Cal “Iron Man” Ripken, Jr. played every game and usually every inning from 1984 to 1999. During this tenure, Ripken helped lead the Chicago Champions to six IAL World Championships. Cal belied the image of a no-hit shortstop and hit over 30 homeruns in a season six times and drove in 100 runs five times. He is the IAL all-time leader in hits (2,843), rbis (1,652), games played (2,935), and at-bats (10,822). At the time of his induction, Ripken was 5th all-time in homeruns with 468, 2nd in doubles with 562 and 6th in runs with 1,391.
For years, Rice held the single season record for most home runs hit when he hit 66 in 1979. In that MVP season Jim also had 125 rbis and 129 runs that year, mostly batting out of the leadoff spot, he ended the season with 34 at bats leftover, Champs won the Championship, finished in 1st place, and won 99 ballgames. He was partially responsible for the Chicago Champions’ first place finish in 1984, another MVP season for Rice, when he hit 59 homeruns with an amazing 154 rbis with 139 runs scored. Jim was a part of six championship teams with the Champions.
A Hitmen throughout his career, Murphy hit more than 30 home runs and 100 rbis for 6 straight years (1983-1988) and ended up with 339 for his career. In 1981 Dale, with 127 RBIs, was the driving force behind the Northside team that won the IAL Championship.
Another journeyman of sorts (traded 8 times), Molitor nevertheless had a great career. At the time of his induction he was third all time in hits with 2,596 and second in runs with 1,567. In his 20 year career, Paul scored more than 100 runs six times, stole 544 bases in his career, finished with a .295 batting average, and was a member of four Championship ballclubs.
Drafted by the Twin City Thunderchickens in 1988, Mark McGwire hit 54 homeruns (a rookie record) and drove in 166 runs in addition to hitting .314 and scoring 122 runs.
In 1999 everything seemed to go right, McGwire had a monster year, he entered the last game of the season tied with Rafael Palmeiro for the IAL single season record of homeruns with 69, Mark hit #70 in his last at bat. In addition, he had career highs in runs (138), rbis (174), and walks (152). The Twin City Thunderchickens were spirited away to victory, with a 2nd place finish, and an IAL World Championship.
It would seem difficult to repeat the excitement of 1999’s homerun race, but McGwire didn’t disappoint in 2000. Once again, he entered game 162 tied with the record he had set the year prior. And once again, dramatics prevailed as he waited until his very last at-bat of the season to break his own record. That record stands today. McGwire also banged out 159 rbis to go with his 71 homeruns.
In 2002, McGwire hit a homerun in his last at-bat of his career.
Mark McGwire finished with 591 career homeruns, second all-time. At the time of his induction he was 6th in RBIs with 1,436, fourth in walks with 1,162, and was third in slugging percentage.
A reliever for almost his whole career, Doug Jones was second all time in saves, at the time of his induction, with 246. His best year was with the Northside Hitmen in 1993, when he saved 51 games with a 2.09 ERA and helped the Hitmen to a 105 win season & a 1st place finish. Doug was a member of four Championship teams.
Another Champion mainstay, at the time of his induction, Hershiser ranked 3rd in wins with 220 and 9th in ERA, 3.56. In 1990 his 23-7 record, 2.04 ERA, & eight shutouts, were a big reason the Chicago Champions were indeed the IAL Champions that year. Orel was a member of six Championship teams with Chicago.
Evans always seemed to put in a solid year, every year. As a result, at the time of his induction, he was one seven IAL hitters to have 1,200 runs and 1,200 rbis, and he ranked 16th on the all time homer list with 354. Dwight put together quite a streak of winning baseball, playing for the Championship Mercenaries in 1984, playing for the 1st place Thunderchickens 1985-87 (with win totals of 115, 95, & 102), and then being on the Championship Mercenaries in 1988 & on the Championship Cardinals in 1989.
Dawson was traded 6 times throughout his career, but managed to put together an awesome 20-year career. At the time of his induction, he was 7th all time with 428 homeruns and 5th in RBIs with 1,446. Andre was an all-around player, he even stole 298 bases. The Hawk was a member of four Championship ballclubs.
At the time of his induction, Joe Carter was ninth on the all-time list with 399 homeruns and he was one of fifteen hitters with 1,000 runs and 1,000 RBIs. In 1988 Carter showed off his power & speed, hitting 50 homers & stealing 40 bases (his 40th steal came on a 2nd column 11 in his last at bat), Joe’s 125 RBIs & 123 runs were also his single season highs. He was a member of five Championships with Chicago.
ial hall of fame | Thomas Nelshoppen December 10, 2009 | 
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