A League of Their Own, the 1992 Hollywood movie about the Rockford Peaches, and the 2022 Amazon Prime series, give a glimpse of baseball history. The Rockford Peaches, a professional women’s baseball team, played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) from 1943 to 1954. The first professionally organized team sport for women in the U.S., the Rockford Peaches, one of the most successful teams in league history, won four championships.
On a hosted trip to Rockford, I saw the authentic story of the Peaches along the Peaches trail. Go Rockford Peaches, a website for the city of Rockford states, “The Rockford Peaches was a dedicated team of young women who loved the game of baseball and entertained thousands of fans while professional MLB teams struggled during WWII as many of the men left to fight the war. The girls played in skirts, toughing the infamous “strawberries” suffered when sliding into bases. They played over 110 games from May to September with only a few days of rest. They took all-night bus rides arriving to sleep just a few hours before games. These girls were dedicated and could play ball!”
Check out the history along the Rockford Fan Trail, plus additional Peaches finds!
1. Midway Village Museum
Midway Village Museum offers the “Girls of Summer” exhibit, which provides authentic Peaches memorabilia including uniforms, gloves, trophies, bats, pictures, and stories of players. Patrick O’Keefe, the executive director at Midway Village said, “The Peaches exhibit has been here for 12-15 years. We have people stop here regularly on their way on I-90 that don’t know about Rockford, or Midway Village, but know we have the Peaches exhibit.”
Each year, Peaches reenactors play baseball in the commons, the green space at the Victorian Village. “Go to the website to see when it will be in the spring,” Patrick said.
Most Peaches players were between the age of 17 and 22 and were away from home for the first time. They were required to act in a feminine manner, and the League held a “charm school” for the players! There are photos and the code of conduct they had to adhere to on display.
Despite the strict requirements, Patrick O’Keefe added, “The Rockford Peaches gave women access and opportunities during a time when they probably would not have had them in the past. It was the foundation and the beginning of women’s sports.”
Pro Tip: Try the pasta bosco at Alchemy at Aldeen Golf Course near Midway Village!
2. Beyer Stadium
Outfitted in their peach-colored dresses featuring the Rockford city seal on the chest, red socks, and a cap, the Rockford Peaches played their home games at Beyer Stadium. The Peaches were organized in 1943 by Cubs owner Phil Wrigley.
Beyer Stadium was first Kishwaukee Park and later became Beyer Stadium. Named for Charles A. Beyer, a Rockford High School coach.
Today, Beyer Stadium is home to the Rockford Starfires Women’s Hardball/Baseball League. Historians can enjoy the original ticket booth and historical placards. League champions in 1945, 1948, 1949, and 1950, friends of Beyer Stadium helped restore the original field, adding historical markings and signs to the area.
Pro Tip: Stay at Riverside Embassy Suites. Opened in 2020 and located along the Rock Riverfront, formerly the headquarters of a worldwide cabinet hardware company, this was once the tallest building in Rockford. On the National Register of Historic Places, luxurious rooms have an industrial feel. Enjoy an amazing hot breakfast and evening reception.
3. Peaches Mural
View the Rockford Peaches in action at the Peaches Mural in Rockford’s Midtown district. Designed by artists Jenny Ustick and Atalie Gagnet, the artwork features six former players, Dorothy “Dottie” Green, Dorothy “Dottie” or “Kammie” Kamenshek, Dorothy Key, Dorothy “Snookie” Harrell, Mildred “Millie” Deegan, and Amy Appelegren. The mural is part of the CRE8IV Transformational public art project.
Pro Tip: This is one of several murals, so make sure to enjoy artwork throughout the city!
4. Downtown Rockford
Stores in downtown Rockford like Rockford Art Deli offer Rockford Peaches t-shirts and other souvenirs. There are other enjoyable shops downtown, and dining spots as well.
Pro Tip: While downtown, stop at Rockford City Hall to see the beautiful architecture.
5. Coronado Performing Arts Center
The Rockford Peaches often went to the Coronado Performing Arts Center for recreation/entertainment. During a scene in the series, A League of Their Own, the Peaches watch the Wizard of Oz at the theater. The series premiere was held at the Coronado over the July 4, 2022 weekend!
The Coronado website describes its history like a Hollywood story, “The dream of Willard Van Matre and the Rockford Enterprises Group, the Coronado Theatre in Rockford, Illinois opened its doors in 1927. The ornately decorated Coronado was a mammoth undertaking, requiring 18 months to construct and costing roughly $1.5 million. Over the years, the “Wonder Theatre” hosted show business legends: the Marx Brothers, Tommy Dorsey, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, George Gershwin, Bob Hope, Talullah Bankhead, and even Gypsy Rose Lee. Orchestras, plays, concerts, silent films, “talkies,” political rallies, and high school graduations all took place on the stage of the Coronado beneath twinkling stars, surrounded by a fanciful Mediterranean landscape.”
Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, the theater’s last movie played in 1984. Kerasotes generously donated the theater to the City of Rockford. Through the efforts of the Friends of the Coronado, and others, the Coronado was brought back to life. Coronado was voted the number one Architectural Wonder of the United States in an AOL/US Travel Association poll in 2010.
Besides musical performances and comedy acts, consider booking a tour to see the seats where the Rockford Peaches sat and relaxed.
Pro Tip: Not far from the Coronado, stop at Sister’s Thai Café for wonderful cuisine.
6. Woodfire Pizza
At Woodfire Pizza, you can order wood-fired oven barbecue pizza with peach sauce in honor of the Rockford Peaches. My sister Debbie and I enjoyed the havarti coccoli bites and white prosciutto with arugula pizza.
Pro Tip: The Prairie Street Brewing Company offers peach wheat beer to commemorate the Rockford Peaches. Closed when we were there, I hope to try this sometime!
7. Sinnissippi Park
Sinnissippi is a historic park where the Peaches would attend picnics that were often hosted by their fans. They sometimes played short games at a ball diamond once located at the park. “The diamond would have been near the pickleball court,” Mike Phelps, a worker at the park shared.
The Peaches may have picnicked near the former police station that was once an open-air pavilion, and now serves as a public works building. “This building has a lot of stories to tell. I just wish I could hear them,” Mike said.
Mike pointed out The Refractory, a turn-of-the-century gazebo here when the Peaches visited. The park is also famous for its bandshell where music is offered during the summer.
Pro Tip: The Rock River Recreation Trail winds through downtown Rockford offering a paved trail along the river.
8. Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens
While Nicholas Conservatory is not a true historic stop for the Rockford Peaches, they include a mural in their lobby of the Peaches. Located along the Rock River, Nicholas Conservatory & Garden is the third-largest conservatory in Illinois.
Pro Tip: Garden enthusiasts will enjoy a visit to the Anderson Japanese Gardens, open from May to October.
Come to Rockford, Illinois for Rockford Peaches history. Learn the real story and see some beautiful Rockford sites while in town.