The Joliet Slammers independent baseball team will hold an exhibition game at 3:05 p.m. April 30 at the Old Joliet Prison in Joliet, Illinois, to celebrate Route 66’s centennial.
The Joliet Area Historical Museum and the City of Joliet announced the game, reported WGN-TV in Chicago.
“‘The Big House Ballgame’ is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to celebrate Joliet’s unique history while connecting it to the broader story of Route 66,” said Greg Peerbolte, CEO of the Joliet Area Historical Museum. “We’re eager to welcome Slammers fans and history buffs alike to the prison yard’s diamond, offering visitors a chance to experience both America’s pastime and our city’s remarkable heritage in a single, unforgettable event.”
The ballgame revives a storied tradition that dates back to 1914, when organized baseball was first introduced at the prison by Warden Edmund Allen as a way to build morale among the inmates and promote good behavior. The tradition continued until the prison’s closure in 2002.
“Joliet is a city with a remarkable history and a bright future, and the ‘Big House Ballgame’ brings both of those stories together,” said Mayor of Joliet Terry D’Arcy. “As a destination city along historic Route 66, we’re honored to open our doors to welcome visitors and share the progress and possibilities emerging in our city.”
Tickets haven’t gone on sale yet, but the Slammers have set up a waiting list on their website.
This report by CBS News in Chicago contains some historical footage of baseball at the prison.
The Slammers, founded in 2010, compete in the Frontier League. The nickname refers to Joliet’s famous prisons, and it’s a common baseball term, as well.
Among the owners of the team are Mike Veeck, son of Baseball Hall of Fame baseball team owner Bill Veeck, and actor Bill Murray.
Baseball was played by inmates at the prison for almost 90 years, until the facility closed in 2002.
The prison’s distinctive limestone walls — located just off Illinois 53 (aka Route 66) — were built in 1858. The city signed a lease with the state in 2017 to use the closed facility for tours, special concerts and other events.
The prison has been used in scores of film and television productions, but it remains best known for the opening scene of 1980’s “The Blues Brothers.”
The prison shouldn’t be confused with Stateville Correctional Center in nearby Crest Hill, Illinois, also along Illinois 53.
(An image of the Old Joliet Prison in Joliet, Illinois, by JymPolranges via Flickr)