The Southern Illinois Miners was an independent professional baseball team that attracted talent from all over the world, competing in a state-of-the-art stadium that was often full to bursting, hosting millions of visitors over the organization's existence.At the helm of the endeavor were owners Jayne and John Simmons and manager Mike Pinto. From 2007 through 2021, their vision and commitment to excellence produced results no one thought possible.When people experience an exceptional period of time, you often hear them say they only realized how meaningful it was in retrospect. That was not the case here. All involved knew how special it was to be creating magic in Southern Illinois surrounded by their chosen family.The deep bonds of all of those involved remain to this day - and will hold strong for years to come; once a Miner, always a Miner, they say. This is their story.