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Top 15 NFL and NBA Stars From the South Chicago Suburbs

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The Chicago south suburbs, or as we call it, "SICA Country" has produced a ton of talented professional athletes. We named this term after the now defunct high school sports conference SICA (South Inter Conference Association). This area stretches from Summit to Kankakee, Bolingbrook to Chicago Heights. Obviously, SICA country is more than a geographic area, it's a state of … [Read more...] about Top 15 NFL and NBA Stars From the South Chicago Suburbs

Pirates Priester Comes from a Family of Illinois Aviation Pioneers

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If Quinn Priester wasn't playing baseball right now, he'd probably be working in aviation. The Pittsburgh Pirates 2019 first round draft pick, who looks up to Chicago Cubs ace Kyle Hendricks as his pitching role model, has Illinois aviation history in his blood. His great-grandfather, George J. Priester, founded the company that is known today as Priester Aviation, a private … [Read more...] about Pirates Priester Comes from a Family of Illinois Aviation Pioneers

Revisiting Two 1990 Futurist Film World Series Prophecies

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If you're doing classic Americana summer word association, then "movies" and "baseball" would probably be right at the top of anyone's list.  So when these summer rights of passage combine, sometimes the result can be utterly sublime. Other times, the result is something on par with 1985's "The Slugger's Wife," or even worse, 2001's "Summer Catch." In 1990, two science fiction … [Read more...] about Revisiting Two 1990 Futurist Film World Series Prophecies

2024 MLB Mock Draft: Final Update 7-14-24

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The 2024 Major League Baseball Draft will be held July 14-16. In other words, it's just two days away! So with that in mind, welcome to the penultimate edition of our 2024 MLB Mock Draft! It comes with some changes. We'll do our final edition of the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Sunday morning. The Sports Bank is the only independently-owned, mom and pop shop website to do a mock … [Read more...] about 2024 MLB Mock Draft: Final Update 7-14-24

Exclusive with Chicago Dogs Co-Owner Shawn Hunter

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Editor's note: flash back to mid-summer 2020, with the Chicago Dogs of the American Association preparing to play baseball in front of fans during the covid-19 pandemic. The unaffiliated minor league ballclub is located in Rosemont, which is just outside the city limits of Chicago, and hence they can host a limited number of fans- 20% capacity, or 1,260 to be exact. … [Read more...] about Exclusive with Chicago Dogs Co-Owner Shawn Hunter

Bryce Harper Pays Homage to West Ham with Home Run Celebration

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As BritPop legends Blur taught us: "London loves, the mystery of a speeding car." London also loves the thrill of a high exit velocity home run, like the one hit by Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper in the London Series game today. Harper clubbed a massive homer, which broke the game open and eventually led to a Phillies win over the rival New York Mets. … [Read more...] about Bryce Harper Pays Homage to West Ham with Home Run Celebration

West Ham Transform London Stadium for Mets-Phillies

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For the third time ever, a Major League Baseball series is being played in London. West Ham United's home ground, the London Stadium, is hosting the Philadelphia Phillies versus the New York Mets. As it currently stands, the Phillies lead the Mets 6-2 at seventh inning stretch time. But check out how the venue, originally built for the 2012 Summer Olympics, undergoing a … [Read more...] about West Ham Transform London Stadium for Mets-Phillies

Chicago Dogs Still Going Strong in Seventh Season Due to Solid Foundation

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"As long as it's legal, and in good taste, we're going to do it," proclaimed Shawn Hunter, co-owner of the minor league baseball team the Chicago Dogs at their inception. "It's a chance to be a little irreverent and have a little fun." Seven years later, it is clear to anyone paying attention that the Dogs have done all that and more. … [Read more...] about Chicago Dogs Still Going Strong in Seventh Season Due to Solid Foundation

Schaumburg Boomers: Experience in the Dugout for Minor League Game

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Ahead of our next piece for the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America, focusing on the Schaumburg Boomers, we attended yesterday's 8-5 loss to the Tri-City Valley Cats at Wintrust Field. We'll be linking that piece next week when it runs. For now, we flash back to our piece that ran in RedEye in 2009, when we got to sit in the dugout for a game. … [Read more...] about Schaumburg Boomers: Experience in the Dugout for Minor League Game