After close to 60 years, women's baseball is back at Beyer Stadium, gang!
Confused as to why that's important? Beyer Stadium in Rockford, Illinois was once the home to the plucky (and thanks to the movie "A League of Their Own"…famous) Rockford Peaches and over the Labor Day weekend will play host to the Women's Midwest Invitational.
But here's the rub. Up until recently, the stadium had been nothing more than the park's original 1925 front gate, some all stone steps and grass. Lots of grass. You see, nearly the entire thing had been razed. Now, it's got a new backstop, dugouts and a scoreboard. Suffice it to say…it's ready for action.
"(Saturday's tournament game) will be the first game out here since 1954 with organized women's baseball since the Peaches league folded," said Greg Schwanke, the fella in charge of the restoration.
"This is such an exciting tournament for Rockford to host," said John Groh, president of Rockford's convention and visitors bureau. "Many of us only know women's baseball through the movie. Bringing Beyer back to life pays homage to our history and offers a new outlet for fans and players to rally around a Rockford sports tradition."
Oh, and who is going to take part in this historic occasion? The inaugural tournament will consist of the Rockford Starfires, South Bend Blue Socks, New England Red Sox, Washington (D.C.) Thunder, Chicago Gems and Australia's Aussie Hearts.
Sure, a far cry from the days of Hall of Famers Dorothy Kamenshek and Dottie Key, but, still…pretty cool.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8uCsQX1Wejo
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