||||
| Website | jolietslammers | ||||
The Joliet Slammers are a professional baseball team based in Joliet, Illinois. The Slammers compete in the Frontier League (FL) as a member of the West Division in the Midwest Conference, and play their home games at the Duly Health and Care Field. The Slammers were founded in 2010, a year before their rival Schaumburg Boomers.
They replaced the Joliet JackHammers of the Northern League after the franchise was crippled by numerous financial issues. The JackHammers franchise was put up for sale and Steel City Baseball, LLC, bought out all assets, including the front office, the ticketing system, and the lease of the ballpark. The company behind the popular card game Cards Against Humanity announced in December 2017 that they had purchased the naming rights to the stadium, calling it the "Cards Against Humanity Baseball Place", but the company's claim has been disputed by Slammers management.
The "Slammers" name refers to the famous prisons of Joliet and Will County (Joliet Correctional Center and Stateville Correctional Center) as well as a common baseball term.
On September 18, 2011, the Slammers were named Frontier League champions after defeating the River City Rascals, 6–5 in Joliet, taking the best-of-five Frontier League championship series three games to one. Following the 2012 season, the Slammers were purchased on October 15, 2012, by Joliet Community Baseball & Entertainment, LLC. The team's name, stadium, league, and overall branding remained the same.
In January 2024 the team announced new ownership, headed by Mike Veeck, Bill Murray as well as Night Train Veeck. Murray and Veeck were part-owners of the St. Paul Saints until 2023, when, following the team's shift into affiliated ball, that team was sold to a new ownership group.
Season-by-season records
| Joliet Slammers | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Record | Win % | Finish | Manager | Playoffs |
| 2011 | 56–40 | .583 | 1st | Bart Zeller | Won Division Series vs. Lake Erie Crushers, 3–0 Won Frontier League Championship vs. River City Rascals, 3–1 |
| 2012 | 37–58 | .389 | 6th | Bart Zeller | Did not qualify |
| 2013 | 38–57 | .400 | 6th | Mike Breyman | Did not qualify |
| 2014 | 40–56 | .417 | 6th | Jeff Isom | Did not qualify |
| 2015 | 42–54 | .438 | 5th | Jeff Isom | Did not qualify |
| 2016 | 51–45 | .531 | 1st | Jeff Isom | Lost Division Series vs. Evansville Otters, 3–1 |
| 2017 | 42–54 | .438 | 5th | Jeff Isom | Did not qualify |
| 2018 | 54–42 | .563 | 2nd | Jeff Isom | Won Division Series vs. River City Rascals, 3–2 Won Frontier League Championship vs. Washington Wild Things, 3–2 |
| 2019 | 40–56 | .417 | 4th | Jeff Isom | Did not qualify |
| 2020 | 21-5 | .807 | 1st | Billy Petrick | Won City of Champions Cup (Non-Frontier League) |
| 2021 | 39–56 | .417 | 4th | Aaron Nieckula | Did not qualify |
| 2022 | 49–47 | .510 | 4th | Daniel Schlereth | Did not qualify |
| 2023 | 46–50 | .479 | 5th | Daniel Schlereth | Did not qualify |
| 2024 | 38–58 | .396 | 8th | Mike Pinto | Did not qualify |
| Totals | 547–628 | .484 | — | — | 13–8 Playoff record 2 Division series wins, 2 Frontier League championships |
Single season records
Statistics as of the completion of the 2023 season
Offensive
| Statistic | Record | Player | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hits | 135 | Grant DeBruin | 2014 |
| Doubles | 29 | Grant DeBruin/Carter Bell | 2014/2016 |
| Triples | 6 | Josh Flores | 2011 |
| Home Runs | 27 | Matt Warkentin | 2023 |
| RBIs | 77 | Erik Lis | 2011 |
| Walks | 57 | Russell Moldenhauer | 2014 |
| Stolen Bases | 35 | Josh Flores | 2011 |
Pitching
| Statistic | Record | Player | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wins | 13 | Jake Renshaw | 2011 |
| Strikeouts | 131 | Cole Cook | 2023 |
| Saves | 28 | Ryan Quigley | 2011 |
Franchise leaders
Statistics as of the completion of the 2023 season
Offensive
Games played
1. Tyler Depreta-Johnson...257 (2021–2023)
2. Kyle Maunas...248 (2011–2013)
3. Lane Baremore…219 (2021–2023)
Hits
1. Alfredo Rodriguez…205 (2015–2016)
1. Kyle Maunas…205 (2011–2013)
2. Lane Baremore…204 (2021–2023)
3. Tyler Depreta-Johnson...199 (2021–2023)
Doubles
1. Brylie Ware...43 (2021–2022)
1. Kyle Manus…43 (2011–2013)
2. Grant DeBruin…41 (2013–2014)
3. Brad Netzel…39 (2011–2012)
Triples
1. Matt McGarry…9 (2022–2023)
2. Josh Flores…6 (2011)
2. Scott Holzwasser…6 (2021–2023)
3. Ridge Hoopii-Haslam...5 (2017–2019)
Home Runs
1. Kyle Manus...32 (2011–2013)
2. Erik Lis...28 (2011–2012)
3. Matt Warkentin…27 (2023–present)
RBI
1. Kyle Manus...128 (2011–2013)
2. Erik Lis...122 (2011–2012)
3. Danny Zardon...110 (2017–2018)
3. Matt McGarry…110 (2022–2023)
Stolen Bases
1. London Lindley...53 (2018–2019)
1. Ridge Hoopii-Haslam...53 (2017–2019)
2. Charlie White...48 (2015–2016)
3. Travis Bolin...41 (2017–2019)
Pitching
Innings Pitched
1. Cam Aufderheide...323.2 (2021–2023)
2. Cole Cook…254.1 (2022–2023)
3. Liam O’Sullivan...244.2 (2016, 2018)
Strikeouts
1. Cole Cook… 240 (2022–2023)
1. Cam Aufderheide…240 (2021–2023)
2. Shane Bryant...187 (2015–2018)
3. Liam O’Sullivan...186 (2016, 2018)
Wins
1. Cole Cook...23 (2022–2023)
2. Liam O’Sullivan...22 (2016, 2018)
3. Scot Hoffman...14 (2017–2019)
3. Jake Renshaw...14 (2011–2012)
Saves
1. Ryan Quigley...28 (2011)
2. Ryan Koziol...23 (2019)
3. Confesor Lara...20 (2016–2017)
Current roster
| Active roster | Coaches/Other | |||
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Pitchers
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Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
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Manager
Coaches
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Notable alumni
Several notable players have competed for the Slammers; years in parentheses are seasons when the player was with the team.
- Billy Petrick (2011)
- Jake Sanchez (2012–2013)
- Kaleb Ort (2016–2017)
- Joe Ortiz (2017)
- Dietrich Enns (2020)
- Mitch Glasser (2020)
- Ian Krol (2020)
- Bubby Rossman (2020)
- Brock Stewart (2020)
- Charlie Tilson (2020)
- Braxton Davidson (2021)
- Chris Roycroft (2021–2022)
- Tyler Jay (2022–2023)
Kaleb Ort became the first Joliet Slammers player to make it to the MLB. He made his major league debut on September 13, 2021 as a member of the Boston Red Sox in a game against the Seattle Mariners.
Dietrich Enns had previously played for the Minnesota Twins in the 2017 season. He has moved around the Twins', Padres', and Rays' minor league teams before coming to Joliet due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Enns was picked up by the Tampa Bay Rays after pitching just 18 innings for the Joliet Tully Monsters in the City of Champions Cup, a four-team league hosted by the Joliet Slammers. Enns was called up to the Rays in the 2021 season.
References
- Okon, Bob (December 22, 2017). "Joliet won't have a Cards Against Humanity Stadium". The Herald-News. Joliet, Illinois. Archived from the original on 2017-12-22.
- "The Veecks and Bill Murray are Coming to Joliet!". Joliet Slammers. March 20, 2024.
- Neveau, James (January 8, 2024). "Bill Murray, Mike Veeck complete purchase of Joliet Slammers baseball team". NBC Chicago. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
External links
| Frontier League | |
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| East Division | |
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| Sports teams based in the Chicago metropolitan area | ||
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