Fourteen teams from the Mustang League of the had a special thrill Sunday when they played their games at Thillens Stadium on Chicago’s north side rather than their usual Deerfield Park District fields.
According to DYBA Secretary Tom Shapira this has become an annual event. Some of the parents of current players participated in games at Thillens stadium as well. The Mustang League is comprised of players currently in third and fourth grade.
“Many parents and grandparents of current DYBA players remember playing at Thillens Stadium themselves, so the special experience really bridges the generations,” Shapira said.
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Though Mustang League President Jesse Criz may not remember the home runs he hit as a Mustang at Thillens, he does remember his father telling him about it, according to Shapira. Criz will be able to remind his son, Brody Criz, of his own Thillens memories.
For Shapira’s son, Sam, it gave the third grader the thrill of playing in a real ball park. “It's really cool playing in front of real stands and having a light up scoreboard and an announcer,” Sam said. “The announcer even sang 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame' between innings.”