Work begins to renovate Beyer Stadium at Maybelle Blair Park in south Rockford

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The International Women’s Baseball Center on Monday celebrated a milestone in its effort to renovate the historic Beyer Stadium and energize a love of the game for women and girls here and across the world.

The nonprofit marked the ceremonial groundbreaking on the first phase of a three-part plan to overhaul the grounds at 15th Avenue and Seminary Street where the Rockford Peaches once played.

“This groundbreaking and this field is not about grass and dugouts and bleachers. It’s about the stories, the dreams of those thousands of young ladies who have played here and are going to continue to get that opportunity as we have the chance to bring together the past, the present and the future all in one place,” said Leslie Heaphy, president of the IWBC. “We have this opportunity to dream big, to show people what is possible.”

The groundbreaking was attended by local dignitaries, founding members of the IWBC, dozens of supporters and 98-year-old women’s baseball icon Maybelle Blair. The park surrounding the stadium, 245 15th Ave., has been renamed in Blair’s honor. The grounds are now called Beyer Stadium at Maybelle Blair Park.

“For most of my life, I dreamed about girls having more opportunities in baseball and about someday building a home where our history is preserved as a place where girls and women can come to learn and play the game,” Blair said. “Today that dream comes true. We are finally putting a shovel in the ground at the first ever home of women’s baseball.”

Blair, who has been a lifelong advocate for girls in sports, pitched in 1948 for the Rockford Peaches’ rival Peoria Redwings in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.

“There’s only one place for women’s baseball and that’s in Rockford. Rockford is where it all started,” Blair said. “I’m a Peoria Redwing, I hated the Rockford Peaches. To this day I sort of hate them, but I sort of look over it now.”

There were 11 gold-colored shovels stuck into the dirt for the ceremonial groundbreaking. One was left unused in honor of Shirley Burkovich, a trailblazing former Rockford Peaches player who was also a founding director of the International Women’s Baseball Center. Burkovich died in March 2022 at age 91.

The ceremony took place with a backdrop of construction already underway. Work being led by general contractor Scandroli Construction Co. started in late September with the removal of old fencing and turf and the start of field grading.

New restrooms have already been completed at the site. Other work includes underground stormwater and irrigation improvements, electrical upgrades, a new retaining wall, sodding, bleachers, a scoreboard, Musco lighting foundations and poles, batting cages, pitching areas and a press box. There will also be sidewalks, updates to the historic ticket booth entrance and landscaping.

There will also be nine commemorative memorials honoring individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to women’s baseball.

The work is expected to be complete in 2026.

“Women’s baseball has been an important part of Rockford’s story and this project will preserve that legacy for generations to come,” said state Sen. Steve Stadelman, who secured $400,000 in state funds to support the project. “The growth of women’s baseball creates a more inclusive and vibrant community for everyone. Future generations of girls will take advantage of opportunities to improve their skills and personal growth that will extend far beyond a baseball field.”

The project has numerous sources of donor funding, including six-figure donations or more from Major League Baseball, Michael Grossman, J&M Plating, the Perks Family Foundation and the Smith Family Charitable Foundation. The city of Rockford also contributed $1.5 million over five years.

The project got a major boost this summer with a $2 million gift from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, which was founded by the husband and wife who own the New York Mets. It also received an additional $350,000 grant from the Amazin’ Mets Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the New York Mets. The Cohen bleachers and the Amazin’ Mets Foundation Press Box honor those commitments.

“Today is the beginning of a new era. The IWBC, along with its partners and supporters, put shovels in the ground on a three-phased, $30 million project,” said Kat Williams, CEO of the IWBC. “But this ceremony does not simply mark the beginning of construction – it highlights the hopes and dreams of girls and women around the world.”

The next phase is a $22.8 million activity center and museum designed by world-renowned architect Jeanne Gang of Belvidere. It will be located across Seminary Street, overlooking Beyer Stadium at Maybelle Blair Park. The $3 million third phase covers the artifacts and exhibits in the museum hall. One of the highlights is a 1947 Greyhound bus used by the Rockford Peaches.

“Once complete this will be a vibrant space for many generations to come. It will be a destination attracting visitors and strengthening our city’s role in baseball,” Mayor Tom McNamara said. “Together we are ensuring that Rockford’s legacy and women’s baseball continues to grow for years to come.”

The construction comes ahead of a major summer for girls and women’s baseball in Rockford. The largest girls baseball tournament in the country will be played in the region next summer, including games at Beyer Stadium. That tournament, the Baseball For All Nationals, will bring roughly 800 players from across the U.S., Canada, Australia and other countries here in mid-July. At the same time,  the Women’s Baseball World Cup group stage will showcase teams from around the world at Rivets Stadium in Loves Park. It’s only the second time the event has ever been played in the country.

“When we were laughed at and told — ‘you’re wasting your time, no one is going to travel to Rockford, Illinois, to see women’s baseball’ — we ignored them. And now the whole damn world is coming here next July,” Williams said.

Blair, who lives in California, said she too will be back for the games.

“I will be here come hell or high water,” she said. “Even if I’m in my casket, I’m going to be here.”

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas