The Big House Ballgame: Joliet Slammers to play one game at old suburban prison

Story byABC7 Chicago Digital TeamThu, December 11, 2025 at 5:49 PM UTC·1 min readBaseball is coming back to the Old Joliet Prison. ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watchThe Joliet Slammers will play one game only this spring, appropriately titled "The Big House Ballgame."AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementGreg Peerbolte, the CEO of the Joliet Area Historical Museum, joined ABC7 to talk about the game. The game is on April 30 between the Joliet Slammers and the Gateway Grizzlies of St. Louis. Peerbolte explained that baseball was played in the prison up until the facility was closed in 2002. Historical Route 66 also passes right by the prison.