Bells of the Chicago Snowballs

The Chicago Snowballs are a coed baseball entertainment team. They are a little bit of baseball and a little bit of entertainment, but a lot of fun. Think Savannah Bananas.

One of the talented women on the tam is Bells. We met Bells on the concourse at Joliet Slammers Stadium prior to a game. We soon learned all the players were mingling with fans when they weren't taking batting practice.

During the game, we saw Bella in action. After she got on base and headed for home, she did backflips from third base to home plate to score. That was one of the most impressive things I have seen on any sports field.

Bells is actually Bella Kmilek, a talented college softball player. With the new women's pro baseball league debuting this year and Athletes Unlimited Softball League growing, I wonder is Bella will leave the Snowballs for one of those leagues. Either way, I home to see Bella in action somewhere next year.

For more info on the Snowballs, go to chicagosnowballs.com. Also, check back here for my recurring coverag eof the team.

Tony, Bells and me in Joliet, IL-August 2026.

This isn't Right

When driving to see my niece, i saw this building on the near southwest side of Chicago. It immediately bugged me and I had to take a picture.

What is the deal on those weird windows? I have never seen windows angled as such. They don't seem to be on a staircase, because the windows below wouldn't fit there. It doesn't appear to be an artsy building where the windows could be part of the creativity.

What is the deal?

I didn't have time to see what the building was, but I plan to learn that upon my next trip to that area. I don't know if I would be allowed in (depends on what the business is) to see what the deal is on those windows.

Rest assured, when I find more info on this building and those windows, I will report it back here. Until then, does it bother you as much as it bugs me?

Tsunami of the Chicago Snowballs

My coverage of the Chicago Snowballs continues with Tsunami. As good of a player as Tsunami is, this story isn't really about his playing.

When Tony and I attended our first Snowballs game, the first opponent we saw was Tsunami of the Rocket Squirrels. The Snowballs usually play the Squirrels, although they do pay other opponents on occasion. We briefly chatted before he had to attend to his baseball duties.

While I went for sodas, Tony saw a woman he thought looked like his late mother. He actually approached her and learned she had the same first name as his mom and came from the same area of Italy. Later it got odder as we learned she is Tsunami's mom.

Those coincidences made a good story. I love when the mere timing of things brings about such events. We were supposed to go to our first game a couple weeks prior, but rain forced us to reschedule. If we had gotten to the field just a minute later, we would not have met Tsunami. If we sat in a different area, Tony wouldn't have seen the woman.

I don't want to shortchange Tsunami though. He is an excellent and entertaining player. Back several years, he was captain of his high school's baseball team.

For more info on the team, go to chicagosnowballs.com. Check back here for my recurring coverage.

Tony, Johnny and me in Joliet, IL-August 2026.

Talking Travel with Ken Smoller

In 2000 three of my friends and I drove to Cleveland for an Indiana game. By 2020, the group had grown to as large as 12 on one trip. All told, we have visited 34 baseball stadiums, some now gone. With those and other trips I have made, my stadium total is about 50. That's only 2,650 or so behind Ken Smoller.

The "Stadium Vagabond" has been to more than 2,700 stadiums all over the world. On his website, the opening statement reads "exploring the world through the prism of sports stadiums." With that unique take on travel, I invited Ken to talk with me on Talking Travel for Global Traveler.

A writer and photographer, Smoller started his journey as a student at the University of Michigan. That journey has led him across the world to 26 different countries and 48 states, with plans to reach the last two in the near future. 

Along with his stadiumvagabond.com site, Smoller also wrote Last Comiskey, based on the documentary about the last year of Comiskey Park documentary, which featured a lot of Smoller's photographs. Currently, Smoller is working on a book about all of the stadiums of Illinois.

See the full story and interview on globaltravelerusa.com. Be sure to subscribe to the GT YouTube channel.

Friend Encounters: Tatum and Taylor Edwards and Chris

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring my friends meeting celebrities.

Thees a reason all three folks in this picture are smiling. It was summer in Chicago and the Chicago Bandits won the National Pro Fastpitch championship.

The two ladies are Tatum and Taylor Edwards, twin softball players who starred at the University of Nebraska. Acquired from the Pennsylvania Rebellion, the Edwards sisters played a vital role in that title. Catcher Taylor was a force at the plate and a calm influence on the pitching staff, which included sister Tatum. A clutch pitcher, Tatum supplied valuable innings during the season. She also amazed me with her ability to walk hundreds of feet on her hands. Off the field, both were as sweet as could be and two of my favorites.

In the middle is Chris, one of the "crusty old guys"," a group of longtime Bandits fans, which includes me. Chris has probably gone to more games and taken more pictures than any other Bandits fan. When he isn;t taking pictures, he is also one of the greatest folks.

The Edwards sisters have gone on with their lives. Both have married former softball stars. Tatum did some coaching, while Taylor played in the Athletes Unlimited league. Both seem to be on different career paths, but very happy now.

I love this picture. It reminds me of the fun with the old Bandits teams.

Tatum Edwards, Chris and Taylor Edwards in Rosemont, IL-August 2015.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #822: Barry Bostwick & Christine Elise

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series featuring celebrities wearing sports jerseys. I am continuing my season-long alphabetical march through all MLB teams.

Born in California, Barry Bostwick is perhaps best known for portraying Brad Majors in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Bostwick gave me one of my favorite interviews at a Wizard World press event. In that interview found at On the Beat with Barry Bostwick, among other things, we messed our hair together. Bostwick was a great sport. Tossing out a first pitch for the Minnesota Twins, Bostwick looked like the crafty veteran as he earned his Celebrity Jersey Card.

A native of Boston, Massachusetts, actress Christine Elise McCarthy (known as Christine Elise) is probably best known for her role on television's Beverly Hills, 90210. Elise won her Celebrity Jersey Card for a scene on that show. It is one of a few times I got a decent card from a screencap. Elise's character wore it to impress Brandon, the character from Minnesota.

Cards That Never Were: Tom McCraw Topps 1976

Cards That Never Were is a recurring series in which I create virtual trading cards for players missed in various sets. It is a concept I borrowed from far to many folks to list, but I appreciate all of their efforts.

First baseman-outfielder Tommy McCraw was signed by the Chicago White Sox as an amateur free agent prior to the 1960 season. After making his MLB debut in 1963, he played 8 seasons with the Sox, before being traded to the Washington Senators before the 1971 season. Then he was traded to the California Angels before the 1972 season. Midway through the '74 season, he was sold to the Cleveland Indians, who released him midway through the 1975 season. In his 13 seasons, McCraw played in 1,468 games, hitting  .246 with 75 HRs, 404 RBIs and 484 runs scored.

Topps gave McCraw cards in every set 1964-'75. Having been released in June, it is understandable for Topps not to give him a card, but card purists like me, want players to have cards for their complete careers. Gio of When Topps Had (Base)Balls feels that way, too, as proven by the thousands of cards he created for his site. His work is masterpiece level, meaning there is no point in me attempting to duplicate his effort.

Meeting DePaul Assistant SB Coach Sabrina Kuchta

It was DePaul University Night on the last Friday of the AU All-Star Cup. Nearly 40 years ago, I earned my alumni status.

Upon entering the stadium, we saw DePaul Head Softball Coach Liz Bouck-Jagielski. After catching up a bit with Coach Liz, we saw new Assistant Coach Sabrina Kuchta.

In July, Coach Liz announced Sabrina joined her coaching staff. It's a homecoming for Sabrina, a catcher at DePaul from 2015 to 2019. Sabrina was part of successful Blue Demons teams that won three BIG EAST regular season and tournament titles and made three NCAA Tournament appearances. 

Starting her coaching career in 2014, she spent six years as a head coach in the Premier Girls Fastpitch organization. Most recently, she was an assistant at Stony Brook for four seasons. Sabrina's primary role will be as hitting coach, but I am sure she will lend her knowledge to all areas of the game. 

Approaching Sabrina, I was immediately struck by her enthusiasm. She greeted Tony and me with a big smile and thanked us for covering the team. We all said we looked forward to next season.

I have a good feeling about the 2027 Blue Demons. I can't wait to get back to Cacciatore Stadium.

Sabrina Kuchta and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2026.

Incredibly Underrated Steve Largent

My pal Tony is a big fan of the Seattle Seahawks. If he wrote this you might think he is biased, but I have no allegiance to the team.

When the athlete list was announced for The National, we both picked the athletes we wanted to meet. Since Steve Largent was on both of our lists, it was an easy pick.

After being drafted by the Houston Oilers in the fourth round, Largent was traded to the Seahawks before they played their first ever game. Largent went on to a stellar 14 year career all with the Seahawks. On teams when he was the only real threat, Largent still managed to excel. Largent made the Pro Bowl seven times and was a first or second team All Pro seven times.

I'm not saying Largent is the greatest wide receiver of all time. That would probably be former brief Seahawk Jerry Rice. I would say at the time of his retirement, Largent was one of the best ever. Largent is definitely one of the greatest Seahawks of all time.

The game has changed since Largent retired. I don't take anything away from more recent great receivers, but the game is much more offense-minded. Largent's stats get dwarfed by more recent players. Still, if I wanted a pass over the middle in traffic, I would look for Largent.

At The National, I let Tony do the talking since the Seahawks and Largent were his favorites. I really liked Largent, but Tony took the back seat when I met Squires earlier that day. lol

It was great meeting the Hall of Famer. If you ask how a Hall of Famer can be underrated, just research Largent. 

Steve Largent, Tony and me in Rosemont, IL-July 2026/

Shana Sumers of the Chicago Winds

While covering the Voices of the Game event on WNBA All-Star weekend, I got a pleasant surprise. While doing interviews on the orange (WNBA color) carpet, I saw Shana Sumers.

Shana plays professional football with the Chicago Winds, a women's pro team. Shana and I crossed paths several times over the years, but I never had a chance to actually chat with her. 

As a veteran professional woman athlete, Shana said she is very happy to see women's sports getting the spotlight. While the Winds don't get the coverage of the WNBA Chicago Sky, players like Shana pave the way for future women athletes.

The Chicago Winds started play in 2025 in Elmhurst, Illinois. This season, they moved to the south side of Chicago. A new home has not been announced yet for the 2027 season which starts in March. For more info on that, go to thechicagowinds.com.

We chatted for a few minutes about the Chicago Bliss and other women's sports (shout out to Dee Hightower). Hopefully, I will see Shana and do some coverage of the Winds next season.

Shana Sumers and me in Chicago, IL-July 2026.