- Florence Freedom
Independent baseball team
name = Florence Freedom
founded = 1994
city = Florence, Kentucky
cap
current league =Frontier League
current division= East
past league =
uniform =
currentname = Florence Freedom (2003-present)
* Johnstown Johnnies (1998-2002)
* Johnstown Steal (1995-1998)
* Erie Sailors (1994)
past league =
colors = Black, Red, White, Silver
ballpark = Champion Window Field
leaguechamps = 3 (1994, 1995, 2000)
divisionchamps = 3 (1995, 1997, 2000)
owner = Clint Brown
manager = Jamie Keefe
gm =
media =Cincinnati Enquirer
website = http://www.florencefreedom.com florencefreedom.comThe Florence Freedom is a professional baseball team based in the
Northern Kentucky city of Florence, in theUnited States . The Freedom is a member of the East Division of theFrontier League , which is not affiliated withMajor League Baseball . From the 2004 season to the present, the Freedom have played their home games atChampion Window Field , which is located near the Interstates 71 and 75.History
Before 2003, the team played at
Point Stadium inJohnstown, Pennsylvania and was known as the "Johnnies." The team moved to Johnstown fromErie, Pennsylvania in 1995 and was known as the "Steal" until the 1998 season. In 2000, the Johnnies won the Frontier League championship. The team was sold after the 2002 season and moved to Florence, where it became known as the Freedom.The Freedom played its 2003 home games at
Foundation Field inHamilton, Ohio , about 30 miles north of Cincinnati, while the ownership group was building a new stadium (Champion Window Field ) in Florence.=Frontier League All-Star Game=On the nights of July 11-12, Champion Window field home of the Freedom, hosted it's first all star game,with eastern division winning 4-3. Players representing the Freedom (Beau Blacken,and Reggie Watson)had two of the four runs for the East.
The team is currently tied with the
Rockford RiverHawks for total league championships, with three each (includes seasons played in Erie and Johnstown).Chuck Hildebrandt
In 2004, the owner of the Freedom, Chuck Hildebrandt, was charged with fraud and eventually sent to prison. This was not his first felony conviction. His wife, Connie Hildebrandt, was also under investigation but not prosecuted. Connie soon moved out of state. Creditors building the stadium were out more than $3 million. In 2005, the team was bought by Northern Kentucky businessman Clint Brown.
Changes in 2008
In early 2008 the Freedom changed their primary colors from red, white, and blue to black, red, and silver.
easons
Official websites
* [http://www.florencefreedom.com/ Florence Freedom]
* [http://www.frontierleague.com/ Frontier League]Official websites
* [http://www.oursportscentral.com/sports/?t_id=1084 Freedom page at OurSports Central]
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