Thursday, November 10, 2016

MLB in Chicago's Northwest Suburbs-- Part 3: Some Major League Ballplayers

Here are a few ballplayers from Lake and McHenry counties who made it to the majors:

CHUCK HILLER from Johnsburg had an outstanding career in the majors.  As a member of the 1962 New York Giants, he made history becoming the first National League player to hit a grand slam in the World Series.  This allowed the Giants to beat the Yankees 7-3 and win the World Series.

BILLY AND BOBBY KLAUS were professional ballplayers from Fox Lake.  Billy played in the major leagues from 1952 to 1963, playing for several teams in his 11-year career.

His brother Bobby had a much shorter major league career, playing for only two years, 1964 and 1965.

There are plaques honor these two at the Grant High School baseball field in Fox Lake.

ERIC ECKENSTAHLER was born in Waukegan but attended high school in Antioch.  After attending Illinois State University, he was drafted by the Detroit Tigers and played 27 games for them in 2002 and 2003.

--Baser


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