� 758 total baseball park galleries

� 134 Hi-Resolution 1280×960 Galleries

BALLPARK:          

LOCATION: 


TEAM:  

LEAGUE:

PHOTOGRAPHERS: 
Phillip B. Elfstrom Stadium                     
BUILT:
1991

Geneva Illinois

Kane County Cougars

Midwest League

©
Eric and Wendy Pastore
Geneva Illinois has been home to professional baseball since Elfstrom Stadium was
built in 1991, after the Midwest League moved its Wausau team to Geneva… the
closest affiliated baseball team to the Chicago city limits. These photographs
were taken during Jimmy Buffett day so the uniforms reflect the “parrot-head’s”
hawaiian style outfitting. (Free samples of rum were a nice touch). The Kane
County Cougars originally began as a farm team for the Baltimore Orioles from 1991-1992
before switching allegiances to the Florida Marlins for 10 years until
2002. In 2003 the Oakland Athletics took over the ballclub and have been the featured
team since. It is quite surprising that the closest affiliated stadium
to the Chicagoland area has never featured a Chicago affiliate. Elfstrom Stadium
has produced quite a number of future big league stars since it opened including:
Dontrelle Willis (10-2, 1.83), Miguel Cabrera (19 2b, 7 HR, .278), Antonio
Alfonseca (6-5, 4.07), A.J. Burnett (10-4, 2.97), Luis Castillo (41 SB, .326),
Adrian Gonzalez (37 2B, 17 HR, 103 RBI, .312), Ryan Dempster (2-1, 2,73), and
Josh Beckett (2-3, 2.12). Plans have been laid to expand this ballpark significantly
between 2009 and 2010, adding a 2nd deck over the current concourse and bringing
a whole new feel to this ballpark.