Chicago Dogs
{{Short description|American independent professional baseball team}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox baseball team
|name = Chicago Dogs
|founded = 2018
|location = Rosemont, Illinois
|ballpark = Impact Field
|logo = Chicago Dogs baseball.PNG
|cap_logo = Chicago Dogs cap.PNG
|league = American Association of Professional Baseball
|division = East Division
|former_leagues =
|former_names =
|nicknames =
|retired_numbers =
|colors = Light blue, red, white
{{color box|#62B4E6}} {{color box|#EE1B2C}} {{color box|#ffff}}
|former_ballparks =
|league_champs =
|division_champs =
|owner = Shawn Hunter
|gm =
|manager = Jeff Isom
|media = {{URL|https://www.aabaseball.tv|AA Baseball TV}}
|website = {{URL|thechicagodogs.com}}
}}
File:Chicago-Dogs-baseball-01.jpg at Impact Field in 2018]]
The Chicago Dogs are an independent professional baseball team based in Rosemont, Illinois. They are members of the American Association of Professional Baseball, an official Partner League of Major League Baseball.{{Cite web|last=Reichard|first=Kevin|date=2020-09-24|title=American Association, Frontier League now MLB Partner Leagues|url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2020/09/24/american-association-frontier-league-now-mlb-partner-leagues|access-date=2021-02-18|website=Ballpark Digest|language=en-US}} They began play in 2018{{cite web|last=Reichard|first=Kevin|title=New for 2018: Chicago Dogs|website=Ballpark Digest|date=July 28, 2017|url=http://ballparkdigest.com/2017/07/28/new-for-2018-chicago-dogs|access-date=July 28, 2017}}{{cite web|first=Jason|last=Belzer|date=September 13, 2017|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonbelzer/2017/09/13/how-the-chicago-dogs-are-transforming-the-minor-league-baseball-model|title=A New Minor League Team Tries To Run With The Big Dogs In Chicago|website=Forbes|access-date=January 13, 2018}} and play home games at the 6,300-seat Impact Field.{{cite web|last=Bannon|first=Tim|title=Rosemont's new baseball team gets a tasty name: Chicago Dogs|website=Chicago Tribune|date=July 28, 2017|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/ct-rosemont-baseball-dogs-20170728-story.html|access-date=July 28, 2017}}{{cite web|title=Chicago Dogs to Play Ball in Rosemont|website=WBBM-TV/CBS Chicago|date=May 10, 2018|url=http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2018/05/10/chicago-dogs-baseball-rosemont|access-date=May 12, 2018}} The team's branding alludes to the Chicago-style hot dog, a local street food.{{cite web|first=Ashok|last=Selvam|date=July 28, 2017|url=https://chicago.eater.com/2017/7/28/16055622/chicago-dogs-minor-league-baseball-hot-dogs-rosemont-team-name|title=Chicago's Love of Hot Dogs Inspires New Baseball Team's Name|website=Eater Chicago|access-date=January 13, 2018}}
History
=2018=
In 2018, their first year as a team, the Dogs' manager was Butch Hobson. Former Chicago White Sox minor league pitcher Josh Goossen-Brown was the first player signed by the Chicago Dogs. They finished the season in fourth place out of six teams in the American Association North Division with a record of 45–54.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=b87c9786|title=2018 American Association|website=Baseball Reference|access-date=May 19, 2019}}
=2019=
In 2019, Carlos Zambrano joined the Dogs' roster. Zambrano had pitched in the major leagues for 12 years, most of them as a member of the Chicago Cubs.{{cite news|first=Phil|last=Thompson|date=May 18, 2019|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/cubs/ct-spt-dogs-carlos-zambrano-former-cubs-pitcher-20190518-story.html|title=Weather Delays His Return, but the Carlos Zambrano Effect Is in Full Force for the Independent Chicago Dogs|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=May 19, 2019}} Butch Hobson continued to serve as the team's manager.{{cite news|first=Madeline|last=Kenney|date=April 20, 2019|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports-saturday/2019/4/20/18619576/after-44-years-in-baseball-chicago-dogs-manager-hobson-wouldn-t-change-a-thing|title=After 44 Years in Baseball, Chicago Dogs Manager Hobson Wouldn't Change a Thing|work=Chicago Sun-Times|access-date=May 20, 2019}} Keon Barnum hit 31 home runs, breaking a record held by C.J. Ziegler of Wichita in 2013. The Dogs finished the season in third place in the North Division with a record of 59–40.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=c4af321b|title=2019 American Association|website=Baseball Reference|access-date=September 3, 2019}}
=2020=
In 2020, the Dogs competed as one of six league teams in a condensed 60-game season as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://www.americanassociationbaseball.com/american-association-unveils-plans-for-2020-season|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613193801/https://www.americanassociationbaseball.com/american-association-unveils-plans-for-2020-season/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 13, 2020|title=American Association unveils plans for 2020 season|work=americanassociationbaseball.com|access-date=June 13, 2020}} They were originally slated to play home games at Franklin Field (home of the Milwaukee Milkmen) due to capacity restrictions for outdoor events in Illinois.{{cite news|date=June 13, 2020|url=https://abc7chicago.com/sports/some-chicago-baseball-is-back-sort-of/6246372|title=COVID-19 restrictions force Chicago Dogs to utilize Milwaukee Milkmen Stadium for 60-game baseball season|publisher=ABC7Chicago.com|access-date=June 14, 2020}} However, these restrictions were lifted on June 26 (as the state officially moved into Phase 4 of their reopening plan, allowing for outdoor spectator sports to resume at limited capacity) and thus enabled the Dogs to play all their home games at Impact Field.{{cite web|url=https://thechicagodogs.com/dogs-to-play-all-home-games-at-impact-field|title=Dogs to Play All Home Games at Impact Field|work=thechicagodogs.com|access-date=June 24, 2020}}
=2021=
The Dogs won the East Division with a record of 54–46, clinching their first regular season division title and playoff berth in franchise history. The Dogs lost the Divisional series to the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks.
Mascot
The mascot of the Chicago Dogs is Squeeze, a fuzzy yellow creature who resembles a squeeze bottle of mustard.{{cite web|first=Steve|last=Reaven|date=May 29, 2018|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/franklin-park/sports/ct-fhj-chicago-dogs-home-opener-impact-field-tl-0531-story.html|title=Chicago Dogs Lose After Ninth-Inning Collapse, But Fans Are Winners at Impact Field|website=Chicago Tribune|access-date=July 11, 2018}}{{cite web|first=Hillary|last=Bird|date=July 9, 2018|url=https://www.chicagoparent.com/play/outdoor-fun/chicago-dogs-baseball-game-with-kids|title=A Kid's Guide to a Chicago Dogs Baseball Game|website=Chicago Parent|access-date=July 11, 2018}}
Season-by-season records
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||||||
| width=40px style="background: #62B4E6; color: #ffff" | Season
! width=60px style="background: #62B4E6; color: #ffff" | League ! width=60px style="background: #62B4E6; color: #ffff" | Division ! width=60px style="background: #62B4E6; color: #ffff" | Record ! width=100px style="background: #62B4E6; color: #ffff" | Div. Finish ! width=100px style="background: #62B4e6; color: #ffff" | Ovr. Finish ! width=60px style="background: #62B4E6; color: #ffff" | Win% ! width=225px style="background: #62B4E6; color: #ffff" | Playoffs ! width=90px style="background: #62B4E6; color: #ffff" | Manager | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | AA | North | 45–54 | 4th | 8th | .455 | Did not qualify | Butch Hobson |
| 2019 | AA | North | 59–41 | 3rd | 3rd | .590 | Did not qualify | Butch Hobson |
| 2020 | AA | N/A | 26–32 | 6th | 6th | .448 | Did not qualify | Butch Hobson |
| 2021 | AA | North | 63–37 | 1st | 2nd | .630 | Lost Division Championship; Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 3–2 | Butch Hobson |
| 2022 | AA | East | 54–46 | 1st | 3rd | .540 | Lost Division Series; Milwaukee Milkmen 2–1 | Butch Hobson |
| 2023 | AA | East | 56–44 | 1st | 2nd | .560 | Won Division Series; Cleburne Railroaders 2–1 Won Division Championship; Milwaukee Milkmen 2–1 Lost Wolff Cup Finals; Kansas City Monarchs 3–1 | Butch Hobson |
| 2024 | AA | East | 55–45 | 3rd | 5th | .545 | Won Division Series; Cleburne Railroaders 2–1 Lost Division Championship; Kane County Cougars 2–0 | Jeff Isom |
- NOTE: Division realignment in 2022
Roster
{{IndyLB roster
| League= American Association
| TeamName= Chicago Dogs
| RosterCode=132636
| BC1= #62B4E6
| FC1=#ffff
| BC2= #ffff
| FC2= #EE1B2C
| Date= August 10, 2024
| Pitchers=
{{MLBplayer|35|John Baker}}
{{MLBplayer|37|Jake Carroll}}
{{MLBplayer|15|Jackson Dannelley}}
{{MLBplayer|14|Zach Davidson}}
{{MLBplayer|28|Cal Djuraskovic}}
{{MLBplayer|25|Lukas Galdoni}}
{{MLBplayer|23|Thomas King}} ‡
{{MLBplayer|32|Steven Lacey}}
{{MLBplayer|30|Joey Marciano}}
{{MLBplayer|29|Brady Miller}}
{{MLBplayer|27|Chad Pike}}
{{MLBplayer|50|Brian Schlitter}}
{{MLBplayer|11|Kenny Serwa}}
{{MLBplayer|16|Augie Voight}} ‡
| Catchers=
{{MLBplayer| 6|Nick Dalesandro}}
{{MLBplayer|20|Bryan Reyes}}
{{MLBplayer| 4|Gus Sosa}}
| Infielders=
{{MLBplayer|17|Brantley Bell}}
{{MLBplayer|19|Derek Maiben}}
{{MLBplayer| 3|Nick Novak}}
{{MLBplayer|13|Zion Pettigrew}}
{{MLBplayer| 8|Dusty Stroup}}
{{MLBplayer| 5|Jacob Teter}}
| Outfielders=
{{MLBplayer|36|Narciso Crook}}
{{MLBplayer|22|Chase Harris}}
{{MLBplayer| 9|Johnni Turbo}}
| DH=
| Utility=
| Manager=
{{MLBplayer|--|Jeff Isom}}
| Coaches=
{{MLBplayer|31|Stu Cliburn}}(pitching)
{{MLBplayer|--|Thomas Incaviglia}}(hitting)
{{MLBplayer| |Edgardo Lopez}}(clubhouse manager)
}}
Notable alumni
- Joe Benson (2018)
- Kenny Wilson (2018)
- Scott Barnes (2018)
- Chad Girodo (2018)
- Carlos Zambrano (2019)
- Casey Crosby (2019–2020)
- Victor Roache (2019–2020)
- D. J. Snelten (2019, 2023)
- Tyler Ladendorf (2020)
- Joey Terdoslavich (2020)
- Eddie Butler (2020)
- Jamie Callahan (2020)
- Jake Cousins (2020)
- Eric Stout (2020)
- Michael Crouse (2020–2022)
- Michael Bowden (2021)
- Cam Booser (2021)
- Jonathon Crawford (2021)
- Connor Grey (2021)
- Christian Friedrich (2021)
- Tyler Ferguson (2021)
- Anfernee Grier (2021–2022)
- Charlie Tilson (2022)
- Mickey Jannis (2022)
- Stevie Wilkerson (2022)
- James Reeves (2022–2023)
- Trevor Lane (2022–2023)
- Brian Schlitter (2022–present)
- Nick Heath (2023)
- Braxton Davidson (2023)
- Jake Newberry (2023)
- Joe Wieland (2023)
- Jason Bilous (2024)
- Narciso Crook (2024–present)
- Joey Marciano (2024–present)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{Official website}}
- {{URL2|https://aabaseball.com/teams|American Association teams}}
{{American Association}}
{{Chicago sports}}
{{Illinois Sports}}
Category:2018 establishments in Illinois
Category:Baseball teams established in 2018