Baseball in Old Joliet Prison: A Unique Exhibition

0:00It's May 1st, I'm Cory with the story. This is MLB News Today, driven by AI and Bill for baseball fans. The Joliet Slammers just played a baseball game right inside Ol' Joliet Prison, the spot that inspired their team name and logo with his guard towers, and Barbed Wire. They drew 5,500 fans on Thursday for this Frontier League exhibition against the Gateway Grizzlies, the first game there since. The prison shut down in 2002. This prison dates back to 1858 and even hosted in May ball games starting in 1914. The event comes from the Veeke family, known for wild baseball ideas. Night Train Veeke, his dad Mike, Grandpa Bill, and Hollywood star Bill Murray All. Own part of the Slammers. Fans showed up loving the vibe, many dressed as Blues Brothers characters from the movie film there, tying into Joliet's pop culture fame. Bill Murray himself rolled through, calling it pure fun, while families like one dad and his 6-year-old son made it a perfect mix of costumes and baseball.

1:04The field was tying 230 feet to left, 280 to center, with quirky rules like homers needing to clear the whole prison yard. Cold rain hit late, but the Slammers rocked vintage yellow and black inmate style uniforms as the Grizzlies won 14-3. This kicked off Route 66's 100th birthday bash, turning the old maximum security spot into a community gym and tourist draw along the Mother Road.