| Windy City ThunderBolts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||
| |||||
| Minor league affiliations | |||||
| Class | Independent | ||||
| League | Frontier League (1999–present) | ||||
Previous leagues |
| ||||
| Minor league titles | |||||
| League titles |
| ||||
| Division titles |
| ||||
| Wild card berths | 2009 | ||||
| Team data | |||||
Previous names |
| ||||
| Colors | Black, Electric Blue, Workman Brown | ||||
| Ballpark | Ozinga Field (1999–present) | ||||
Previous parks | Brennan Field (1995–1997) Howie Minas Field (1998) | ||||
Owner/ Operator | Franchise Sports LLC | ||||
| General manager | Mike VerSchave | ||||
| Manager | Toby Hall | ||||
| Media | Daily Southtown WXAV HomeTeam Network | ||||
| Website | wcthunderbolts.com | ||||
TheWindy City ThunderBolts are a professionalbaseball team based inCrestwood, Illinois. The ThunderBolts compete in theFrontier League (FL) as a member of the West Division in the Midwest Conference. The team is owned by Franchise Sports LLC, playing its home games atOzinga Field.
The franchise was established as theWill County Claws on February 21, 1994, and began play in the 1995 season. Franchise Sports LLC then bought the team in May 1998, and relocated the team to Windy City prior to the 1999 season, making them the first baseball franchise to play at Ozinga Field. The team was renamed the ThunderBolts in 2003.
The franchise known as the Windy City ThunderBolts started as the Will County Claws in 1995 and played their home games atLewis University's Brennan Field inRomeoville. The Claws played in the strugglingNorth Central League, which started in 1994 with six teams but fielded only four in 1995. The North Central League folded 18 games into its second season with the Claws finishing at 8–10. In 1996, the Will County Cheetahs joined the new four-team Heartland League.
In winter 1997, the Cheetahs and the village ofCrestwood, made a deal for Crestwood to build and own a new ballpark for the Cheetahs. The Cheetahs needed a home field and with Romeoville not an option, neighboringMidlothian would be the solution to the Cheetahs' home field problem as they would play their 1998 season at tiny Howie Minas Field. In Midlothian, the Cheetahs would have one of their best seasons finishing in second place with a 37–29 record in the first half and earn a playoff spot for the first time in franchise history. In the Heartland League championship, the Cheetahs swept the heavily favoredTennessee Tomahawks 2 games to 0 to gain the franchise's first title.
The Heartland League started the 1998 season with six teams and finished with only four teams. The Cheetahs, now known as the Cook County Cheetahs, won the last ever Heartland League championship as the league folded after three seasons.
In 1999, the Cheetahs joined the stableFrontier League and have been members since. The team changed their name to the Windy City ThunderBolts. An ownership change instigated the name change. The ThunderBolts mascot "Boomer" was born May 21, 2004.
On August 26, 2007, the ThunderBolts won their first Central Division title. On September 17, 2007, they defeated theWashington Wild Things to win the Frontier League championship, three games to two. In 2008, they repeated a division title as the West Division champions and Frontier League champions, defeating theKalamazoo Kings three games to none in the championship series. After heavy rains floodedHomer Stryker Field, the entire 2008 championship series was played at the Thunderbolts'Standard Bank Stadium. They thus became only the second Frontier League team to win back-to-back titles, joining the 2001–02Richmond Roosters.
The ThunderBolts currently play at Ozinga Field (which was renamed from Standard Bank Stadium in 2018) which is located in Crestwood, Illinois. Ozinga Field is easily accessible from the south suburbs, located two blocks east of Cicero Avenue on the Midlothian Turnpike (1.5 miles south of I-294).[1]
On April 23, 2019, assistant general manager Mike VerSchave was named general manager. Having served as assistant general manager since 2014, VerSchave replaced former general manager Mike Lucas.
The club celebrated its 20th anniversary on the weekend of June 1–2, 2019. The team wore Cheetahs uniforms as a part of the celebrations.
On October 27, 2023, Former White Sox Closer and 2005 World Series Champion,Bobby Jenks, was named Field Manager. Jenks enthusiastically stated, "I believe I can do that and my track record has shown that I can do that".[2]
On November 6, 2025, the ThunderBolts unveiled their new visual identity for the 2026 season.[3] In addition, the ThunderBolts announced a 10-year lease extension with the Village of Crestwood andOzinga Field, ensuring the ThunderBolts will continue to call Chicago's Southland home well into the 2030s.[4]
TheSan Diego Padres bought the rights to Cheetahs pitcherChris Oxspring in 2000. He became the first player in franchise history to play inMajor League Baseball (MLB). He played in five games for the Padres in 2005.
In 2011,Dylan Axelrod became the first former ThunderBolt and second player in franchise history to play in MLB, having been called up by theChicago White Sox.
On August 5, 2008, Isaac Hess threw the firstno-hitter in ThunderBolts history. Tyson Corley threw the second on August 28, 2012.
PitcherAndrew Werner became the third player in club history to make it to the majors when he started for the San Diego Padres in 2012.
Former major leaguerJosh Spence played with the ThunderBolts in 2014.
Tommy Nance played with Windy City in 2015. He later went on to be the fourth ThunderBolt alumnus to reach the Major Leagues when he debuted with theChicago Cubs in 2021.
All 30 Major League Baseball teams have signed players out of the Frontier League. As of January 2023, the Cubs, Marlins, A's, Twins, Rays, Pirates, Blue Jays, Rangers, Padres and White Sox currently have former ThunderBolts' players or coaches in their organizations. There are a total of 50 players who have reached the Major Leagues after playing in the Frontier League.[5]
| Year | W–L | W% | Place | Postseason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will County Claws (North Central League) | ||||
| 1995 | 8–10 | .444 | 3rd | Did not qualify |
| Will County Cheetahs (Heartland League) | ||||
| 1996 | 28–31 | .475 | 3rd | Did not qualify |
| 1997 | 31–39 | .442 | 3rd | Did not qualify |
| Cook County Cheetahs (Heartland League) | ||||
| 1998 | 37–29 | .560 | 2nd | Heartland League Championship Series: Defeated the Tennessee Tomahawks 2–0. |
| Cook County Cheetahs (Frontier League) | ||||
| 1999 | 41–43 | .488 | 3rd in FL West | Did not qualify |
| 2000 | 38–46 | .452 | 3rd in FL West | Did not qualify |
| 2001 | 28–53 | .346 | 6th in FL West | Did not qualify |
| 2002 | 40–44 | .476 | 3rd in FL West | Did not qualify |
| 2003 | 42–48 | .467 | 5th in FL West | Did not qualify |
| Windy City Thunderbolts (Frontier League) | ||||
| 2004 | 37–57 | .394 | 5th in FL West | Did not qualify |
| 2005 | 39–57 | .406 | 5th in FL West | Did not qualify |
| 2006 | 41–54 | .427 | 4th in FL West | Did not qualify |
| 2007 | 68–28 | .708 | 1st in FL Central | Frontier League Division Series: Defeated theRockford Riverhawks 3–0. Frontier League Championship Series: Defeated theWashington Wild Things 3–2. |
| 2008 | 60–36 | .625 | 1st in FL West | Frontier League Division Series: Defeated theSouthern Illinois Miners 3–1. Frontier League Championship Series: Defeated theKalamazoo Kings 3–0. |
| 2009 | 56–40 | .583 | 2nd in FL West | Frontier League Division Series: Lost vs.River City Rascals 3–0. |
| 2010 | 56–38 | .596 | 1st in FL East | Frontier League Division Series: Lost vs.Traverse City Beach Bums 3–1. |
| 2011 | 48–48 | .500 | 4th in FL East | Did not qualify |
| 2012 | 54–42 | .563 | 2nd in FL West | Did not qualify |
| 2013 | 50–46 | .521 | 3rd in FL West | Did not qualify |
| 2014 | 35–60 | .368 | 7th in FL West | Did not qualify |
| 2015 | 41–55 | .427 | 6th in FL West | Did not qualify |
| 2016 | 42–53 | .442 | 5th in FL East | Did not qualify |
| 2017 | 51–45 | .531 | 3rd in FL East | Did not qualify |
| 2018 | 41–54 | .432 | 6th in FL East | Did not qualify |
| 2019 | 42–54 | .438 | 3rd in FL East | Did not qualify |
| 2020 | -- | -- | -- | Season not played due toCOVID-19 |
| 2021 | 43–53 | .448 | 3rd in FL Central | Did not qualify |
| 2022 | 33–62 | .347 | 8th in FL West | Did not qualify |
| 2023 | 43–52 | .453 | 6th in FL West | Did not qualify |
| 2024 | 40–56 | .417 | 7th in FL West | Did not qualify |
| 2025 | 36–60 | .375 | 5th in FL West | Did not qualify |
| Total | 1121–1234 | .474 | — | |
| Playoffs | 15–8 | .652 | — | 3 Division titles, 5 Playoff appearances, 3 Championships |
| Active roster | Coaches/Other |
|---|---|
Pitchers
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
| Manager
Coaches
|
| Baseball |
|      |
|---|---|---|
| Basketball | ||
| Esports | ||
| Football | ||
| Hockey | ||
| Lacrosse | ||
| Roller derby | ||
| Rugby | ||
| Soccer | ||
| Indoor soccer | ||
| Australian rules football | ||
| Ultimate | ||
| Team tennis | ||
| College athletics (NCAA Division I) | ||
| College athletics (NCAA Division II) | ||
| College athletics (NCAA Division III) | ||
| College athletics (NAIA) | ||
