Hagerstown

On Ditching Town

Thursday, May 22, 2025
Harrisburg, PA

Outside the Game:
As is often the case, I had a long, stupid day at work, where I interspersed my historic cooking for the week as I slogged through the day.

I was finally able to head out at around 7:30 PM, but as I was making my hotel reservation for the evening, Hotels.com booked it twice, and I had to take an extra 15 minutes to sort it out. So I wasn't on the road until 7:45 PM. I stopped to get gas and then just drove the couple of hours to Harrisburg, calling my mom as I went.

I arrived at the hotel around 10:15 PM and checked in, parked, unpacked, and then just went to bed.

The Accommodations:

Baymont by Wyndham Harrisburg

The over-named Baymont by Wyndham Harrisburg was a nice enough place to hold over for a night. The cavernous hallways that all looked the same were not a good navigation tool for my half-awake self at that hour of night, but we persevered.

I had to get a double queen room instead of a king, but that just meant more pillows for me. The little bathroom was just off the entrance to the room, and the two queen beds, nightstand, and easy chair were on one side of the room, and a desk, dresser, and TV were on the opposite wall, as I'd seen countless times before.

It did what it needed to.

On Right Sized

Meritus Park, 2025

Friday, May 23, 2025
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs vs. Hagerstown Flying Boxcars
Meritus Park
Atlantic League
Hagerstown, MD
6:30 PM

Outside the Game:
I was up early for breakfast at 6:30 AM. I ate my fill of the breakfast bar, before retreating upstairs to shower, pack, book my hotel for the night, and take a nap. I checked out and was on the road around 9:30 AM.

Well-defended visitor's center

I drove straight to Antietam without hitting any sort of traffic. I had been here before on a trip to see the old Hagerstown team, but I had only seen parts of the battlefield during that visit. I started at the visitor's center with the movie and then drove the entire battlefield this time, stopping at all of the visitor points. I even took one of the trails in the Cornfield for a little excursion. There was a guy with his kid who were always leaving the stops as I got there, the same way a couple and their dog were just behind me. The only part that got me was the army observation tower at the Sunken Road. So... many... stairs...

Burnside Bridge

After hitting the last tour stop at the National Cemetery, I took the short drive back up to Hagerstown and stopped at a Sonic next to the hotel for a well-earned lunch before going over to check in.

I went up to my rather nice room and unpacked and settled in before taking a dead-to-the-world nap before the game. I drove over to the stadium around 5 PM, parked in the new parking deck, and bought my ticket and took all my outside pictures (including the "Mural of Unusual Size" next door) before the gates opened.

After the game, I was in my car and back to the hotel before their fireworks started, which I watched from the hotel parking lot before heading up to my room to shower, pack up some, and go to bed.

The Stadium & Fans:

Home plate to center field, Meritus Park

Outside of the soulless corporate name, Meritus Park was actually very nice. It felt the right size for Hagerstown, for one. A lot of cities start an indie league team and go nuts building a big ballpark that will never be filled up, while this one felt exactly simpatico for Hagerstown. If the park sold out, 1/10th of the city population would be here, and the Boxcars, despite being a disaster on the field, actually draw very well.

There are two bars in the outfield that were bustling with people, and it seems like Meritus Park is similar to Coors Field on a smaller canvas. It is the best club or bar in town, and a lot of socializing gets done here, which is fine and dandy because the team currently sucks.

As with so many of these parks, there is one promenade above the seating area that goes around the park. The main seats run from first to third, with a picnic area at the end in both outfields. The second level of press and luxury boxes runs above the main seating area, and the kids play area is nestled in center among the outfield bars. The main scoreboard is in left-center and a neon sculpture of the namesake plane sits in right. There is a Hall of Fame of players who came through town in their affiliated days, and behind home plate is a big dining area, with specialty kiosks and a grab-n-go concession. 

The mascot Ace didn't show up as much as you'd expect, and the between-inning entertainment was some average events, with things like the donut race (each side of the park has to pass an inflatable donut the length of the park the fastest) and an alcohol race sponsored by a local liquor store that is a hold-over from the old park. They pulled a good crowd, but it seemed more about the socializing than the game.

But VIP of the park is Erin Shank. Ms Shank is an insurance agent who somehow managed to get a sponsorship of every... single... foul... ball... in the game. Every time a ball was fouled, the scoreboard would flash red with "Foul Ball, presented by Erin Shank, State Farm, erinshankinsurance.com, 76 East Main St. Waynesboro 717-762-7101." I did not have to look that up, because I had it memorized by the third inning. It was omnipresent. Whoever sold her this sponsorship should be knighted or beheaded.

At the Game with Oogie: 

"Burnt Ends" Sausage

I went in as the gates opened, and was greeted to the pre-game "Rock and Roll Night" concert from some local cover band. I did my regular circuit of walking around to get pictures, hitting the team store, and then grabbing food. They had a pretty good selection of food at the park, but I settled on a "burnt ends sausage," which was weird, but actually really good.

I purchases a seat right behind the home dugout. There was an older couple behind me who were really into the game, but sadly realistic about their skills. ("This is like watching the O's!") There were two guys to my left who were there for a night out, and a family on the other side of me for the same.

The Game: 

First pitch, Blue Crabs vs. Flying Boxcars

This game features a battle of the Maryland indie teams in the Atlantic League between the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs and the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars. Besides featuring some truly ludicrous plays, it was an absolute blowout and some boring, boring baseball. Have I oversold it enough?

Southern Maryland started off with a leadoff walk and nothing else in the first. The Boxcars had back-to-back singles at the top of the inning to make it first and third with no outs, all erased on the most ridiculous double-play I've seen live. More on that below, but needless to say, they didn't score. The Blue Claws started the second with a leadoff double, who was put out trying to make it to third on the next hit. But a two-out homer put them on the board, 2-0, even though they stranded two more singles after the bomb. Hagerstown went in order after a leadoff walk got caught up in a double-play. Southern Maryland only had a reached on error to show for the third, while the Boxcars managed to strand back-to-back walks to start the inning, as well as a one-out single to load up the bases.

The Blue Crabs started the fourth with a single and another single and fielder's choice brought him in, and a homer to right cleared the bases for three more runs total, extending the lead to 5-0. Hagerstown went in order in their half. Southern Maryland kept the scoring going in the fifth, with a walk, a single, and a solo homer putting up two more to make it 7-0. The Boxcars finally got on the board in the bottom of the inning, with a two-out solo shot, closing it to 7-1. In the sixth, the Blue Crabs couldn't cash in a single and walk, and Hagerstown stranded two walks of their own.

Southern Maryland batted all the way around exactly in the seventh, with two singles, two walks, a sacrifice fly, and a two-base wild pitch turning into four more runs, to make it 11-1. The Boxcars went in order. The Blue Crabs only had a reached on error in the top of the eighth, while Hagerstown went in order again. Southern Maryland stranded a leadoff walk in the ninth, while--say it with me--the Boxcars went in order, leaving the final tally 11-1.

The Scorecard: 

Southern Maryland Blue Crabs vs. Hagerstown Box Cars, 5/23/25. The Blue Carbs won, 11-1.

There was a home scorecard to use this time around, but I didn't notice until I had started a scorecard in the BBWAA book. Because of rain the previous day, the liner on top of the dugout looked dry, but was actually soaked with water. I managed to get both scorecards wet on it, because I am attentive to detail.

The scorecard was the center foldout of the half-tabloid program, with nine lines for players and five for pitchers, curiously without cumulative total columns at the bottom of each inning (10 total). Each batter and pitcher had standard cumulative total stats. There were lines to record Umpires, temperature, weather, winning and losing pitchers, saves, time of game, and attendance. Each scoring square did not have a pre-printed diamond, and were of sufficient size for the task.

The play of the century was in the bottom of the first: 5-2-5-1-6t DP. With no outs and first and third, the next batter hit one sharply to the third baseman, who came home and got the runner at third in a rundown (5-2-5-1), and on the throw back to the shortstop covering third, he got the lead and tailing runner (6t DP). I would not want to be the going to face the manager after that one.

Just so the umps can get in on the action, in the top of the sixth, the ump rang up a batter with only two strike, who then went on to walk. And the K-Man did not strike out.

The Accommodations:

Hampton Inn, Hagerstown

The Hampton Inn Hagerstown was very nice, even though it was undergoing renovations during my stay.

The larger-than-average bathroom was on the left as I entered the room, with tub and vanity. The bedroom had a king bed, nightstands, and dresses along one wall, a table with two chairs by the window, and a flat screen TV mounted on the far wall.

On No Complaints

Saturday, May 24, 2025
Clifton, NJ

Outside the Game:
I was up early for a decidedly above-average hotel breakfast. The reason for the packed house soon became apparent, as the breakfast buffet was completely filled with young girls in softball uniforms who ate and then left quickly, no doubt for a tournament in the area.

I, however, went back up to my room for a nap, eventually getting myself together enough to leave around 10 AM. I stopped at a local antique shop and made a number of purchases, included a valet. Not a person in this case. There was a half-price tent sale on the lawn of the store, and in there was a perfectly good valet (piece of furniture), which once I determined it would fit in my trunk, was swiftly purchased, especially at that price.

I drove home on a straight shot, not even bothering to stop for lunch. I listened to the entirety of an episode of Narrative Declaration, which got me through the whole ride reasonably entertained.

I unloaded, threw everything in the laundry, and napped, and went about the rest of my Saturday as one does.

The Accommodations:
Sweet home, Clifton

Click here to see all the photos from this trip.

Stand-Alone Trip

Geneva

On Once In a Lifetime

Northwestern Medicine Field, 2025

Friday, May 16, 2025
Milwaukee Milkmen vs. Kane County Cougars
Northwestern Medicine Field
American Association
Geneva, IL
6:30 PM

Outside the Game: 
For once, my wake-up time was even too early for the hotel breakfast, so I had to busy myself (which I did by upgrading my seat for tomorrow's flight home) until the buffet opened, and I was allowed to eat. The similar and long hallways of the hotel got me quite lost going back to my room, as I didn't have little signs pointing the way to the lobby to help me out.

I eventually returned successfully, and I kept napping once I went back to bed, unopposed by an early ballgame. I determined that this was because for the first time in perhaps over a year, my back was in working order from all the soaking the jacuzzi the night before.

Even my laziness has an end, and after a time, I got dressed and went out into the world, heading to a historic working farm nearby, Kline Creek. As with all the ballgames for most of the week, the farm was overrun by school groups. The farm itself was quite nice, with a farmhouse, outbuildings, animals, and several small exhibits. I got to talking with the tour guide outside the farmhouse, who apologized to me that I would be getting the kid-oriented tour, which I assured him was okay. He said I should come back another day, when I explained that it would be a bit of a commute. He suggested the Volo car museum as a place to see, and I decided to see that the next day on my way to the airport, as I had time to kill.

Chops on the hoof

All the schoolboys were entranced by the cows and pigs, and it was always the funniest thing in the world when one of them pooed. The attention and pets from the children was clearly overloading one of the sheep, who was pressing himself under the fence to get more affection. I would hear later that one of the sheep had gotten loose, and I strongly suspect I know the culprit.

Sunken Garden

I hit the store and left, driving up to a small, free zoo in nearby Aurora ("Excellent!") The Phillips Park Zoo was a fine little endeavor, with a sunken garden and a small museum to mastodons as part of the complex. I eventually went back to the hotel and went to the restaurant on the corner again for lunch, this time sitting in the sports bar area and watching the cross-town Sox-Cub match-up on the TV. The meatloaf special wasn't available, but I had a steak sandwich that was quite adequate. 

I went back to the hotel for a nap and almost slept too long. I grabbed my game bag and jumped in my car for the short drive to the park, and after getting fleeced on parking, I walked over to the park, took some outside photos, grabbed a ticket, and went in.

The game ended early, and I was one of the first to my (now incredibly dust-covered) car, making it back to the hotel in time before the fireworks display started, able to watch it from the parking lot of hotel. I settled in and went straight to the jacuzzi for another abbreviated night of soaking, eventually dragging myself to bed.

The Stadium & Fans: 

Home plate to center field, Northwestern Medicine Field

Another "rolls-off-the-tongue" name of Northwest Medicine Field is located in the heart of suburbia and seemed a little more upscale than the other parks, especially their parking prices. The park was more manicured into its surrounding and crowded by buildings, with the three main entrances as the ways in, and not much to be seen on the outside.

Once inside, the layout was quite familiar, with a promenade running above the seating area, but only going from right field to left field. Two special picnic areas anchored each field corner, in front of picnic berms, which eventually turned into the seating bowl that ran from first to third. The seemingly mandatory second level of press and luxury boxes right above the seating bowl, and the scoreboard cluster was out in left-center. There was a little more in the park than the average for the week, with food carts, a play area, and a jacuzzi display for some reason in right field. A small commemorative plaque to the local politician who brought the team in is by an entrance and the championship banners are on the right-field wall.

There was very little going on between innings, perhaps because of the odd weather, or maybe they just don't do that here, but they did have a nice enough crowd, even for this disreputable night.

At the Game with Oogie:

Loaded and dangerous (to my heart)

This was an odd night for a variety of reasons. I procured tickets right in front of the dugout since it was a night game and quite overcast anyway.

I did my rounds upon entering the park, taking pictures, buying memorabilia, and then scarfing down a fully loaded brat. I made it to my seat in the sparsely populated area behind the visiting dugout, at least temporarily. Rain began falling in the first that became severe enough to retreat up to the covered overhang bleachers further up the stands for the duration of the rain, which quickly turned into a dust storm. This was the first dust storm of any appreciable size in this area in living memory, and while we apparently just got a glancing blow, the sky was darkened red and all the cars in the parking lot after the game were discovered coated in at least a thin layer of dirt. It was, of course, a first for me, and completed the set of baseball delays or events for the four Greek elements (water [obvious], fire [also obvious], air [dangerous winds], and now earth [dust storm]).

Some weather blows in

I eventually returned to my original seat, dried it off, and hunkered down for the rest of the game once I was assured that there were no more biblical plagues coming. 

The Game:

First pitch, Milkmen vs. Cougars

In an evening that was more about what was going on around the field as opposed to on it, this contest between the Milkmen and the Cougars went from close game to mid-inning blow-out rather quickly.

The Milkmen started off in the first with a homer to dead center, staking them to a 1-0 lead. Kane County used the rain to their advantage, as a walk and three singles (the last of which was just lost in the increasing rain) turned into two runs, flipping the lead, 2-1. Milwaukee kept to the script and had another solo homer in the top of the second to tie it, 2-2, while the Cougars kept to their singles attack, with three more turning into another run to take back the lead, 3-2. As the dust storm settled in, the Milkmen went in order in the third, while Kane County just had a walk to show for their half.

Milwaukee stranded a hit batsman and a single in the fourth, while the Cougars went in order. Things picked back up in the fifth, as the Milkmen turned two doubles and two walks into three runs, surging back out in front, 5-3. Kane County went in order again. Milwaukee stranded a triple in the top of the sixth, while the Cougars could only manage stranding a single in the bottom of the frame.

Things got out of hand for the Milkmen in the top of the seventh. Two singles and two walks converted into three more runs, pulling away at 8-3. Kane County only had a single to answer them in the last half of the inning. In the eighth, the Milwaukee had a single and stolen base and a two-base wild pitches turn into another run (while also stranding a two-out triple), to pull the lead to 9-3. The Cougars finally got on the board again with two walks and an error plating a run, making it 9-4. The Milkmen weren't done in the ninth, with a nice array of q triple, double, and single bringing in two more runs to make it 11-4. Kane County struck out in order after a walk to start the bottom of the ninth, sending to home fans home dusty and sad with an 11-4 loss.

The Scorecard: 

Milwaukee Milkmen vs. Kane County Cougars, 05/16/25. Milkmen win, 11-4 

In a small miracle, the Cougars had a had scorecard hat I used with the erasable pens. They actually sold the scorecard separate for $1, and I promptly lost one in the wind before sheepishly going back to the team store to buy another.

It was nice scorecard and on cardstock, stacked on one page. There were nine player lines and four pitcher lines, each with the average cumulative statistics. There were ten innings, with run/hits totals at the bottom of each column. There was no pre-written diamond, and each scoring square was big enough for the task. The only fill-ins were for opponent, date, and time, and there were delineated areas for notes. 

I, of course, made a note about the rain and dust storm. In the bottom of the first, the rain let a ball get lost which was scored an--at the time--critical hit. A double in the top of the fifth was dropped at the wall, and a two-base scoring error on a wild pitch in the top of the eighth was completely lost by the catcher. In the bottom of the eighth, the second baseman made the first half of a double-play unassisted at second and threw the ball away, leading to a run, and in the top of the ninth, another double was really another dropped ball, this time by the shortstop.

And, although there were plenty of "almosts" during this trip, the Milkmen's DH got a sombrero.

The Accommodations:
I was at the Comfort Inn & Suites Geneva- West Chicago again, and I spent a good deal of time there this day, between the lazy morning and the pre-game naps and whatnot.

The jacuzzi tub was an absolute life saver, and booking this room was among my top two decisions on this trip.

On Leaving Wanting More

Volo Museum

Saturday, May 17, 2025
Clifton, NJ

Outside the Game:
I was up early and down to breakfast again as it opened, retreating back to bed for a nap or two. I eventually shook myself awake enough to do final packing up and planning before checking out an noon.

I stopped for gas and then, on the suggestion of the person at the farm museum the day before, I head to the Volo Museum, helpfully located in Volo, Illinois. I had no idea what to expect except a "car museum," but this place was much more than that. It was as if a car dealership, a Chuck E. Cheese, and several roadside attractions all melded together and had a weird, awesome baby.

Hangers full of cars

Starting as a classic car mall of several airplane hangers worth of cars for sale, they also have exhibits on the evolution of other vehicles, such as campers, boats, and snowmobiles, as well as exhibit of famous TV and movie cars with hilariously bad mannequins, and a token system where you can pay to gain admittance to little side attractions, including the history of torture and Chicago organized crime. And that's not even mentioning the pizza restaurant with their animatronic band, the classic midway and arcade games (also token powered), and a separate admission Titanic exhibit, Jurassic Garden, antiques superstores, and narrated train rides that I didn't even have time to try out.

Why not?

This thing was kitsch Disneyland. And speaking of, they have three original vacuum mold wax figurine makers from Disneyland, and for $10, suckers such as myself can get a wax Mickey figurine made as they wait.

Wax factory

I only wish I knew to come on a day when I had more time. As it was, I was rushing at the end to see just the first museum as I had to head out to the airport. The drive was easy, and I was able to turn in my rental car and head to the terminal with no great effort.

My ticket upgrade had the proper boarding group this time, and my only hiccup was a secondary bag check because my LED antique light looks very bomb-like in the scanner. I found my gate and got something to eat. In my final middle finger to Chicago, I got a flat slice of pizza.

I boarded right when my group was called and was able to get some overhead space a row or two behind me for settling into my extra leg room seat. We left a little late, for no appreciable reason, but at least there was no kid kicking my seat all flight.

We landed around on time, and I had to take a long walk to the shuttle bus to the airtrain, which took me back to the long-term lot, where my car thankfully still resided. I packed up, paid my blood money, and headed home for a night of laundry, organization, and sitting in a massage chair.

The Accommodations:
Home, sweet, Clifton finally again

Click here to see all the photos from this trip.

2025 Main Trip: Illi-noise

Gary

On a Spa Day

The SteelYard, 2025

Thursday, May 15, 2025

Cleburne Railroaders vs. Gary Southshore RailCats
The SteelYard
American Association
Gary, IN
11:00 AM 

Outside the Game:
With this wake-up time apparently ingrained in my soul, I woke up at 6 AMish, just in time for the hotel breakfast to begin. This was easily the best spread of the trip, and I made several trips back to the buffet to fill myself with the hearty breakfast victuals, before retreating back to my room for a nap.

Waiting until the last minute again, I booked my hotel room in Geneva for the next two days. There were a lot of weddings in the area, but I managed to get a nice hotel and a room with a jacuzzi tub, because I deserved it. Bad weather was expected the next day or so as well, so I wanted someplace pleasant to hole up if that turned out to be the case.

I packed up, checked out, and took the short drive to the park. Along the way in Gary, I saw the tourist sign for the Jackson 5's childhood home, but looking down the street, it might as well have been a decrepit van with "FREE CANDY" spray-painted on the side, and I went straight out to the park.

I parked in the lot next to the park and took my outside pictures. The ticket booth did not open until right before the gates, so I procured a ticket at that point and went inside.

After the game, I went straight over to Geneva, but the threatening storm did not materialize. I checked in at the hotel and got settled after traversing the cavernous hallways of the hotel, fully unpacking for my two-day stay. On the suggestion of the proprietor, I went to the restaurant down on the corner, where my biggest choice was either the meatloaf special or the elk burger (which obviously won, along with some poutine on the side). After filling up, I went back to the hotel and sat blissfully in the jacuzzi tub for the rest of the evening. I regret nothing. My back was finally functional after days of driving, and I slept quite soundly.

The Stadium & Fans: 

Home plate to center field, The SteelYard

The SteelYard is about as full-throated a name as you can get for a ballpark, located in old industrial park of town (insofar as they weren't all industrial). Though Gary is on a bit of a rebound, the park raised an eyebrow or two, in that there is an "Operation Safe Zone" emergency area run by the police on the outside wall of the park, though an "I (heart) Gary" sign by the main entrance and ticket booth is more inviting. Though I was still happy this was a day game.

Safety dance

This was a familiar ballpark design at this point, with a main promenade running above the seating areas, but not all the way around the park. A regular seating bowl runs from first to third base, with a small picnic berm is short right field and a small bleachers area in short left field. A second level of press and luxury boxes runs top of first to third, with retired numbers, championship pennants, and a press box dedication along the facade. A hall of fame lines the alley-ways from the entrances, and there's a event picnic area in left field, right by the main scoreboard rising in left-center.

Especially for a school day event, it was surprising that there was no mascot appearance (perhaps he got mugged on the way in) and very few between-inning events. The game was packed with kids, and therefore loud either way.

At the Game with Oogie:

Bratfest

I made my way inside and walked around for my pictures before hitting the merch store and grabbing my Lunchfast of a brat and soda (bratfest?).

My seat again was right in the sun, and with no railing countertop along the promenade, I grabbed a shaded table by the promenade concessions stands overlooking the field for the first few innings, which was quite comfortable. After a couple of innings, I saw the shaded bar behind home plate had an open seat, so I migrated over there. I found out the seat was empty because it was a high-back barstool that was missing the foot bar, making it a little uncomfortable to sit in. One of the old guys in the seats next to me told me that he had switched his seat with that one for that very reason. Eventually, one of the other people next to me left and I swapped chairs with him. All in all, not a bad way to watch a game.

Except for the train horn. Not from the trains using the rail lines still active beyond the outfield walls, but the one they blew for celebrations in the stadium, which was so loud that it actually drowned out the school kids in attendance. And it was used constantly.

The Game: 

First pitch, Railroaders vs. RailCats

This morning contest of railroad-themed teams between the Cleburne Railroaders and the Gary Southshore RailCats had some bursts of action in between stretches of nothing.

Cleburne just had a one-out walk to show for the top of the first, while the RailCats had a solo man reach on a questionable hit in their half. The Railroaders stranded a solitary single in the second, while Gary's leadoff single was erased on a double-play. Cleburne had a leadoff single picked off first and a walk erased on a double-play, but the RailCats put two runs together in the bottom of the frame with three singles and a walk to go out to a 2-0 lead.

In the top of the fourth, the Railroaders stranded one single and erased another on a double-play. Gary kept the scoring going with a double and a single bringing in a run to extend the lead to 3-0. Both teams went in order in the fifth, but the Railriders got on the board in the top of the sixth with a walk and a very questionable home run, which closed the gap to 3-2. Gary went in order in the bottom of the inning.

Cleburne had just a hit batsman that got picked off in the top of the seventh, while the RailCats took one out of the park to left with one out to extend the lead to 4-2. The Railroaders answered back with a leadoff homer to center that just made it over the wall in the eighth, closing the score to 4-3. Gary went in order. In their last attempt, Cleburne got a baserunner with a one-out hit batman who made it to second on a wild pitch, but there he stayed, giving the home team the 4-3 win.

The Scorecard:

Cleburne Railraoders vs. Gary RailCats. Railcats win, 4-3

I was again using the BBWAA scorebook with the erasable pens for this game, and there were more notable events than normal, most of a questionable nature.

In the top of the first, there was a roller to second that was ruled an infield hit even though the second baseman butchered an easy play. In the top of the third, there was an infield hit where the first baseman came off the bag.

The last two notables were related to home runs. In the top of the sixth, a line drive to left field at least twelve feet foul was called a home run. This got a red underline in the scorebook, as even from where I was sitting, it was clearly foul. This caused quite the stir in the stands. In the top of the eighth, a homer to dead center bounced on the very top of the wall on its way out, just about escaping the park.

The Accommodations:

Comfort Inn & Suites Geneva-West Chicago

I splurged on the Comfort Inn & Suites Geneva-West Chicago for the two nights. It was very similar to most of the other rooms I'd been in, with one big difference.

There was a nice bathroom right by the entrance to the room, and a big, overstuffed king bed and night stands on one side of the room, and a desk, dresser, bench, and mini-kitchen on the other side.

And a jacuzzi tub a few feet from the bed on a tiled riser. I would spend nearly as much time in that tub as I would sleeping over my next two days.

Click here to see all the photos from this trip.

2025 Main Trip: Illi-noise

Schaumburg

On the Sun, Planes, and Making Friends

Wintrust Field, 2025

Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Windy City Thunderbolts vs. Schaumburg Boomers
Wintrust Field
Frontier League
Schaumburg, IL
11:00 AM

Outside the Game: 
I was up early again and down as soon as it opened for a much nicer hotel breakfast. I then was just as quickly back to my room to pack up, book my hotel as close as possible to the early game tomorrow, and nap until I had to leave for the early game today.

After checking out at just after 10 AM, it was an incredibly short drive to the stadium, and their parking lot was even free. I bought my ticket, hit their team store, and then walked around to take my outside pictures and drop off everything at the car before heading back to the entrance to get in right as the gates opened.

With an unoccupied afternoon ahead of me after the game, I went to the Cosley Zoo, a small enterprise nearby. It was originally a one-man operation that he dragged along to official accreditation, and it was a lovely little farm zoo that was completely re-doing their duck pond during my visit.

New friend

It was mostly petting-zoo level of animals, and there was one goat that looked at me with tired, tired eyes. I scratched her behind her ears, and based on the noises, I'm pretty sure I got some years taken off of purgatory for it. A zookeeper said she was the mom for all the baby goats that were bleating all over the place, and it being just after Mother's Day, I figure she deserved some special attention. I scratched her ears until she eventually wandered away. I also saw a raccoon that seemed to be having an anxiety attack, and I felt very, very close affinity to that animal.

Over the top, boys.

After seeing my fill and inevitably hitting the gift shop, I drove over to another nearby museum for the First Division of the US Army. It was another well-done affair, talking about history of the division's engagements through the years on one side of the building, and on the other, talking about the various missions and uses in more modern times. They had a giant tank park outside (along with a Huey attack helicopter, for some reason), as well as an interactive trail exhibit on D-Day that dragged you through the sand and up the heights to learn about the events of the invasion.

There was supposedly a French restaurant attached to the museum, but it was definitively closed, so I started my drive out to Indiana, hitting real, annoying traffic for the first time on the trip. I didn't have anyplace to be, but I was hangry, which did not help.

I eventually made it to my hotel outside of Gary and checked in. After getting situated, I took the advice of the hotel clerk and walked to the brewery next door for dinner, having a beer and burger, and then indulging in a giant fudge brownie cooked and served in a skillet, as the sun set on another day.

I waddled back to the hotel, washed up, and settled in for the night, catching up on YouTube and organizing my paperwork for the trip.

The Stadium & Fans:

Home plate to center field, Wintrust Field

Wintrust Field was largely cut from the same template as all these indie parks I was visiting this week, with its own little difference. There were stairs up to all but the main entrance, and the luxury boxes had their own entrance on the third-base side. There was a main promenade around the top of the seating bowl that extended from first to third with a picnic berm at each end, but it did not go all the way around the park.

A second level of press and luxury boxes ran on top the facility from about first to third, with championship banners on the press box facade. A kids zone and corporate picnic area were in left field, and a small special seating area in right, with the main video board rising majestically up from left-center.

Misunderstood hydrofluorocarbons

The place was packed for another education day early start. Coop, the boomer owl, was the mascot de jure, and again the between-inning events were stuffed with kids and teachers from the various schools. They also has an aerosol can mascot race, sponsored by the local aerosol can manufacturers' conglomerate, pushing the message of how "misunderstood" they were. Don't ever change, Midwest.

Also, I'm pretty sure that the person who bought the team named it such just so he could get the chant "Let's go, Boomers!" screamed at him by succeeding generations of people who do not like his generation, nor would ever chant that in any other circumstance.

At the Game with Oogie:

"Breakfast"

I went around with my normal business of taking a lap and pictures before scaring up a brunchfast of a hotdog and souvenir soda. (I had also been mistaken for press about three times this day.) The ticket guy had given me a seat smack dab in the sun, so I tried my previous tactic of just sitting in the last row of the last area in the shade, but I was bounced by a school group, so for the first couple of innings, I was on the railing on the shaded promenade. 

A guy who worked at the park was talking to me about my scoring while I was up there, and he explained the infrequent--but hardly ignorable--small planes flying low over the park were landing at the regional airport just past the outfield walls. 

During the late innings, the school groups started to leave, so I absconded to an unclaimed seat in the shade to give my back a rest.

The Game: 

First pitch, Thunderbolts vs. Boomers

This early-day contest between the Windy City Thunderbolts and the Schaumburg Boomers was the first blow-out I had so far this trip, but at least the home fans went home happy.

Windy City went in order in the first, but the Boomers just started scoring. A walk, two singles, and another walk, two singles, wild pitch, and sacrifice fly staked them to an early 5-0 lead. The Thunderbolts went in order again in the second, and Schaumburg, perhaps tired, did as well. Windy City got their first hit in the top of the third (though it was almost a nifty play), while the Boomers kept scoring with a walk, a balk, and three singles, plating two more runs, making it 7-0.

The Thunderbolts finally got on the board in the fourth, with three singles and a passed ball getting across two, making it 7-2. Schaumburg took those runs back with a hit batsman and a homer, stretching the lead back out to 9-2. Windy City went in order in the fifth, and the Boomers only had a leadoff walk to show for their half. The Thunderbolts got back on the board in the sixth, stringing some singles and a throwing error into a run, closing it slightly to 9-3. Schaumburg got that back and more in their half, with three walks, a passed ball, and two singles turning into three more runs to leave it 11-3.

Windy City went in order in the seventh, while the Boomers snuck another one across with a walk, single, and sacrifice fly, to make it 12-3. The Thunderbolts sat down in order again in the eighth, while Schaumburg piled more on with two singles and a three-run homer, to blow it out to 15-3. Windy City, perhaps just wanting to go home, went in order yet again in the ninth, leaving it 15-3 final. 

The Scorecard:

Windy City Thundbolts vs. Schaumburg Boomer. Boomers win, 15-3.

I was again testing the new generation of erasable pens on the BBWAA scorecard. Lots of runs in this one, and even a balk, but not too much worth noting.

The first hit of the game in the top of the third for the Thunderbolts was an infield single that was almost an incredible 6-5-3 put out after being deflected off the shortstop, but the runner beat it out. In the top of the sixth, there was an overthrow home by the right fielder that let the other runner advance. In the bottom of the same sixth, the catcher completely lost track of a passed ball that allowed a run to score from second. And in the eighth, the Thunderbolts put in a position player to try and save the bullpen, the first time I ever saw that in person.

The Accommodations:

Hampton Inn & Suites, Hammond

There are, not surprisingly, no hotels in Gary, IN, one of the poster boys for the rust belt. For that, and many other reasons, I stayed relatively close by in Hammond at the Hampton Inn & Suites, about fifteen minutes from my last early game the next day. As I was going to have an extended time in the hotel again, I went for a slightly nicer than average place.

There was a big bathroom just off the entrance to the room, and the same slightly nicer bed, night tables, and easy chair on one wall, and bench, dresser, and desk on the other.

I lazed around after dinner, so the little bit nicer was well worth it for the extra time I spent there.

Click here to see all the photos from this trip.

2025 Main Trip: Illi-noise

Joliet

On a Mission from God

Duly Health & Care Field, 2025

Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Quebec Capitales vs. Joliet Slammers
Duly Health and Care Field
Frontier League
Joliet, IL
10:30 AM

Outside the Game: 
I woke early this morning and starving, so it is good I was still waking up at 6 AM right as another breakfast buffet opened. This one was a little better than the day before, and I ate to my heart's content before slumping back up to my room to pack up, wash up, and then nap to the last possible moment (which was much earlier this morning).

I booked my hotel in Schaumburg for the night, as there was another early morning game tomorrow (though not this early). Outside of some problem with my rewards number that made the whole process longer than it needed to be, I finished up, packed the car, and headed the short distance to the stadium.

And found there was no where to park. There was an employee standing out in front of the park, and he said the stadium usually used the municipal lot next door, but because of the early start during work hours, it was still being used municipally. As he was new, he ran inside and came back with directions to the closest public lot, which I was able to find, park in, and walk back with minimal issues. The gates were already open at this point, but I bought a ticket and took my pictures outside before going in.

"We're ahn a mishon fram gahd."

The game being over at 1 PM, I looked for things to do. The famous prison was closed until Thursday, but there were a couple of local museums within walking distance of my parking lot. I barely made it inside the Joliet Area Historical Museum before I received the answer to the question, "Do they acknowledge the Blues Brothers at all?", as I was confronted with a "mission from god" diorama right in the lobby. I love me a good local museum, and this was certainly it, delving into the history of Joliet and its industries, as well as the jail and route 66. Right around the corner from that place was the in-progress Illinois Rock & Roll Museum of Route 66. A British couple that I had seen in the first museum had the same idea I did and were leaving this place just as I entered. The museum sold nifty stickers of Abe Lincoln with headphones on and "Illinoise" printed on them.

Cue the horn section.

Before I left, I headed just south of town, where the Blue Brothers car was mounted on a pole right next to a gas station, for some reason. Checking that off the list, I headed out to Schaumburg around 3:30 PM, reaching there after an uneventful drive though cloverleaf intersections. At the hotel, I was originally put in a handicapped room by accident(?), and the overworked attendant apologized profusely then put me in a correct room. It seems like they were short-staffed in a bad way.

I settled into my new room, unpacked, and got my paperwork in order. I went down and had dinner at the hotel restaurant (also short-staffed, but it was fine, despite what some Karens also dining at the same time would have you believe) before heading back up to my room to spend the rest of the night in the tub, watching the finale of Andor. I eventually showered up and went to bed, exhausted as the trip to this point caught up to me a bit.

The Stadium & Fans: 

Home plate to center field, Duly Health and Care Field

The mellifluously named Duly Health And Care Field was pretty standard for the indie parks that I would run across during this trip, with some nice exceptions. There was a promenade around the entire park, with the seating bowl and two outfield berms extending down beneath it. There were different levels to the berm, serviced by a stairwell in left and an escalator in right. The concessions and stores lined the promenade, including notable ones like the Old Smokey Distillery in left, adored with a statue of steelworkers on top of it.

A second level of press and luxury boxes loomed above from first base to third base. The main video board sat in left-center, with a speed camera board in right. An very well-used play zone was in left field, and a Miracle League field (used for a modified version of baseball for disabled people) was in center. There was also a small local hall of fame near the home plate promenade, and a baseball player statue and some dedication plaques by the main entrance.

A recurring theme so far

The mascots were Spikes, the dog, and J.L. Bird, a crow-ish thing in an old-timey jail outfit (thus marking the second day in a row of criminal mascots). There were tons of minor-league level-games between the innings, most featuring some of the school group members who were filling the park this morning. The park staff were also inordinately proud of the netting around the seating area. Every time a foul ball hit the net, the announcer in the booth exhorted the crowd to say, "Thank you, Net!"

At the Game with Oogie:

"Breakfast"

Once I made it inside the park, I did my lap on the promenade taking pictures before hitting the team store ("The Clink") before getting... breakfast? Lunch? Brunch? It was a hot dog and a soda because I wasn't adventurous enough to get anything else. I joked about getting a beer with one of the concession ladies at 10 AM-ish, and to my horror, she didn't even imagine that I was kidding, and I had to stop her pouring me a morning beer. Are you okay, Chicago?

I found my seat, which wasn't quite in the shade, so I shuffled over the last rows of the first shaded area of the park and squatted successfully. There was one lady in the row ahead of me, and then three rows down of nothing until the rest of the area was claimed by a student group, who filled most of the entire park. The kids were incredibly loud, especially when the mascots showed up or there was a giveaway, or--god forbid--when the mascots did a giveaway.

The Game:

First pitch, Capitales vs. Slammers

Besides its ridiculous start time of 10:30 AM, this early season, "school day" matchup between the Quebec Capitales and the Joliet Slammers didn't have a ton of action. Perhaps both teams were tired from waking up so early.

The Capitales all struck out in the first, with a double in the middle, while Joliet went in order. Quebec kept it going by going in order in the top of the second, but the Slammers had a leadoff hit batsman, a single, and a walk to load the bases, all erased on a one-out double play. The Capitales got the scoring started in the third, oddly, with a leadoff single, two walks, and a passed ball, to make it 1-0. The bottom of the third was equally bizarre--if not as productive--for Joliet, with a walk, fielder's choice, another walk, a batter reaching on a strikeout that got away from the catcher to load the bases, and then an out to kill the rally.

Quebec scattered two walks in the top of the fourth, while the Slammers went in order. The top of the fifth saw the Capitales get their own hits batman and walk combo, but stranded both, while Joliet left a leadoff walk to die on the vine. Both teams spent the sixth inning meekly going in order.

In the seventh, The Capitales managed a two-out single only to have him quickly picked off, while Joliet just went in order. Quebec had a leadoff homer in the eighth and a stranded double to push their lead to 2-0, while the Slammers went in order again. The Capitales had a single to show for the top of the ninth, while the Slammers went in order yet again, sending the visitors home victorious, 2-0.

The Scorecard:

Quebec Capitales vs. Joliet Slammers, 5/13/25. Capitales win, 2-0.

Once again, I was continuing my erasable pen experimentation in the BBWAA scorebook.

And once again, there wasn't a ton going on out of the ordinary scoring-wise for this game. The Slammers had a knuckleballer starting the game, which was good enough for a note, and a "double" in the top of the eighth in reality fell between three fielders and hit the center fielder's glove.

A player did reach base on a strikeout in the bottom of the third. I noted that the ball caromed away and made it to the backstop.

Otherwise, nothing worth mentioning.

The Accommodations:

Hampton Inn & Suites Chicago Schaumburg

As I'd be spending some appreciable time in this room, I went a little bit nicer with the Hampton Inn & Suites Chicago Schaumburg, close to my early morning game the next day.

Another slightly nicer bathroom off the entrance with a big, well-enjoyed tub, and a slightly nicer bedroom with the king-sized bed, night tables, and easy chair on one side and a bench, dresser, TV, and desk on the other side.

No elevators or ice machines this time, and I spent a good deal of time in the room this evening watching my programs. 

Click here to see all the photos from this trip.

2025 Main Trip: Illi-noise