The indedpendent Joliet Slammers will tee off the season with a exhibition game against the Gateway Grizzlies on April 30. This game is part of the 100 anniversary of Route 66.
This game is very special as it will be played inside the former prison of Joliet, now known as Old Joliet Prison Historic Site. Like many US prisons, the Joliet prison also had a baseball field and that area is still part of the historic landmark, even though it doesn’t look like a ball field anymore as you can see on the map below (big green area at the bottom left.
Baseball had been played inside the walls of the old prison, which dates back to 1914. Organized games were organized at the prison by Warden Edmund Allen to boost morale of the inmates and encourage good behavior. Prisoners formed teams and play against outside teams and other prison ball clubs. The games continued on the grounds until the prison’s closure in 2002.
As the owner of the Joliet Slammers, Night Train Veeck (yes, that is really his name), son of Mike Veeck and grandson of Bill Veeck, explained: “You only have one opportunity to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Route 66, and we wanted to do it in style and we wanted to put Joliet on the map. And there is no better way than to play a baseball game in an old prison.
Of course they have figured things out already, but housing the fans may be the biggest challenge. But according to Veeck, there will be bleachers, food trucks, beer, you name it.
Tickets went on sale yesterday. Yours truly can imagine that tickets for a special game like this will go fast. Three ticket options are available: General Admission Yard for $15, Bleacher Seats for $38, and VIP tickets for $100.
Joliet will be one of a select group of cities that will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Mother Road.
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