The Joliet JackHammers were a professional baseball team based in Joliet, Illinois, in the United States. The JackHammers were a member of the Northern League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. From 2002 to 2010, the JackHammers played their home games at Silver Cross Field.
History Their first season was the 2002 season and the Jackhammers had been preceded in Joliet by the minor league Joliet Convicts, who began play in 1890. The Jackhammers first playoff appearance came in their first season.
The 2008 Jackhammers were managed by one time Arizona Diamondback managerial candidate Wally Backman. The primary radio announcer was Jon Versteeg.
The Jackhammers, in response to extremely low attendance in 2009, had a total makeover to start the 2010 season. Everything, from the roster and management, all the way down to the uniforms, was re-done. Their offseason advertising campaign was also very aggressive, and included everything from newspaper ads to billboards. The Jackhammers made the playoffs for the first time in 8 years, making the season a success performance-wise. They still lagged in attendance, averaging about 3,500 fans a game, 4th in the league.
Founded: 2002 Playoff appearances: 2002, 2010 Divisional titles won: 2002 League Championships won: None
The team was sold in December 2010 after months of negotiations to Steel City Baseball LLC. Steel City bought all assets to the team seeing as they owed $220,000 to the city. With the sale, none of the unpaid bills will be paid off. Steel City changed the team's name for the 2011 season, and the team joined the Frontier League. On January 12, 2011 GM John Dittrich announced for the 2011 season the new team would be called the Joliet Slammers. The team will continue to use Silver Cross Field as their home venue.
Year-by-year record First Half Second Half Overall Season Division W-L Finish W-L Finish W-L Win% Playoffs 2002 South 22-23 3rd 31-15 1st 53-38 .582 Lost Central semi-final 2003 East 19-25 4th 21-23 4th 40-48 .455 Did not qualify 2004 South 24-24 3rd 25-23 3rd 49-47 .510 Did not qualify 2005 South 23-25 5th 13-35 6th 36-60 .374 Did not qualify 2006 South 16-32 4th 26-23 2nd 42-55 .433 Did not qualify 2007 South 22-26 2nd 23-25 3rd 45-51 .469 Did not qualify 2008 N/A 43-53 5th N/A N/A 43-53 .448 Did not qualify 2009 N/A 32-63 6th N/A N/A 32-63 .337 Did not qualify 2010 N/A 53-47 3rd N/A N/A 53-47 .530 Lost semi-final
Final roster
References
yearly league standings & awards, nlfan.com article on the sale, chicagoist.com
External links Joliet JackHammers official site nlfan.com Joliet JackHammers' Guide