I spent much of my weekend with a bunch of Dogs — the Chicago Dogs, an independent baseball team. The Dogs won two of three weekend games which also featured live music on Friday, an Elvis-themed Saturday with fireworks, and pre-game, on-field fun with the team on Sunday.
The Chicago Dogs started play in 2018, quickly gaining popularity and capturing the attention of Chicago sports fans. A member of the American Association of Professional Baseball, an official Partner League of Major League Baseball, the Dogs play in the beautiful, 6,300-seat Impact Field. Located adjacent to an expressway and just east of Chicago O’Hare International Airport, the stadium offers interesting views as the backdrop. The Dogs are managed by former Major League Baseball player Butch Hobson.
Photo courtesy Daniel Boczarski
School of Rock provided live entertainment on Friday. A music school for all skill levels and ages, School of Rock features local music students. WGN TV’s Marcus Leshock and Paul Konrad were also on hand broadcasting live.
WGN TV’s Marcus Leshock and Paul Konrad
Saturday night was Elvis-themed. Elvis impersonators entertained fans, who got into the act wearing blue suede shoes and sparkly jumpsuits while gyrating their hips to the King’s music. An amazing fireworks display celebrated a win to end the night.
K.C. Hobson and Harrison Smith
Armed with gloves, fans lined up hours prior to Sunday’s game to ensure maximum time on the field for the pre-game catch, followed by pictures and autographs with the team. Hundreds of parents tossed balls to their eager children, ecstatic to be playing on a real baseball field. The fun increased when the team interaction period started. Unfortunately, the Dogs lost to Cleburne in the series finale, but that didn’t dampen the total fun of the weekend. Bottomless Cokes are also offered on Sundays, and I am pretty sure I wore out a path to the concession stand for my multiple refills.
Hunter Clanin, Noah Vaughan and Chase Simpson
The games also featured plenty of other on-field fun, usually involving younger fans. Races, wrestling in sumo suits and other games provided fun between innings. Mustard and Ketchup, the team’s mascots, were all over the park entertaining fans. Ketchup would often get playfully booed because everyone knows ketchup does not belong on a Chicago dog.
The Dogs are 38–25, good for second place in the North Division. They trail the Milwaukee Milkmen by three games, but with about 35 games left in the season, there is plenty of time for the Dogs to catch their northern rivals.
It was a fantastic weekend of baseball at Impact Field and not just because the Dogs won two of three. My friends and I are already planning our next games.
— John Wroblewski, online writer
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