If you love baseball but your wallet can’t handle taking the family to a major league game, there are plenty of other options.
The Chicago area is home to several professional baseball teams that aren’t the Cubs or the White Sox.
In addition to not feeling the pinch in the pocketbook, these teams offer more entertainment options for families, a more intimate setting and better access to its players.
Here’s where you can find family-oriented baseball in the ‘burbs.
Windy City ThunderBolts
Now playing, the Windy City ThunderBolts play in the Frontier League.
Stadium: Standard Bank Stadium, 14011 S. Kenton Ave., Crestwood.
Tickets: $8-$10
Contact: 708-489-2255; Wcthunderbolts.comhttp://Wcthunderbolts.com
Mascot: Boomer
Fun fact or trivia: Previously the Cook County Cheetahs, the team was the Frontier League Champions in 2007 and 2008. They installed a new videoboard last summer.
Thursday is Wrestling Night at Standard Bank Stadium, as the ThunderBolts have teamed up with Pro Wrestling Blitz. Three-time WWE tag team champion (and founding member of the Legion of Doom) the Road Warrior Animal appears on May 28, followed June 11 by WCW World Heavyweight Champion Diamond Dallas Page.
On June 25, the Million Dollar Man, Ted DiBiase, will be on hand to see the ThunderBolts take on the Normal Cornbelters. On July 9, the five-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion (plus one-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion) and current WWE Monday Night Raw announcer Booker T will be at the ballpark, Can you dig it, Sucka?! The Hardcore Legend himself, three-time WWE Champion Mick Foley, comes to the South Side July 23 as the ThunderBolts face the Frontier Greys. Five-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion Kevin Nash appears Aug. 6 and 14-time Hardcore Champion Tommy Dreamer comes to town on Aug. 27.
After every game, Pro Wrestling Blitz will stage an all-ages wrestling show behind home plate. Domestic drafts will cost $1.25 all game (and wrestling show) long.
Joliet Slammers
The Joliet Slammers play in the independent Frontier League.
Stadium: Silver Cross Field, 1 Mayor Art Schultz Dr., Joliet.
Home opener: May 19
Tickets: $5-$14
More info: 815-722-2287; Jolietslammers.comhttp://Jolietslammers.com
Mascot: Spikes and J.L. Bird
Fun fact or cool piece of trivia: The Slammers started out as the Joliet JackHammers of the Northern League in 2002.
For a $10 donation to United Way, you can have your birthday or other special occasion announced over the PA during the game.
This year, the Slammers will offer not one but two of the most popular promotions of the 2014 season: Princess Night. Princess Nights will be May 22 and Aug. 7 and will include appearances by Anna, Elsa, Belle, Rapunzel and Cinderella. There will be a costume contest and all fans dressed as a princess or prince will receive a voucher for a free small soft drink.
Scout troops get a chance to camp overnight on the field.
Kane County Cougars
Now playing, the Kane County Cougars is a Class A minor league team, affiliated with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Stadium: Fifth Third Bank Ballpark, 34W002 Cherry Lane, Geneva.
Tickets: $9-$15
Contact info for ordering tickets: 630-232-8811; kccougars.comhttp://kccougars.com
Mascot: Ozzie T. Cougar
Fun fact or trivia: The Cougars are the only Major League-affiliated minor league baseball team in Chicagoland. The team is celebrating its 25th anniversary season this year.
The Cougars, named 2014 Minor League Baseball Team of the Year in the Minor League Baseball “MiLBY” awards last season, became the first Class-A Minor League Baseball team to reach 10 million fans in franchise history in 2013, according to Shawn Touney, director of public relations.
More than 120 former Cougars have reached the Major Leagues, including Miguel Cabrera and Adrian Gonzalez.
Schaumburg Boomers
The Boomers back-to-back defending league champions.
Stadium: Boomers Stadium, 1999 S. Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg.
Home opener: 6:30 p.m. May 22
Tickets: $7-$10
Contact info: 847-461-3695; Boomersbaseball.comhttp://Boomersbaseball.com
Mascot: Coop the Boomer (he’s a Prairie Chicken)
Fun fact or trivia: The Boomers are hosting the Frontier League All-Star Game at Boomer Stadium on July 15.
And some of their promotions are downright squee-worthy — including the fourth annual squirt gun fight (July 26), the third annual marshmallow fight (Aug. 8) and their theme nights surrounding “Star Wars” (Aug. 7), “Harry Potter” (June 5), Princesses (June 6), Super Heroes (July 10) and two “21 and Over Nights” for adults only (May 28 and Aug. 20.)
Another fun fact: the “Boomers” nickname is a male Greater Prairie Chicken, which is known for its mating dance to attract the lady prairie chickens. Every so often, fans can spot a reenactment of the Prairie Chicken’s dance in between innings during games.
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter.
