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For the love of the game
Kane County Cougars players chase dreams, fans find family atmosphere at Elfstrom Stadium
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By George Dabagia
Correspondent
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Wrigley, Comisky, ...Elfstrom?
That’s right, Elfstrom Stadium, home of the Kane County Cougars, a class A affiliate of the Florida Marlins.
Chicagoland has a minor league ball club,but I dont need to tell you that. According to the attendence report, the Cougars are averaging close to 3500 fans for home games.
Why are people going to class A baseball games? Why not watch the real players in Chicago? Why not spend $4.75 for a beer?
Class A baseball is where dreams begin. It’s the hazing before the initiation into the big leagues.
These kids made the decision to become major league baseball players. To have the opportunity to be immortalized with a baseball card. To get the chance to play at Wrigley, Fenway, even Shea. To look up at 30,000 to 50,000 cheering fans. To play in the World Series.
Unfortunatly, most class A players will never get that chance. But that’s why they play -- because the chance is there.
The players are on the road a lot, traveling by bus to cities they’ve never heard of. Cities like Beloit, Clinton and Burlington, all of which average just short of 800 fans per game.
And you know that they’re playing for the love, not the money, because class A players make between $850-$1000 per month. Just enough to live the lifestyle of the major league batboy.
One would assume all the teamates are trying to be noticed by the major league scouts. The competition among them must be fierce.
Joe Sergent, a 22-year-old pitcher for the Kane County Cougars in his second year says, “We are told to play for yourself.”
Makes you think.
Man on third with one out. Down by one run in the ninth. Sacrifice fly ties the game, but hurts your average. What do you do?
I’ll tell you. You play the way the game should be played, and if you do it consistently better than the others, then pack your bags, because your going to Pro Player Stadium. Eventually. You still have to go through class AA and class AAA.
And why wouldn’t baseball fans go to Elfstrom Stadium for a Cougars game? I was there on Saturday, April 22 for the game against the River Bandits from Quad City (7-7). The stadium was just short of a sellout. There was an easter egg hunt for the kids in the outfield before the game, which actually turned into “biggest kid gets all the eggs.”
There was a lot of fan-player interaction, which is a great opportunity for the kids to meet pro baseball players. They are certainly more approachable and more willing to sign autographs than real pros.
Not to mention your wallet won’t be too sore by the end of the day. For $10 you can get the best seat in the house, and there are no bad seats at Elfstrom Stadium. And that $4.75 beer at Wrigley -- try $2.75 at Elfstrom.
Dean Grabowski, a Chicago resident and Kane County Cougar fan says, “I rarely go to pro games. The players are not approachable, it’s hard to get an autograph, and it’s too expensive. I’d rather drive to Geneva for a Cougars game.”
To play America’s pastime takes a lot of talent. To play it professionaly takes a lot of heart, dedication and talent. I tip my hat to all the minor league players who are pursuing a dream that they know might never come true.
And to the great fans of the Kane County Cougars, keep supporting your team. It may not be major league ball, but the beer’s cheaper.
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