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11 things to know about the Kane County Cougars

Posted March 13, 2018 6:00 am

The Kane County Cougars will open the 2018 season with a home game Thursday, April 5, against the Clinton Lumberjacks at Northwestern Medicine Field in Geneva.

Here are 11 things about the Cougars you can share with fellow fans to sound like you're the smartest person in the row …

1. A bunch of current Cubs played for the Cougars, including Willson Contreras and Albert Almora Jr. in 2013 and Kyle Schwarber in 2014. Former Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster played for the Cougars, too, back in 1996.

2. If you're a Sox fan, how about this: 2005 World Series hero Scott Podsednik was a Cougar in 1997.

3. 161 former Cougars have played in the big leagues.

4. Former members of the Cougars have played for every major league team.

5. More than a dozen former Cougars have been major league all stars.

6. The Cougars have been affiliated with six major league clubs since they began play in Geneva in 1991. The teams? The Baltimore Orioles (1991-92), Florida/Miami Marlins (1993-2002), Oakland A's (2003-10), Kansas City Royals (2011-12), Cubs (2013-14) and Arizona Diamondbacks (since 2015).

The best player to ever come through the Kane County Cougars? We'll pick certain Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera. Daily Herald file photo

7. The best former Cougar? Our vote goes to Miguel Cabrera, Class of 2001. A certain Hall of Famer, Miggy has a .317 lifetime batting average and 462 homers. A two-time MVP, the current Detroit Tigers' first baseman has won the Triple Crown and played on 11 All-Star teams.

8. The Cougars have won 1,943 games in team history and lost 1,788. One game ended in a tie.

9. Last year the Cougars drew 394,567 fans - an average of 5,889 per home date.

10. The Cougars will offer concerts before every Saturday evening game beginning June 16. The schedule: Voices (Motown, R&B) June 16; Mr. Myers Band (Jimmy Buffett and beach music) June 30; Back Country Roads for a holiday concert July 3; Elevation (U2 tribute band) July 7; American English (Beatles tribute band) July 21; Mariachi Michoacana Aug. 11; Hi Infidelity ('80s music) Aug. 18; and Hey Jimmy (party band) Sept. 1.

11. The seventh annual Cougars 5K run and walk steps off at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 19, along a course that begins and ends at the ballpark, with the finish line at home plate. Part of the proceeds benefit Special Olympics. For details, visit kccougars.com.

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