Thillens Stadium
Encyclopedia
Thillens Stadium is a two field baseball stadium in Chicago
, Illinois
It has 2,200 seats and an average of 17,000 Chicago area children play there each year.
games, and men's 16-inch softball games were televised from the park by WGN-TV
, with Jack Brickhouse
announcing.
It was during a Little League telecast in the 1950's that the centerfield camera, now a staple of all baseball telecasts, was first used. According to Brickhouse, ``One of our cameramen, Chuck Seatsema, told me that the center-field scoreboard was only a couple hundred feet away, he had a feeling that if he put a camera out there, we`d get a nice shot of the little catcher giving signs and the little batter's face over the pitcher's shoulder.`
In 1993, Mel Thillens Sr. died, but his family continued to operate it and a non-profit charitable foundation supported it. However, The foundation couldn't afford it and in March 2005, Thillens closed. The Chicago Cubs
and Chicago Park District
invested around $2 million in repairs. The stadium reopened its doors in June 2006.
, Chris Chelios
, Minnie Miñoso, Rich Melman
, Fergie Jenkins, Randy Hundley
, Billy Williams and Moose Skowron
.
On July 28, 2009, the Chicago Bandits
played the USSSA Pride in a National Pro Fastpitch
women's softball game.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
It has 2,200 seats and an average of 17,000 Chicago area children play there each year.
Location
Thillens is at the northwest corner of Devon and Kedzie on land owned by the Water Reclamation District and annexed by Lincolnwood, Illinois, next to the Chicago city limits. Just 30 minutes from downtown.History
Founded in 1938 by Mel Thillens, Sr., owner of Thillens Inc. check-cashing business. Thillens's idea was to have a baseball park that anyone can use, rent-free. It cost Thillens a total of $6 million to build the park. In 1940 the ballpark erected lights for night use. In the 40's, 50's and 60's both Little LeagueLittle League
Little League Baseball and Softball is a non-profit organization in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States which organizes local youth baseball and softball leagues throughout the U.S...
games, and men's 16-inch softball games were televised from the park by WGN-TV
WGN-TV
WGN-TV, virtual channel 9 , is the CW-affiliated television station in Chicago, Illinois built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WGN-TV's studios and offices are located at 2501 W...
, with Jack Brickhouse
Jack Brickhouse
John Beasley "Jack" Brickhouse was an American sportscaster. Known primarily for his play-by-play coverage of Chicago Cubs games on WGN-TV from 1948 to 1981, he received the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983...
announcing.
It was during a Little League telecast in the 1950's that the centerfield camera, now a staple of all baseball telecasts, was first used. According to Brickhouse, ``One of our cameramen, Chuck Seatsema, told me that the center-field scoreboard was only a couple hundred feet away, he had a feeling that if he put a camera out there, we`d get a nice shot of the little catcher giving signs and the little batter's face over the pitcher's shoulder.`
In 1993, Mel Thillens Sr. died, but his family continued to operate it and a non-profit charitable foundation supported it. However, The foundation couldn't afford it and in March 2005, Thillens closed. The Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
and Chicago Park District
Chicago Park District
The Chicago Park District is the oldest and largest park district in the U.S.A, with a $385 million annual budget. It has the distinction of spending the most per capita on its parks, even more than Boston in terms of park expenses per capita...
invested around $2 million in repairs. The stadium reopened its doors in June 2006.
Events
The Annual Chicago Celebrity Softball games are hosted at Thillens Stadium. Those games have featured Michael JordanMichael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
, Chris Chelios
Chris Chelios
Christos Kostas Tselios is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman. He is currently the Executive Advisor to Ken Holland, the general manager of the Detroit Red Wings, a role that Steve Yzerman held before leaving to become general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning.Chelios played...
, Minnie Miñoso, Rich Melman
Rich Melman
Rich Melman is the founder of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, a privately held restaurant company with more than 70 venues. Melman serves as Chairman of the Board of LEYE. He creates restaurant concepts. As such he is a corporate executive who sees himself as an artist.In 1971, Melman and...
, Fergie Jenkins, Randy Hundley
Randy Hundley
Cecil Randolph "Randy" Hundley Jr. is a former American professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the San Francisco Giants , Chicago Cubs , Minnesota Twins , and the San Diego Padres...
, Billy Williams and Moose Skowron
Moose Skowron
William Joseph "Moose" Skowron Jr. is a former Major League Baseball player, primarily a first baseman. He is currently a Community Relations Representative for the White Sox....
.
On July 28, 2009, the Chicago Bandits
Chicago Bandits
The Chicago Bandits are a women's professional softball team based in Rosemont, Illinois. Since the 2005 season, they have played as a member of National Pro Fastpitch . The Bandits won the 2008 NPF championship, defeating the Washington Glory in the final game of the championship series...
played the USSSA Pride in a National Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch , formerly the Women's Pro Softball League , is the only professional women's softball league in the United States. The WPSL was founded in 1997 and folded in 2001. The NPF revived the league in 2004 and currently features four teams: USSSA Pride, Akron Racers, Chicago...
women's softball game.