FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                              Media Contact: Jon Versteeg
April 21, 2008                                                                                        815-774-2881

                                                                        jversteeg@jackhammerbaseball.com

 

BRING THE ‘BIG HURT’ BACK TO CHICAGO!

JackHammers Offer 2008 Contract to Frank Thomas

 

JOLIET, IL- The Joliet JackHammers have offered former Chicago White Sox slugger Frank Thomas a contract for their upcoming 2008 season. Thomas can sign for the JackHammers and be one of the team’s four “veterans” on their roster. He will receive a monthly salary in addition to a free apartment. The JackHammers 2008 home opener is Friday May 23^rd at 7:05pm against the Winnipeg Goldeyes at Silver Cross Field.

            “We need to get Frank back to Chicago where the fans love him,” said JackHammers Executive Vice President/General Manager, Kelly Sufka. “Frank will get the regular playing time he needs with no time spent on the bench. We’ll work to get him as many at-bats as possible.

            If Thomas does come back to play for the JackHammers, it will mark the first time he has played regularly in the Chicago area since 2005 when he finished a 16-year stay with the White Sox (1990-2005). Thomas should feel comfortable playing with the JackHammers since he has a home in the Chicagoland area.

            The JackHammers are making Thomas a generous offer. In addition to receiving his Major League (eight million dollars in 2008) salary and Northern League salary and a free apartment, the JackHammers will offer incentives in his contract similar to what he had in Toronto. Thomas will receive a bonus for each power category that he leads the Northern League in: (batting average, home runs and RBI).  If Thomas wins the Northern League Triple Crown, he will receive an additional bonus. Thomas had an at-bat clause in his contact with Toronto that would automatically guarantee him a contract and salary raise in 2009. The JackHammers thought about offering him a similar guarantee for 2009 but if he reaches his performance clauses, there is a good chance Thomas will not be playing in the Northern League next season!

Travel arrangements will make it exceptionally comfortable for Thomas. He’ll have his own seat on the luxurious Peoria Charter coach bus during the JackHammers road trips. With two of the club’s five opponents (Schaumburg, IL and Gary, IN) under a two-hour drive, Thomas will spend less time traveling in the Northern League than he did with the Blue Jays. As is the case with all team veterans, Thomas will get his own room on the JackHammers overnight trips to Kansas City, KS; Fargo, ND; and Winnipeg, MB.

            The JackHammers play a 96-game schedule as part of the Northern League of Professional Baseball from mid-May until late August. The JackHammers opponents are located in Schaumburg, IL; Gary, IN; Fargo, ND; Kansas City, KS; and Winnipeg, MB.

            This afternoon the JackHammers faxed a contract to Thomas’s agent Jeff Borris of the Beverly Hills Sports Council. Thomas and his agent have not responded to the JackHammers. Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.

            The JackHammers currently have full season seats, mini-plan packages, individual tickets and group outings available for the 2008 season. To purchase tickets, or for more information, give the JackHammers Ticket Department a call at (815) 726-BALL (2255), visit the JackHammers website at www.jackhammerbaseball.com or stop by the Silver Cross Field Box Office during normal business hours.