Windy City ThunderBolts
Encyclopedia
The Windy City ThunderBolts are a professional baseball team based in the Chicago
suburb of Crestwood, Illinois
, in the United States
. The ThunderBolts are a member of the East Division of the Frontier League
, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball
. From the 1999 season to the present, the ThunderBolts have played their home games at Standard Bank Stadium.
In the winter of 1997 the Cheetahs and the city of Crestwood, Illinois made a deal for Crestwood to build and own a brand new, state of the art ballpark for the Cheetahs. Despite the high hopes for baseball in Crestwood for the 1998 season, it was quickly obvious that because of construction delays, the new park would not be ready. The Cheetahs needed a home field, and with Romeoville not an option, neighboring Midlothian would be the solution to the Cheetahs’ home field problem as they would play their 1998 season at tiny Howie Minas Field. In Midlothian the Cheetahs would have one of their best seasons finishing in 2nd place with a 37-29 record in the first half and earn a playoff spot for the first time in franchise history. In the Championship, the Cheetahs would sweep the heavily favored Tennessee Tomahawks 2 games to 0 to gain the franchises first title.
However things for the Heartland League were anything but great. The league started the 1998 season with six teams, and finished with only four. The Cheetahs would win the last ever Heartland League Championship as the league folded after three seasons.
In 1999, the Cheetahs joined the stable Frontier League and has been a member of the league ever since. The team known as the Cook County Cheetahs prior to the 2004 season changed their name to the current Windy City ThunderBolts. An ownership change instigated the name change.
On August 26, 2007, the ThunderBolts won their first Central Division title. On September 17, 2007, they defeated the Washington Wild Things
to win the Frontier League
championship, three games to two. In 2008, they repeated a Division Title as the West Division Champions and Frontier League champions, defeating the Kalamazoo Kings
three games to none in the championship series. (Note: After heavy rains flooded Homer Stryker Field
the entire 2008 Championship series was played at the Thunderbolts Standard Bank Stadium.) They thus became only the second Frontier League team to win back-to-back titles, joining the 2001-02 Richmond Roosters.
In 2011, Dylan Axelrod
became the first former ThunderBolt to play in MLB, having been called up by the Chicago White Sox
.
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...
suburb of Crestwood, Illinois
Crestwood, Illinois
Crestwood is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 11,251 at the 2000 census. In April 2009 the Chicago Tribune reported that for 20 years the city had been drawing its drinking water from a well that was contaminated with toxic chemicals.-Geography:According to the...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The ThunderBolts are a member of the East Division of the Frontier League
Frontier League
The Frontier League, based in Sauget, Illinois, is a professional, independent baseball organization located in the Midwestern United States, Western Pennsylvania, and Southern Ontario. It operates mostly in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and is not affiliated with either...
, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. From the 1999 season to the present, the ThunderBolts have played their home games at Standard Bank Stadium.
History
The franchise known as the Windy City ThunderBolts started as the Will County Claws in 1995 and called their home at Lewis University’s Brennan Field in Romeoville. The Claws played in the struggling North Central League which started in 1994 with six teams, but only fielded four in 1995. The North Central League folded 18 games into its second season with the Claws finishing at 8-10. In 1996 the franchise would find a new league and a new name. The Will County Cheetahs joined the new four team Heartland League.In the winter of 1997 the Cheetahs and the city of Crestwood, Illinois made a deal for Crestwood to build and own a brand new, state of the art ballpark for the Cheetahs. Despite the high hopes for baseball in Crestwood for the 1998 season, it was quickly obvious that because of construction delays, the new park would not be ready. The Cheetahs needed a home field, and with Romeoville not an option, neighboring Midlothian would be the solution to the Cheetahs’ home field problem as they would play their 1998 season at tiny Howie Minas Field. In Midlothian the Cheetahs would have one of their best seasons finishing in 2nd place with a 37-29 record in the first half and earn a playoff spot for the first time in franchise history. In the Championship, the Cheetahs would sweep the heavily favored Tennessee Tomahawks 2 games to 0 to gain the franchises first title.
However things for the Heartland League were anything but great. The league started the 1998 season with six teams, and finished with only four. The Cheetahs would win the last ever Heartland League Championship as the league folded after three seasons.
In 1999, the Cheetahs joined the stable Frontier League and has been a member of the league ever since. The team known as the Cook County Cheetahs prior to the 2004 season changed their name to the current Windy City ThunderBolts. An ownership change instigated the name change.
On August 26, 2007, the ThunderBolts won their first Central Division title. On September 17, 2007, they defeated the Washington Wild Things
Washington Wild Things
The Washington Wild Things are a professional baseball team based in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The Wild Things are a member of the East Division of the Frontier League, an independent baseball league which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
to win the Frontier League
Frontier League
The Frontier League, based in Sauget, Illinois, is a professional, independent baseball organization located in the Midwestern United States, Western Pennsylvania, and Southern Ontario. It operates mostly in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and is not affiliated with either...
championship, three games to two. In 2008, they repeated a Division Title as the West Division Champions and Frontier League champions, defeating the Kalamazoo Kings
Kalamazoo Kings
The Kalamazoo Kings are a professional baseball team based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in the United States. The Kings are a member of the Eastern Division of the Frontier League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
three games to none in the championship series. (Note: After heavy rains flooded Homer Stryker Field
Homer Stryker Field
Homer Stryker Field is a stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The baseball field is located in Kalamazoo's Mayors Riverfront Park. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the Kalamazoo Kings minor league baseball team. It originally opened in 1963, making it the oldest ballpark in...
the entire 2008 Championship series was played at the Thunderbolts Standard Bank Stadium.) They thus became only the second Frontier League team to win back-to-back titles, joining the 2001-02 Richmond Roosters.
In 2011, Dylan Axelrod
Dylan Axelrod
Dylan Axelrod is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox.-Amateur career:He had a 13-1 record his senior year at Santa Barbara High School, where he was named team MVP. He was undrafted out of high school, and went on to Santa Barbara City College...
became the first former ThunderBolt to play in MLB, having been called up by the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
.
Seasons
| Year | W-L | PCT | Place | Postseason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will County Claws (North Central League) | ||||
| 1995 | 8-10 | .444 | 3rd | |
| Will County Cheetahs (Heartland League) | ||||
| 1996 | 28-31 | .475 | 3rd | |
| 1997 | 31-39 | .442 | 3rd | |
| Cook County Cheetahs (Heartland League) | ||||
| 1998 | 37-29 | .560 | 2nd | Heartland League Championship Series: Defeated the Tennessee Tomahawks 2-0. |
| Cook County Cheetahs (Frontier League Frontier League The Frontier League, based in Sauget, Illinois, is a professional, independent baseball organization located in the Midwestern United States, Western Pennsylvania, and Southern Ontario. It operates mostly in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and is not affiliated with either... ) |
||||
| 1999 | 41-43 | .488 | 3rd in FL West | |
| 2000 | 38-46 | .452 | 3rd in FL West | |
| 2001 | 28-53 | .346 | 6th in FL West | |
| 2002 | 40-44 | .476 | 3rd in FL West | |
| 2003 | 42-48 | .467 | 5th in FL West | |
| Windy City Thunderbolts (Frontier League Frontier League The Frontier League, based in Sauget, Illinois, is a professional, independent baseball organization located in the Midwestern United States, Western Pennsylvania, and Southern Ontario. It operates mostly in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and is not affiliated with either... ) |
||||
| 2004 | 37-57 | .394 | 5th in FL West | |
| 2005 | 39-57 | .406 | 5th in FL West | |
| 2006 | 41-54 | .427 | 4th in FL West | |
| 2007 | 68-28 | .708 | 1st in FL Central | Frontier League Division Series: Defeated the Rockford Riverhawks Rockford RiverHawks The Rockford RiverHawks are a professional baseball team based in the Rockford, Illinois suburb of Loves Park, in the United States. Currently, the RiverHawks are a member of the Frontier League, which they previously played in from 2002 until 2009. From the 2002 season to 2005, the RiverHawks'... 3-0. Frontier League Championship Series: Defeated the Washington Wild Things Washington Wild Things The Washington Wild Things are a professional baseball team based in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The Wild Things are a member of the East Division of the Frontier League, an independent baseball league which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball... 3-2. |
| 2008 | 60-36 | .625 | 1st in FL West | Frontier League Division Series: Defeated the Southern Illinois Miners Southern Illinois Miners The Southern Illinois Miners are a professional baseball team based in Marion, Illinois, in the United States. The Miners are a member of the West Division of the Frontier League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball... 3-1. Frontier League Championship Series: Defeated the Kalamazoo Kings Kalamazoo Kings The Kalamazoo Kings are a professional baseball team based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in the United States. The Kings are a member of the Eastern Division of the Frontier League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball... 3-0. |
| 2009 | 56-40 | .583 | 2nd in FL West | Frontier League Division Series: Lost vs. River City Rascals River City Rascals The River City Rascals are a professional baseball team based in O'Fallon, Missouri, in the United States. The Rascals are a member of the West Division of the Frontier League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. From the 1999 season to the present, the Rascals have played their... 0-3. |
| 2010 | 56-38 | .596 | 1st in FL East | Frontier League Division Series: Lost vs. Traverse City Beach Bums Traverse City Beach Bums The Traverse City Beach Bums are a professional baseball team based in the Traverse City, Michigan, suburb of Blair Township, in the United States. The Beach Bums are a member of the East Division of the Frontier League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball... 1-3. |
| 2011 | 48-48 | .500 | 4th in FL East | |
| Total | 698-701 | .499 | ||
| Playoffs | 15-8 | .652 | 3 Division Title. 5 Playoff Appearance. 3 Championships. | |