A beloved Hollywood actor and comedian is among the new owners of the Joliet Slammers baseball team.
Bill Murray, who starred in such beloved blockbusters as “Groundhog Day,” Ghostbusters” and “Caddyshack” is one of three new majority owners of the minor league baseball team in Joliet.
Nick Semaca, current owner, sold the majority of the team to Murray, Mike Veeck and his son, Night Train Veeck. Semaca will remain with the team as a minority owner.
Mike Veeck and his son were featured in the new Netflix sports documentary, “The Saint of Second Chances,” that came out in September. Mike Veeck’s father was the late Bill Veeck, who owned the Chicago White Sox during the 1970s.
Mike Veeck said he and Murray have been investors for more than three decades in numerous clubs. His son, Night Train, worked for more than seven years with the Chicago White Sox.
Veeck said he’d like Semaca to remain a part of the Joliet Slammers.
“It was very important to me personally that he stay because it will be a great deal of continuity, which is something that I think will benefit us all and the community,” he said.
The Joliet City Council Tuesday granted the sale as the Joliet Slammers have a stadium lease with the city.
“The sale, conveyance or transfer of more than 50 percent of the ownership interest of the team, shall be subject to the approval of the city,” said Heather Mills, chief financial officer/general manager with the Joliet Slammers. “The Slammers are requesting approval given that the new investors will collectively own 75 percent of the shares of Joliet Community Baseball Entertainment once the transaction has closed.”
Suzanna Ibarra, who represents District 5 on the council, said she is glad Semaca and Mills will remain with the team for sake of continuity. Also, Ibarra said she was told Murray might become a regular in the Joliet community as the rumor is he “loves to attend games.”
The Slammers’ name refers to the famous prisons of Joliet and Will County (Joliet and Statesville Correctional Centers) as well as a common baseball term. The Slammers play in the independent Frontier League at Duly Health Care and Field. Their first home game for the 2024 season is Friday, May 10.