The Lake County Fielders were an American professional minor league baseball team based in Zion, Illinois, located in Lake County in the northern reaches of the Chicago area. The Fielders were owned by Grand Slam Sports & Entertainment, LLC, based in Deerfield. The primary owner was Richard Ehrenreich. ActorKevin Costner, whose filmography includes baseball films Bull Durham (1988), Field of Dreams (1989), and For Love of the Game (1999), also had ownership interest in the team. A permanent stadium was never constructed.
Grand Slam Sports & Entertainment, LLC (Richard Ehrenreich, managing partner)
Website
www.fieldersbaseball.com
The Fielders were a member of the Northern League in 2010 and joined the North American League in 2011 as part of the Northern Division. The team announced on April 10, 2012, that they would not be fielding a team for the 2012 baseball season.[1]
The Fielders began play in 2010 at Carthage College because of funding problems with Zion Ballpark. The Fielders played their first game in Zion on July 2, 2010, at a young Fielders Stadium that didn't include much more than a field and bleachers. Lights were added to the field, and the Fielders played their first night game on Monday, July, 26.
After the conclusion of the 2010 season, the temporary ballpark was completely dismantled and construction on a new, permanent stadium was supposed to begin. The park was not ready in time for the beginning of the 2011 season, and, as a result, the Fielders started the season with a 32-game road trip. Temporary stadium construction was again completed in time for the Fielders' home opener on July 3, 2011.
FoundingEdit
The team held a name-the-team contest to decide the nickname. The five finalists were Cowpokes, Luckies, Fielders, Comets, and Skippers. The Fielders name, logo, and colors were unveiled on May 27, 2009, at the Key Lime Cove indoor waterpark in nearby Gurnee, also home to Gurnee Mills and Six Flags Great America.
MediaEdit
Fielder games were broadcast live on WKRS-AM (1220) and wkrs.com with Qumar Zaman (who quit on air over financial disputes)[2] and Les Grobstein (some games) on the play-by-play. The team got so transient that the new announcers could not refer to the players by name on many occasions.
2010 - (41–59) tied for 7th place with Schaumburg Flyers (also owned by Rich Ehrenreich)[15]
North American League (North Division) (2011)Edit
2011 - (27–36) 4th place (Pct.), 5th place (Wins) (did not finish official regular season)[16]
ReferencesEdit
^Calcaterra, Craig (April 10, 2012). "The Lake County Fielders cancel the 2012 season". NBC Sports.
^Yoder, Matt (July 18, 2011). "Minor League Baseball Play By Play Man Quits On Air". AwfulAnnouncing.com.
^ (Press release). Lake County Fielders. September 16, 2010. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 7, 2022 – via Chicago Tribune.
^ ab (Press release). Lake County Fielders. October 1, 2010. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 7, 2022 – via Chicago Tribune.
^. North American Baseball League. October 13, 2011. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
^. North American Baseball League. October 12, 2011. Archived from the original on October 16, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
^Cooper, J.J. (October 11, 2011). . Baseball America. Archived from the original on October 12, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
^ ab"Northern League Announces All-Star Roster". OurSports Central (Press release). Northern League. July 5, 2010.
^"Tim Johnson Winter & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.
^Espinoza, Alex (July 9, 2011). . Yuma Sun. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011.
^"2010 Northern League Standings & Awards". nlfan.com: The Northern League Baseball Fan's Guide.
^. North American Baseball League. Archived from the original on November 27, 2011.
External linksEdit
October 15, 2023
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The Lake County Fielders were an American professional minor league baseball team based in Zion Illinois located in Lake County in the northern reaches of the Chicago area The Fielders were owned by Grand Slam Sports amp Entertainment LLC based in Deerfield The primary owner was Richard Ehrenreich Actor Kevin Costner whose filmography includes baseball films Bull Durham 1988 Field of Dreams 1989 and For Love of the Game 1999 also had ownership interest in the team A permanent stadium was never constructed Lake County FieldersTeam logo Cap insigniaInformationLocationZion IllinoisBallparkFielders Stadium 2010 2011 Year founded2009Year disbanded2012Former name s Lake County Fielders 2010 2011 Former ballparksCarthage Baseball Field 2010 Colorsnavy burgundy white copper OwnershipGrand Slam Sports amp Entertainment LLC Richard Ehrenreich managing partner Websitewww wbr fieldersbaseball wbr comThe Fielders were a member of the Northern League in 2010 and joined the North American League in 2011 as part of the Northern Division The team announced on April 10 2012 that they would not be fielding a team for the 2012 baseball season 1 Contents 1 Ballpark temporary 2 Founding 3 Media 4 Awards 4 1 Northern League 2010 4 2 North American League 2011 5 All Stars 5 1 Northern League 2010 5 2 North American League 2011 6 Former Major Leaguers 7 Contracts purchased by MLB 8 Managers 9 Season finishes 9 1 Northern League 2010 9 2 North American League North Division 2011 10 References 11 External linksBallpark temporary EditThe Fielders began play in 2010 at Carthage College because of funding problems with Zion Ballpark The Fielders played their first game in Zion on July 2 2010 at a young Fielders Stadium that didn t include much more than a field and bleachers Lights were added to the field and the Fielders played their first night game on Monday July 26 After the conclusion of the 2010 season the temporary ballpark was completely dismantled and construction on a new permanent stadium was supposed to begin The park was not ready in time for the beginning of the 2011 season and as a result the Fielders started the season with a 32 game road trip Temporary stadium construction was again completed in time for the Fielders home opener on July 3 2011 Founding EditThe team held a name the team contest to decide the nickname The five finalists were Cowpokes Luckies Fielders Comets and Skippers The Fielders name logo and colors were unveiled on May 27 2009 at the Key Lime Cove indoor waterpark in nearby Gurnee also home to Gurnee Mills and Six Flags Great America Media EditFielder games were broadcast live on WKRS AM 1220 and wkrs com with Qumar Zaman who quit on air over financial disputes 2 and Les Grobstein some games on the play by play The team got so transient that the new announcers could not refer to the players by name on many occasions Awards EditNorthern League 2010 Edit Joshua Short 2010 Rookie of the Year 3 Joshua Short 2010 End of Year All Star Team DH 4 North American League 2011 Edit C J Ziegler also with Calgary Vipers 2011 End of Year All Star Team 1B 5 Travis Weaver also with Lincoln Saltdogs AA Baseball America Top 10 Independent League Prospect 6 7 All Stars EditNorthern League 2010 Edit Amos Ramon 3B 8 Joshua Short LF 4 8 North American League 2011 Edit 2011 No All Star Game Former Major Leaguers EditJason Pearson 9 2010 Contracts purchased by MLB EditZach Ward Cincinnati Reds 2010 10 Vince Bongiovanni Toronto Blue Jays 2011 after trade to Lincoln Saltdogs 11 Managers EditFran Riordan 41 59 410 Pct 2010 12 Tim TJ Johnson 27 35 435 Pct 2011 13 Pete LaCock 0 1 000 Pct Interim 2011 14 Chris Thompson 0 1 000 Pct Interim 2011 Chris Arago 3 20 130 Pct 2011 Season finishes EditNorthern League 2010 Edit 2010 41 59 tied for 7th place with Schaumburg Flyers also owned by Rich Ehrenreich 15 North American League North Division 2011 Edit 2011 27 36 4th place Pct 5th place Wins did not finish official regular season 16 References Edit Calcaterra Craig April 10 2012 The Lake County Fielders cancel the 2012 season NBC Sports Yoder Matt July 18 2011 Minor League Baseball Play By Play Man Quits On Air AwfulAnnouncing com Josh Short named Northern League Rookie Player of the Year Press release Lake County Fielders September 16 2010 Archived from the original on March 4 2016 Retrieved December 7 2022 via Chicago Tribune a b Short named to 2010 Northern League Post Season All Star Team Press release Lake County Fielders October 1 2010 Archived from the original on March 4 2016 Retrieved December 7 2022 via Chicago Tribune NAL Announces All League All Star Team North American Baseball League October 13 2011 Archived from the original on April 5 2012 Retrieved December 7 2022 NAL Leads Top Prospects List With 3 Players North American Baseball League October 12 2011 Archived from the original on October 16 2011 Retrieved December 7 2022 Cooper J J October 11 2011 Minors Independent Audit 2011 Independent League Top 10 Prospects Baseball America Archived from the original on October 12 2011 Retrieved December 7 2022 a b Northern League Announces All Star Roster OurSports Central Press release Northern League July 5 2010 2010 Lake County Fielders Statistics Baseball Reference com Ward purchased by Reds Lake County Fielders August 14 2010 Archived from the original on January 23 2013 Bongiovanni Signed by Toronto Blue Jays SaltDogs com August 15 2011 Archived from the original on April 15 2012 Fran Riordan Independent Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Tim Johnson Winter amp Minor Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Espinoza Alex July 9 2011 Scorpions beat Fielders with lineup of pitchers Yuma Sun Archived from the original on July 17 2011 2010 Northern League Standings amp Awards nlfan com The Northern League Baseball Fan s Guide NABL 2011 Standings North American Baseball League Archived from the original on November 27 2011 External links EditOfficial site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lake County Fielders amp oldid 1171796373, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
