Schaumburg Flyers

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Schaumburg Flyers
Schaumburg Flyers logo
Founded 1999
League Northern League
1999-present
Team History Schaumburg Flyers
1999-present
Ballpark Alexian Field
Based in Schaumburg, Illinois
Team Colors navy blue, orange, khaki
Manager Steve Maddock
Championships
Division Titles 3 1999, 2004, 2006
Dancers The Schaumburg Flyers Dance Team
Mascot Bearon


The Schaumburg Flyers are a Northern League baseball team based in Schaumburg, Illinois. The Flyers are not affiliated with any Major League Baseball team. They play their home games at Alexian Field, formerly known as Schaumburg Baseball Stadium, off The Elgin O'Hare Expressway. The team was created in 1999 when the Thunder Bay (Ontario) Whiskey Jacks folded and moved to Schaumburg.

Despite playing in the Chicagoland metropolitan area, the Flyers are exempt from a rule that prohibits an affiliated team from moving within 75 miles of the area, to which the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox have territorial rights.

Founded: 1999
Playoff appearances: 1999, 2003, 04, 06
Divisional titles won: 1999, 2004, 06
League Championships won: None

In 2004, the Flyers made it to the Northern League Championship Series against the St. Paul Saints. Despite leading the five-game series 2-1, Schaumburg eventually lost the series. In Game 5, Flyers relief pitcher Lyle Prempas allowed a game winning grand slam by St. Paul infielder Marc Mirizzi in the ninth inning.

The Flyers have appeared in the Northern League Playoffs four times (1999, 2003, 2004, 2006) but have never won the championship.

Contents

[edit] Year-by-year record

        First Half   Second Half   Overall      
Season Division W-L Finish W-L Finish W-L Win% Playoffs
1999 East 19-24 1st 25-18 1st 44-42 .512 Lost Central semi-final
2000 East 18-25 4th 20-23 4th 38-48 .442 Did not qualify
2001 North 18-27 3rd 19-26 3rd 37-53 .411 Did not qualify
2002 South 19-24 4th 16-29 5th 35-53 .398 Did not qualify
2003 East 25-19 3rd 22-22 2nd 47-41 .534 Lost semi-final
2004 South 31-17 1st 27-21 2nd 58-38 .604 Lost championship series
2005 South 16-32 6th 22-26 4th 38-58 .396 Did not qualify
2006 East 31-17 1st 15-33 4th 46-50 .479 Lost East final

[edit] "Leon" is a Flyer

The actor who plays "Leon" in a Budweiser advertising campaign, Nigel Thatch, became a Flyer in 2005. This brought national attention to the Flyers, with mentions on ESPN's Pardon the Interruption and SportsCenter. Nigel brought many fans to Alexian Field, but on May 1st, 2006 Nigel was traded to Fullerton of the Golden League for 60 cases of Budweiser beer.

[edit] 2006 Season

For the second half of the 2006 season, the Flyers and MSN have partnered to let fans choose the Flyers lineups online. This program is called "Fan Club: Reality Baseball"[1]. Players and the team manager are upset by this development, and changes mandated by the online voting have seemingly caused several on-field errors.[2]

[edit] External links

[edit] References

Northern League
North Division: Calgary Vipers | Edmonton Cracker-Cats | Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks | Winnipeg Goldeyes
South Division: Gary SouthShore RailCats | Joliet JackHammers | Kansas City T-Bones | Schaumburg Flyers