The Whiskey Jacks were Thunder Bay's entry into the independant Northern League. The team struggled, to say the least.
The Northern League was reconstituted in 1993, and quickly caught the fancy of baseball fans, turning in the most successful independent minor league operation. In fact, probably the most successful minor league, period. During one stretch, the St.Paul Saints were actually outdrawing the major league Minnesota Twins.
Of course, the Whiskey Jacks didn't share too much in the prosperity, suffering from low (but dedicated!) attendance and poor performance.
The 1998 season proved to be the end. The WhiskeyJack owners decided to leave the loyal Thunder Bay fans in the lurch, and uprooted the team and moved to Schaumburg, Illinois. This outrage should have been met by violent street protests and general anarchy, but instead everybody just let it happen without a fight.
R.I.P.
However, when the traitors folded up the team, there went the website too.
(c) Abseits Guide to Germany
(Split season records in Northern League, Class A Independent)
1993 Combined 3rd 3rd
1994 Combined 4th 5th
1995 Combined last 2nd
1996 Eastern last last
1997 Eastern 2nd last
1998 Eastern
Address
PO Box 864, Thunder Bay, Ontario P7C 4X7 (I know, it makes no sense)
Phone: (807) 344-5225 Fax: (807)) 343-4611
Colors
Teal and Purple jersey, white pants.
Stadium
Port Arthur Stadium. Capacity: 5,144 (all seats), plus lawn
seating.
Tickets
Reserved CDN $7, General Admission CDN $6.
Supporters
There was an official booster club. A reference to "New Jack City" spirit
was made on another web site, but they must be referring to the fans who
become crackheads in desperation after watching the team lose.
Eventually, even the fans abandoned the club as it became clear they would
leave.
Friends
Foes
Winnipeg Goldeyes. Well, sort of, as the other Canadian entry you
could get some artificial mini-rivalry going.
Actually, the one real foe was probably the local union of city employees,
that went on strike against the city and essentially shut down the
ball-park, which certainly didn't help the empty Jacks coffers.
Beer
Probably Labatt's, eh? They used to produce a local brew called
Northern, but were apparently kicked out of town.
Grub and Pub
There are two concession stands serving up the usual ball park food,
including the "best peanuts in the Northern League". An "All-You-Can-Eat
Barbeque" in the BBQ area runs $7.95 Candian, which is about $5 in real
dollars. Within the town of Thunder Bay, there are of course many
premier culinary establishments, among them McDonalds and
Arby's Roast Beef. Seriously, Hoito's is known for
ethnic Finn food.
The Net
The official site WAS www.jacks.ca managed to
contain almost no useful information about the team itself. Mostly
marketing scum-bag type info, so you wouldn't be confused by something as
stupid as a TEAM ROSTER!!
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