Tag Archives: Frontier League

Independent Ball

Bill Murray and The Veecks Become New Owners of the Joliet Slammers

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The Joliet Slammers and the Frontier League announced today that the Slammers now have new majority stakeholders.

Official Joliet Slammers Press Release

The Veecks and Bill Murray are Coming to Joliet!

New investment group has acquired a majority stake in the Slammers

The Joliet Slammers are excited to announce that a sale of a majority stake in the team has been completed to a group led by Mike Veeck, Night Train Veeck, and Bill Murray.  Former majority owner Nick Semaca, will stay on with the group as a shareholder.  

Joliet Mayor Terry D’Arcy said, “Joliet is excited for the opportunity this new ownership brings. We are looking forward to continuing the partnership with the Slammers.”

Semaca purchased the Slammers prior to the 2013 season, bringing stability to a franchise that had three ownership changes in four years.  During his 11 years as owner, the Slammers won the 2018 Frontier League Championship, hosted the 2017 Frontier League All-Star Game, and delighted hundreds of thousands of fans that attended Slammers games over this time.  The team also created the City of Champions Cup in 2020, a mini-league that played during a time when only a few teams across the country were playing in front of fans, utilizing independent league players, players on loan from affiliated teams, and former Major League Baseball players.  

“I am super excited about Mike, Night Train, and Bill coming into our ballclub to launch a new growth era for the Slammers.  And I am excited to remain a part of the ownership group – it really is a great time for the team, the City, and most importantly our fans,” said Semaca.

Mike Veeck is a nationally renowned speaker, entrepreneur, college professor, philanthropist, marketing, promotions and customer care expert.

The Veeck family started in baseball nearly a century ago when Veeck’s grandfather was president of the Chicago Cubs. Veeck’s father, Bill, is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame in recognition of his time as the owner of the St. Louis Browns, Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, and the then-minor league Milwaukee Brewers. Famous for so many occurrences at the ballpark, Bill Veeck will always be remembered for signing Larry Doby, the first black man to play in the American League and for sending 3 foot, 6 inch Eddie Gaedel to the plate for the Browns in a 1951 game against Detroit.

“I love Joliet and I’m looking forward to working with all of the Slammers staff, especially my son Night Train,” said Mike Veeck.

Night Train Veeck is the fourth generation of Veecks to work in baseball. He is a seasoned sports marketing executive with a diverse domestic and international background. With 15 seasons between Independent and Minor League Baseball, followed by seven seasons in Major League Baseball with the Chicago White Sox, he has hands-on experience successfully implementing numerous fan-centric marketing, sales, and partnership campaigns. 

Most recently, he has returned to the U.S. after almost two years leading fan engagement for Cricket Australia’s Big Bash League in Melbourne, Australia and shortly thereafter co-founding a Division III pro soccer team in Chicago. Additionally, he serves as an active owner and board member for Larne FC, a Northern Irish first division Soccer Club.

Night Train will be in leadership with the day to day operations of the Slammers.

Bill Murray has earned numerous accolades including a BAFTA Award, two Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and two Independent Spirit Awards, as well as a nomination for an Academy Award. In 2016, Murray was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.  Murray rose to fame on The National Lampoon Radio Hour (1973–1974) before becoming a national presence on Saturday Night Live from 1977 to 1980, where he received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series. He then established his stardom acting in a string of successful comedy films such as Meatballs (1979), Caddyshack (1980), Stripes (1981), Ghostbusters (1984), Ghostbusters II (1989), What About Bob? (1991), and Groundhog Day (1993). He also took on supporting roles in Tootsie (1982), Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Ed Wood (1994), Kingpin (1996), and Osmosis Jones (2001). 

Murray has been involved in minority ownership of the Minor League Baseball Charleston RiverDogs and St. Paul Saints alongside Mike Veeck.  Prior to being invited to join the affiliated ranks for the 2021 season, the Saints were considered the premier independent baseball team in the country.

The Joliet Slammers will open their 2024 season on Friday, May 10 against the Evansville Otters. Gates will open at 5:35pm, and the game will begin at 6:35pm.  

To celebrate, the Slammers will be offering a specially priced “New Owner, Who dis(count)?” Season Ticket package only available through Monday, January 15th!  Secure your season ticket plan for a crazy fun year at just $375 for a Club Seat and $275 for a Reserved Seat, a $50 savings. 

Visit https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2new/team.asp?SponsorID=17093 or call 815-271-7792 to join the Slammers family today!

To learn more about the Slammers or the 2024 season, visit www.jolietslammers.com   

Independent Ball

Chayka Uses CWL En Route to Standout Rookie Season

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After finishing up an impressive collegiate career, that included time with Spoon River College, Kentucky Wesleyan and the DeLand Suns in the Florida Collegiate Summer League, Robert Chayka was looking to prove he could compete at the next level.

His senior stats certainly showed that he could be an asset. In 54 games with Kentucky Wesleyan, his stats were solid ( .336 BA, .398 OPB, .521 SLG) while scoring 53 runs and hitting 11 doubles, a triple, nine home runs and driving in 43.

Following his senior season, Chayka turned to the California Winter League to seek out an opportunity.

“I chose the CWL because it was the best opportunity for me to showcase my skills,” Chayka explained. “It had good housing, decent food, a nice stadium to play at in a beautiful location, and most importantly the opportunity is there!

“Team tryouts for indy ball just weren’t enough to catch a coach’s attention. I’m not a player where my physical appearance or some radar number is going to get their attention. I needed a place to go where coaches can actually watch me play games.”

The California Winter League offered all of that and more as a step into the world of independent baseball. The jump from college ball to the CWL offered varying levels of competition with a bit more of the cut-throat level of play seen in indy ball.

“You have a mixture of players there, anywhere from pro guys already, all levels of college and older adults trying to live their dream again. You can have a guy throwing 95mph one game and the next 80mph,” Chayka said of the competition.

“In college ball, it’s all about the team and making any sacrifices you can to win. While the CWL, for a lot of people, is their last shot to continue to play baseball, so you have to do what is best for you and not care about anyone else there. It might seem harsh, but that’s the mentality you should have when it might be your only and last opportunity to play.”

Thankfully for Chayka, it wasn’t his last opportunity. After going 10 for 25 with 5 RBI, the Washington Wild Things manager, Tom Vaeth who attends the CWL every year, saw something he liked and signed him to a contract for the Frontier League season.

“The month-long format of the CWL really gives me a chance to truly evaulate players and understand their strengths and how they could fit on my roster,” said Vaeth.

Vaeth’s pick up was a smart move as Chayka had a phenomenal rookie season that had him in the discussion for Rookie of the Year honors by the end of the season.

While playing in 81 games, he slashed .293/.396/.441 including 17 doubles, two triples, six home runs and 43 RBI while stealing 23 bases and drawing 35 walks. In the outfield, he had a .995 fielding percentage with only one error. (Washington Wild Things)

Chayka enjoyed his first season of professional baseball with the Wild Things.

“My first season in pro ball was great! I have a lot to learn still, but overall I enjoyed everything about it. Traveling, the constant games, great teammates, the atmosphere of our home games and food after the games.”

His coaches also enjoyed having him for his rookie campagin. Wild Things Bench Coach, Ryan Whithorn, had glowing praise when asked about Chayka.

“I’m really proud of the way his rookie season went. He came into camp with an opportunity to make the roster after showcasing his abilities in the California Winter League; nothing was guaranteed for him. He didn’t see much action early on but continued to work hard and prepare. Once his time came, he ran with it. Chayka can go get it in the outfield, he runs the bases well, and he swings the bat with intent. He plays with a chip on his shoulder and in Washington we advertise ‘Baseball with an Attitude.’ He’s more than proven he belongs here.”

The team agrees that he has certainly proven himself and deserves to be a mainstay on the roster. The Wild Things announced earlier this month that Chayka would be returning for his second season this summer.

“I’m excited about the re-sign, and glad to be going back to Washington.” When asked about his goals going forward, Chayka replied, “The team goal would obviously be to win it all, but individually I want to keep it simple and just do better than last year. I also think getting sponsored by Ghost would be awesome! I only drink their energy drinks every game.”

*Author note* I can 100% confirm that Chayka drinks nothing but Ghost pregame. Let’s get this man a sponsorship!

The Washington Wild Things and Robert Chayka are set to open the season at home Friday, May 10 against the Schaumburg Boomers.

The California Winter League is set to start on January 22nd. For more information on the CWL, check out their website HERE.

(All photos courtsey of Robert Chayka’s Instagram)