The Rockford Foresters, an amateur team, were formed by owner and team president Joe Stefani of Three Strikes Baseball and other investors including a former owner of the American Hockey League's Rockford IceHogs.
Those who have signed professional contracts are ineligible to play in summer amateur leagues.
The Rockford Foresters drew 921 fans for their opener, a 3–2 win over the Chicago Zephyrs.
In 2011, the Foresters took their team to the Championship Series, where they lost in game three against the Will County CrackerJacks.
Former Wood Bat Players who have played in different leagues in Illinois include Jonathan Papelbon, Neal Cotts, Kirby Puckett, Ryan Howard, and Joe Girardi.