A NIGHT AT THE GAYLORD: CELEBRATING THE NATIONAL PASTIME First annual held on Friday March 7, 2007 at the Gaylord Building Historic Site

“The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again.”
- - - Terrance Mann to Ray Kinsella, Field of Dreams (1989)

For more than 150 years, baseball has been the embodiment of the American spirit. The Canal Corridor Association (CCA) and the Joliet Drama Guild (JDG) invite the public to celebrate baseball and its place in American culture.

Celebrating the National Pastime began with doors opening at 6:00pm and activities starting at 6:30pm. Outstanding baseball themed entertainment of uproarious comedy sketches, award winning play excerpts, dramatic readings and nostalgic poems were performed by the talented members of the JDG (http://www.jolietdramaguild.org). The Brass Ensemble of the Southwest Community Concert Band from Lemont, IL (http://www.SWCommunityBand.com) provided live music with either a historic or baseball theme. Guests enjoyed a buffet of delicious “ballpark” cuisine catered by the Public Landing Restaurant. Guests also were thrilled by the excitement of a silent auction of sports related items including admission tickets and memorabilia.

Net proceeds from this special joint fundraiser benefit both CCA’s Lockport Sleepers Vintage Base Ball Club and the JDG. The Sleepers are an educational program of the Gaylord Building, a National Trust Historic Site managed by the Canal Corridor Association, which are 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations. The non-profit JDG is celebrating it’s 75th Anniversary of bring community theater to life.

CCA and JDG want to thank the following sports teams, business, and individuals for their generous support as contributors to the silent auction and raffle.

Arlington Park Race Course (http://www.arlingtonpark.com)
American Pastime Sports (http://www.apsports.net)
Chicago Bandits National Pro Fastpitch Softball http://www.chicagobandits.com)
Chicago Bulls National Basketball Association (http://www.bulls.com)
Chicago Machine Major League Lacrosse (http://www.chicagomachine.com)
Chicago Cubs Major League Baseball (http://www.cubs.com)
Chicago Rush Arena Football League http://www.chicagorush.com
Chicago Storm Professional Indoor Soccer Team (http://www.chicagostorm.com)
Chicago Wolves American Hockey League (http://www.chicagowolves.com)
Devin’s Hall of Fame Sport Collectibles (815.439.1700)
Dick’s Sporting Goods (http://www.dickssportinggoods.com)
FBSS, Inc.
Gateway Grizzlies Frontier League Baseball (http://www.gatewaygrizzlies.com)
Mr. James Gustafson
Mr. John Gustafson
Hawthorne Race Course(http://www.hawthorneracecourse.com)
Joliet Drama Guild (http://www.jolietdramaguild.org)
JackHammers Northern League Baseball (http://www.jackhammerbaseball.com)
Peoria Chiefs Midwest League Baseball (http://www.peoriachiefs.com)
Quad City Flames American Hockey League (http://www.qcflames.com)
Reed’s Canoe Trips (http://www.reedcanoetrips.com)
Rink’s Gun & Sport, Inc. of Lockport (815.838.1371)
Rockford Thunder National Pro Fastpitch Softball (http://www.thunderprofastpitch.com)
Windy City Thunderbolts Frontier League Baseball (http://www.wcthunderbolts.com)
Schaumburg Flyers Northern League Baseball (http://www.flyersbaseball.com)