Old-timey baseball legends of Joliet

I'm sad to say this will be the last blog I write in Joliet for the Herald News. But don't worry too much. I'll be randomly updating this confounded contraption once in a blue moon from our new location in Plainfield.

While cleaning out my desk and packing up my editing tools in the newsroom, I happened upon a copy of a local sports magazine that ceased circulation after its first edition. Its failure probably had something to do with the lack of professional sports teams in Joliet.

But as far as semi-pro recreation goes, everyone knows Joliet is a JackHammer town. And wouldn't you know it, my great-great grandfather was a basetender for the 'Hammers in the 1850s.

Although back in those days, they played in a limestone quarry -- nothing like the luxurious grass at Silver Cross Field you see today. Games in the quarry only lasted about 20 minutes because the air conditions were deplorable. The matches were poorly attended out of fear that the original mascot, a Bengal tiger, would break loose and eat bystanders. Sadly, many of the founding players eventually died of consumption or tuberculosis and the league was discontinued until 2002.

So if nothing else, I'm proud to say my own kin was featured on the cover of Joliet SportWise magazine. It's a shame the publication fell out of favor in the community. Where else am I going to find historical sports commentary?