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Jockey Field
Home of the Renegades
The Beginning
Jockey Field was contructed in the early 1940's on 3rd Street, in East Dundee, Illlinois. The original members carved the field out of what was a originally vacant property, then a railway yard, and finally a fuel oil storage facility. With no buildings on the property, all of the field maintenance equipment such as rakes, lawnmowers etc., were stored down the street in the East Dundee Fire Station.
To help pay for field construction, the Jockey Club and the local Kiwanis Club played in a donkey basketball game with all benefits to improve Jockey Field. Later that year, the same 2 organizations held a charity game to raise money for a young girl who was stricken with a leg disease. More than 500 people attended the game, raising $750.00. Charlie Eichhurst was the winning twirler for Jockey Club.
In 1949, the first lights were constructed around the field. Being that the land was "soft" dirt, the light poles had to be sunk 12-15 feet into the ground. The workers cut out 55 gallon drums, sunk them into the holes, and added concrete to secure the light poles. Funding for the lights was raised from the fundraising activities of the players, as well as donations from local businesses.
Chuck Lockinger, a former player from the Woodstock area and now ASA Director in Rockford, says he was once told that the guys would work on the field, non-stop, late into the night. The locals would drive by and shout "Look at those dumb jocks!" Thus the name, "The Jockey Club" was born.
Jockey Club was formed for a mens' fastpitch league. The first team was formed by Stan Thompson, Smith and Trebess, all local softball veterans. The team was made up from mostly local talent from the Dundee's, both East and West.
Teams traveled to Jockey Club Field from surrounding areas such as Rockford, Woodstock, Chicago and even Wisconsin to play in ASA Qualifing Invitationals to advance to ASA Nationals. A Church league was formed in May of 1958 called the Tri-Cities Church Softball League. The new league had 6 teams. The original teams were St. Monica, St. Catherines, Meadowdale Gospel, Meadowdale Presbyterian, St.Stephens,and Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
In the 1970's, men's fastpitch began to die out. Local church teams and others used the field, and then only occasionally. Local recreation teams used the facility also. For the next 20 years, the field slowly started to lose it's identity.
As the 1990's began, the field was used by various boy's travel baseball teams and local slowpitch travel teams.
In 1998, the new Fox Valley Renegades Girls' Fastpitch organization acquired use of Jockey Field. The facility had been neglected, and it took money and the efforts of many to return the field into a playable softball field.
The Glory Days
In the 1960's and early 1970's, the Chicago Metro Men's Fastpitch Championships were played at Jockey Field. Because there was only one softball diamond, the tournament took several weeks to complete. Men's fastpitch teams from throughout northern Illinois came to compete.
According to Jimmy Smith, potential ASA Hall of Famer, the tournament brought a large volume of business to East Dundee. The local watering holes were packed into the wee hours of the morning. ASA eventually moved the Chicago Metro to another location as softball complexes with mutliple fields allowed were more suitable.
The Old Tractor
The workhorse of Jockey Field is an old Farmall tractor. These tractors were manufactured by International Harvester from 1929-1953. We are currently attempting to research the serial number to determine exactly how old our tractor is for sure. But whatever the age, it still cuts grass at Jockey Field every softball season.
Renegades Upgrade Jockey Field
As the Fox Valley Renegades formed many items were slated for improvement at Jockey Field. The first year 6 new lights were added and the infield was leveled to grade. A freshly painted score board was revived and sound system added. A Second year 6 more new lights added completed the infield poles. A visitors bull pen was added and lights installed in both home and away pens. Hot water installed. Third season marked 2 roofed dugouts and a sprinkler system to keep the infield at no dust. A valley in center field was filled and sodded.The fourth season a new tractor added for grass mowing and National tournament board added to highlight Nationals qualified for by each age level. Fifth season added a new roof for the maintanance building with a fresh coat of paint. Sixth season a new 200ft fence was installed.In the fall of the Seventh season the addition of score board bench and extended seating for visitors dugout.Bullpen and softoss areas edged with interlocking bricks. The 7th season we added a new field gromer, concession stand brick patio and trophy case to highlight the Renegades accomplishments. The 8th season improvements included adding a 3rd lighted bullpen located in the right outfield corner. Widening the warning track and reseeding the outfield grass.Stayed tuned for more improvements...........
Monday, March 6
All Star Game
2003
Jockey Field will be the venue for the 2003 1st ever Fox Valley area high school all star game. Forty of the top senior softball players in the Fox Valley area have been invited to play in the first Fox Valley Senior All-Star game on Monday night at Jockey Field in East Dundee.
The game is sponsored by the Fox Valley Renegades, the Northern Illinois Lightning, Cami Sports & More and the Daily Herald. The nine-inning game will start at 6 p.m. and players are asked to report to Jockey Field as close to 4:30 p.m. as possible. Jockey field is located on Third Street in East Dundee, just off Barrington Ave.
2004
The 2004 rosters have been announced and invitations sent to players for the second annual Fox Valley Senior All-Star game.
The game, sponsored by the Fox Valley Renegades, the Northern Illinois Lightning, the Daily Herald and Cami Sports & More, will be played Monday, June 13 at 6 p.m. at Jockey Field in East Dundee, the home of the Renegades.
The South team, which will be coached by Scot Sutherland and Wade Maisto of Burlington Central, North team coached by Peg Corcoron and Randy Brittian of Elgin.
2005
The 2005 area's finest high school senior softball players converged at Jockey Field in Dundee to compete in the 2005 Fox Valley Senior All-Star Game, and an estimated 300 fans attended.
The South all-stars represented Bartlett, St. Edward, Larkin, Burlington Central, Dundee-Crown, Streamwood, Hampshire and St. Charles North/East, while the North all-stars brought together Cary-Grove, Elgin, Jacobs, McHenry, Crystal Lake South/Central, Huntley, Woodstock, Prairie Ridge and Marengo.
The 2006 High school all star game announces managers. The South will be managed by St,Edwards Glenn Smith and the North by Cary Grove's Tammy Olson
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