Peaches’ Legacy Strong As Ever in Rockford – Ryan Woodward, IWBC
While touring historic Beyer Stadium with a first time visitor this past weekend, I was reminded of what a special place it is for so many of us. My own first visit to Beyer, nearly 15 years ago, had me walking the basepaths, picturing all the amazing athletes who p
layed here, and of course, taking multiple photos of the original ticket booth. Though 70 years have passed since the All-American League ceased operations, it’s heartwarming to see how the Rockford area continues to remember its hometown heroes.
Throughout this year, I was thrilled to see the Peaches honored and celebrated by local teams including the Rockford Rivets, Beloit SkyCarp, Lil Peaches Girls Baseball, and the Rockford Icehogs. Beyond the playing field, Rockford was treated to an original musical, The Girls of Summer, performed by The Studio Rockford and Midway Village Museum’s annual World War II Days always features the Rockford Peaches. Ernie’s Midtown Pub teamed up with the Rockford Public Library to screen A League of Their Own and our own Maybelle Blair was a special guest at the Hard Rock Casino grand opening and a meet & greet with fans at Oscar’s Pub & Grill. An exhibit curated by John Kovach, Chasing A Dream: The Story of Girls & Women in Baseball as well as a talk by author Barbara Gregorich highlighted the Peaches and both events were hosted by Rockford University. For my part, I was honored to present on the Peaches legacy and how it connects to modern day women’s baseball projects at the Rockford Rotary Club, Rock Valley College’s Center for Learning in Retirement, and the 9 Online virtual conference.
This level of celebration and interest is a huge testament to the Peaches’ impact on the Rockford community and baseball fans alike. Not a week goes by when Beyer Stadium does not welcome visitors, typically from out of town, who make a pilgramage of sorts to this historic venue. IWBC’s efforts to improve the facilities during the off-season, supported by local government and donors, will attract more events to the already growing calendar. Stay tuned to our website for announcements of these events and plan to visit Beyer Stadium in 2025.