Campaign begins for $7M International Women's Baseball Center
ROCKFORD — City and women's baseball officials on Thursday unveiled a series of summertime events that will ring in the 75th anniversary of the Rockford Peaches and raise money to keep the historical significance of the sport alive.
The baseball-themed activities — which coincide with and are endorsed by the state's bicentennial celebration — are set to begin on May 30, the 75th anniversary to-the-day of the first All-American Girls Professional Baseball League games that took place in Rockford and Racine, Wisconsin.
The announcement also officially kick-started a $7 million capital campaign to establish the International Women's Baseball Center, a museum and training facility that will be located across the street from Beyer Stadium, the former playing field of the Rockford Peaches. The money would cover building construction, museum materials and programming and would be generated by donations, fundraising and sponsorship opportunities during — and leading up to — the 75th anniversary events.
The Rockford IceHogs are helping the campaign get started Friday evening with "Rockford Peaches night" during their Pink in the Rink 7 p.m. game against the Ontario Reign. The team will wear specially designed Peaches jerseys, and $5 of the $15 entry tickets to the game will go to the IWBC.
"There are a lot of people who want to see this (project) succeed," IWBC President Kat Williams said.
To kick off the anniversary celebration on May 30, the Coronado Performing Arts Center will host "Diamonds, Denim and Stars," a fundraiser celebration beginning at 6 p.m. It is the only event that is not free to the public.
On tap for Friday, June 1 through Sunday, June 3 is a free Friday Night Flix screening at Davis Park of "A League of Their Own," the film that immortalized our Rockford Peaches, a Peaches day at City Market, Peaches-themed food and drinks at East State Street businesses, an exhibition game and more.
"The celebration will remind us of that summertime family fun that we like to hark back to," Sheryl Hall, one of the celebration co-chairs, said at the City Hall announcement. "It will give us all a chance to have fun in a family-friendly environment."
For $5,000, sponsors can team up with several "A League of Their Own" stars and tee up against the Rockford Starfires in an exhibition game at Beyer Stadium scheduled for Saturday, June 2. Megan Cavanagh, Renee Coleman, Anne Cusack, Patti Pelton, Anne Ramsay, Tracy Reiner and Bitty Schram are some of the confirmed cast members.
Other sponsorship opportunities are available. Information and ways to donate can be found online at internationalwomensbaseballcenter.org.
"I know that our business community will step up to the plate as they always do,” Mayor Tom McNamara said.
While the fundraising for the museum is underway, there's not yet a timeline for construction.
"I'd like to take a shovel out there right now, but we are not willing to embark on a project of this magnitude until we very financially secure that we can do it and have a big chunk of that money so we can get it started," Williams said.
The museum's educational components may be seen ahead of the brick-and-mortar building, Williams said. The museum will introduce programs to area schools that will use baseball and Rockford's sports history as a teaching tool. The lesson plans will be created by the IWBC and EDU Academy, which provides outreach between museums and schools.
"Everything we do is built around education," Williams said. "We want to create lesson plans using baseball as the foundation. It's not just about baseball — it's about local baseball. We want to bring this educational program to the Rockford area, to the local schools."
Rockford and Beyer Stadium have both been tourist destinations due to the Peaches' international recognition, and this year's celebrations will carry that legacy forward, said John Groh, president/CEO of the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.
"This year, during the 75th anniversary of the team, we look forward to welcoming even more visitors and for our citizens to celebrate this amazing team and their legacy," he said. "The citywide celebration provides a great opportunity to reconnect with our baseball heritage, celebrate the Peaches and support the International Women's Baseball Center."
Adam Poulisse: 815-987-1344; apoulisse@rrstar.com; @adampoulisse