Chicago River Bandits Baseball Club: Welcome

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Welcome to the official site of the Chicago River Bandits Baseball Club. Winners of the 2006 MSL National League Championship, 2004 MSL Federal League Champions, 2002 MSL American League Champions, 2002 Central League Champions & 2002 Chicago NABA Champions. Now in its twelfth year playing in the Midwest Suburban League, Skyscraper League and the Chicagoland Collegian Baseball League. If you would like more information about the Bandits call 312-409-7181 or e-mail chicagobandits@aol.com.

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Lakeview Womens Health logo

River Bandits looking for players for 2008-2009 Season
mike magliano cu at bat rockford 2006
Mike Magliano Bats At Rockford
If your interested in joining the River Bandits we are currently looking for players for the 2008-2009 season. The Bandits feature four teams with different playing levels. 

The River Bandits have three teams in the Midwest Suburban League, A, AA & AAA (wood bat) Divisions. Each team plays in separate divisions, with a separate 15-18 man roster. The league starts games in April and goes through September, strictly weekend games. 

Current and former college players, along with ex-Minor League players would be interested in the Skyscraper River Bandits . Play 30 games from June through early July. Wood Bat only. Looking for all positions.

If your interested in being added to our e-mail list, send us an e-mail at chicagobandits@aol.com. Include your Name, Age, experience and positions that you play.


River Bandits To Play Nine Games At Minor League Parks For The 2008 Season
geoff baldwin at bat schaumburg 2007
Geoff Baldwin Bats At Alexian Field

The Chicago River Bandits will play nine regular season MSL games at Minor League Stadiums for the 2008 season.  All three River Bandit teams played at each Stadium.

The first Stadium game of 2008 will take place on Saturday, July 12 at Silver Cross Field in Joliet, home of the Joliet Jackhammers of the Independent Northern League.

The second Stadium series will take place on Sunday, August 3 at Alexian Field in Schaumburg, home of the Northern League Schaumburg Flyers.

The third set of games mark the second time in the series four year history the Bandits will play at a Major League affiliates ball park.  On Sunday, August 10, the River Bandits played at Elfstrom Stadium, home of the Oakland A's Low A affiliate the Kane County Cougars in Geneva, Illinois.

This marks the fourth season the River Bandits have played three of their regular season games at Minor League Parks.  Last season the Bandits played at Kane County, Schaumburg & Hawkinson Ford Field, home of the Windy City Thunderbolts.  In 2006 the Bandits played at US Steel Yard in Gary & RiverHawks Stadium in Rockford along with Hawkinson Ford Field.  In 2005, the inaugural year the Bandits played at Siver Cross Field in Joliet & Hawkinson Ford Field. 

The River Bandits have access to the Scoreboard and PA system and look forward to another successful Minor League Series.



MSL River Bandits
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MSL National League River Bandits
2008 Record 11-2

2007 National League North Division Champions

2006 National League Champions
2006 National League North Division Champions
2005 National League North Division Champions
2004 Federal League Champions
2003 MSL National League Semi-Finalist
2002 MSL American League Champions
2001 MSL Central League Runner-Ups

Games & directions are now located at bottom of Home page Click on title for photos of the MSL River Bandits



MSL Bandits
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MSL American League Bandits
2008 Record 6-6

2007 MSL American League North Division Champions

2002 MSL Central League Champions

2001 NABA Chicago League Semi-Finalists
2000 NABA Chicago League Semi-Finalists

Games & directions are now located at bottom of Home page Click on title for photos of the MSL Bandits



MSL CRB
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MSL Central League CRB
2008 Record 10-2


2005 Central League Playoffs
2004 Central League Playoffs
2003 MSL Central West Division Champions
2002 Chicago NABA League Champions
2001 Chicago NABA League Semi-Finalists

Games & directions are now located at bottom of Home page Click on title for photos of MSL CRB



Skyscraper River Bandits
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Skyscraper River Bandits 
2008 Record 10-6

Games & directions are now located at bottom of Home page
Click on title for Skyscraper info


HOTLINE NUMBER
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The Chicago River Bandits Hotline is 312-409-7181. For new player information leave a message after the welcome.

When you need team info press
#1 for AAA/Collegian River Bandits,
#2 for AA MSL Bandits &
#3 for A MSL CRB
updates & rain out information.


River Bandits Merchandise for sale
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Short Sleeve Black T-Necks Available
Look under "Bandits Merchandise" for your chance to pick up River Bandits gear. T-shirts, hats, shorts, fleece and jackets available.

Player Profiles Updated for 2007
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Each week three players will be featured on the HOME page with updated information from the 2007 season. Click on the players name to see his profile. All players profiles can be accessed from the left menu under "Player Roster".

Jeff Waller Player Profile
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Mike McCotter Player Profile
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Kevin Kayser Player Profile
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Bandits looking for 2008 Sponsors
The Chicago River Bandits are looking for sponsors for the 2008 season. If interested contact us at 312-409-7181 and/or check under sponsor page for more information.

The Chicago River Bandits would like to thank Lakeview Women's Health, National Baseball Academy & Hooters O'Hare for sponsorship of our 2008 season.

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All team members sign up
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Eric Solis At Shortstop at Alexian Field
Players sign up on the web site to view Player Only material like stats, photos and Bandits gear.

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Hooters Photos
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Brandon, Agi & Jerry At Hooter's O'Hare
Hooters O'Hare has been a sponsor of the Collegian River Bandits for eight years. Over the years we have taken some photos at our favorite place for wings.

BANDIT PHOTOS
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2002 Citrus Classic Team With Trophy
Go to Menu and look under "Bandits Photos" for pictures of all Bandit members. Photos are updated during the season.

Friday, August 10
Bandits meet with Bud Selig
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Bud Selig and Michael Schweda meet
Chicago River Bandits General Manager Michael Schweda met with Major League Baseball Commisioner Bud Selig to discuss the possiblity of the Chicago River Bandits playing a large portion of their games for the 2008 season at Major League Baseball Stadiums.

"I think this will really establish the River Bandits as a premier team in the Chicagoland area," Schweda told MLB.com. "Bud was totally into the idea of a men's league team using the fields for the 2008 season. "I met with Michael and really like what he had to say," Selig said. "I think things can be worked out."

Arrangements for the 2008 would include the River Bandits A, AA and AAA teams playing 20-30 games at Wrigley Field, US Cellular and a few weekends at Miller Park in Milwaukee, with full use of the vistors clubhouse for the Bandits, PA and scoreboard.

Further details will appear when they are available.


Thursday, January 3
River Bandits and Bandits Win Division Title
2007 Division Champions Logo final

The Chicago River Bandits finished the 2007 Season with two Division titles for the 2007 season. 

The AAA River Bandits have won their third straight National League North Division Titled with a 16-6 record. 

While the AA Bandits pulled out their first American League North Division Title with an impressive 18-4 regular season record.

 

 



Saturday, November 24
AAA River Bandits win MSL Championship
2006 championship logo

The AAA River Bandits are the 2006 MSL National League Championship after beating the Ravens 8-2 in Game One Saturday night and 11-1 in Game Two Sunday night in the best of three series.

Game One had the Bandits jump out to a 4-0 lead after Chris LaPorta hit a three run homer in the first. Nick Marascia pitched a complete game giving up two unearned runs in nine innings.

In Game Two the Bandits started lefty Nate Ginsberg, Nate pitched seven innings giving up only one run in the shorten contest. The River Bandits made key defensive plays to end several innings including a diving line drive catch by shortstop Matt Wiske and a relay throw from second basemen Andrew Hacker to thirdbasemen Matt Koenig. The Bandits scored 8 runs in the top of the sixth to pull ahead of the Ravens after scoring only 3 runs in the first five innings on two hits, including two wild pitches which scored two runs.

The River Bandits finished the regular season 18-4 and went 6-0 threw the playoffs sweeping the Legends 16-6 & 10-0 and Northsiders 7-6 & 7-3. The Regular season and the Playoffs were a total team efforts. All 16 position players and five pitchers made huge contribution to the AAA River Bandits third Championship.

In the past six years this River Bandits squad has won the 2002 AA American League Championship, 2004 AAA Federal League Championship and now celebrate the 2006 AAA National League Championship.



2004 River Bandits AAA Federal League Champions
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AAA River Bandits sweep Gators 9-7 & 3-1 in the Federal League Championship Series. Chicago River Bandits are the first team to win the Midwest Suburban League's Federal League Championship title.

Know your MLB facts
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The first-ever Negro League World Series in 1924 was won by the Kansas City Monarchs, who defeated the Hilldale Club of Philadelphia in a 10-game series (5 games to 4, with one tie.)

Survey Question

Minor League Stadium Games
1) Which Minor League Stadiums Should The River Bandits Play In For 2008?
   Crestwood - Hawkinson Ford Field
   Gary - US Steel Yard
   Joliet - Silver Cross Field
   Kane County - Elfstrom Stadium
   Rockford - Riverhawks Stadium
   Schaumburg - Alexian Field

Upcoming Games
Date Event Time Location
Wed 7/9 Baseball Chicago River Bandits Baseball Club vs. Skyscraper Titans 8:00 PM University of Illinois - Chicago
Fri 7/11 Baseball Chicago River Bandits Baseball Club vs. Skyscraper Breeze 7:15 PM University of Illinois - Chicago
Sat 7/12 Baseball Chicago River Bandits Baseball Club vs. Thunder (A) 9:00 AM Silver Cross Field - Joliet
Sat 7/12 Baseball Chicago River Bandits Baseball Club vs. Punishers (AA) 12:30 PM Silver Cross Field - Joliet
Sat 7/12 Baseball Chicago River Bandits Baseball Club vs. Diablos (AAA) 4:00 PM Silver Cross Field - Joliet
Sun 7/13 Baseball Chicago River Bandits Baseball Club vs. Skyscraper Clout 4:00 PM University of Illinois - Chicago
Recent Games
Date Event Time Location
Thu 7/3 Baseball Chicago River Bandits Baseball Club: 6 - Skyscraper Team Impact: 2 7:15 PM University of Illinois - Chicago
Sat 7/5 Baseball Skyscraper Titans: 5 - Chicago River Bandits Baseball Club: 7 7:00 PM University of Illinois - Chicago
Sun 7/6 Baseball Chicago River Bandits Baseball Club vs. Dodgers (AA) 9:00 AM Lake Zurich High School
Sun 7/6 Baseball Chicago River Bandits Baseball Club vs. Med Sox (A) 12:30 PM Lake Zurich High School
Sun 7/6 Baseball Med Sox (A) vs. Chicago River Bandits Baseball Club 4:00 PM Lake Zurich High School