The Northwest Indiana Oilmen are struggling to salvage their baseball season months before the first pitch in June.
The city tossed a curve at the Oilmen last month, evicting them from the Oil City Stadium, their home for the past 15 years.
Mayor Steve Spebar defended the move, calling growth stagnant in the Oilmen’s five-team Northern League.
He said the city has a verbal agreement with the Crestwood Collegiate League, which just launched in 2024. The wood-bat league is for college-bound players, like the Northern League.
Spebar said he expects the agreement to be finalized by the Board of Works in April.
“We want to go to a league that’s growing, not one that’s stagnant,” said Spebar on Thursday. He said Whiting would be the 13th team in the Crestwood league.
The city and Calumet College of St. Joseph just partnered in a $1.5 million project, installing new field turf at the stadium, where the college’s baseball team plays.
It’s also the home field of Whiting High School’s baseball team.
Spebar said he’s fielded new inquiries about the stadium for the past few years. In deference to the Oilmen, he said he held off making a move.
He hopes the re-turfed stadium will draw more attention to the 1,100-seat ballpark at 1700 119th St.
“We look forward to more people coming and more concessions. We will advertise throughout the year. The last couple of years we expanded out-of-town tournaments and teams were here for days. I’ve seen first-hand they patronize downtown,” he said.
Travel teams with younger players are usually accompanied by parents, and typically, they will play on weekends.
Spebar said a second team, affiliated with the Chicago White Sox, has inquired about playing at the stadium, as well.
“There is interest,” he said. “It’s nothing definite.”
Meanwhile, the Oilmen are searching for a new stadium, but their options are limited.
Don Popravak, president and general manager of the Oilmen, said Spebar gave him the news Jan. 12.
“The mayor called me to his office and told me they were going in another direction,” said Popravak.
He said he made an offer to Spebar in October to ensure the team’s longevity for the next decade. He offered $30,000 in annual rent, and a percentage of alcohol and ticket taxes. He said he also offered to take over maintenance and operations of the ballpark.
“It would have been very lucrative,” said Popravak, who said the Board of Works rejected the offer.
He wants the team to remain as the Northwest Indiana Oilmen, but there aren’t many baseball stadiums available in the region. Gary has the SouthShore RailCats stadium, but it’s an unlikely choice, said Popravak, who’s the Lake County Council’s appointee to the new Northwest Indiana Professional Sports Development Commission.
“I’m open to all options and (we) are pursuing them now.
“We’ll survive and we’ll be a greater fabric of Northwest Indiana. Our fan base travels.”
Popravak said the Oilmen boosted Whiting’s economy.
“What’s being lost in the city’s decision is the Oilmen’s 15-year role as a community anchor: five league championships, more than 100,000 plus fans through the gates, 7,000-plus kids impacted through our camps and youth events, and 40-plus players who have advanced to affiliated professional baseball and two to the Major Leagues.
“The organization has also been a steady local employer of seasonal staff and interns and a visible partner to civic groups, chambers, youth sports, and charities across Northwest Indiana.”
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
