The International Women’s Baseball Center and local leaders gathered July 18 to celebrate the grand re-opening of Beyer Stadium at Maybelle Blair Park.
The event celebrated the efforts of the center’s founders, donors and partners to honor the legacy of sports trailblazer Maybelle Blair, the Rockford Peaches and the past, present and future of women’s baseball.
The park is the first of three phases of a nearly $33 million mission that includes the construction of a state-of-the-art sports and community center and immersive museum that overlooks the park and stadium.
“We created the International Women’s Baseball Center. We, Maybelle Blair, Karen Kunkel, Jane Moffet, Mary Moore, Shirley Burkovich, Donna Cohen, and I sat in Maybelle’s living room to right a wrong, to fill a void, to create an organization that would preserve the history of all women’s baseball internationally,” said the center’s CEO Kat Williams. “This facility will serve young people in the community, attract visitors from near and far to Rockford, and with your continued support, we look forward to completing the full six-acre campus right here in Rockford’s south side.”
While Beyer Stadium was once home to the Rockford Peaches, the park has been renamed after Blair, a former rival who played on the Peoria Redwings in 1948.
Blair was unable to travel to Rockford for the celebration due to an injury, but she sent word through Cohen, that “If it wasn’t for Rockford, we wouldn’t be here. I love you all.”
The opening featured a ribbon cutting, speeches and an inaugural game.
Renovations at Beyer Stadium
Completed renovations include installation of the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation Bleachers, the Amazin’ Mets Foundation Press Box, Daktronics scoreboard, new Musco lighting, infield and outfield fencing with foul poles, a regraded and sodded natural grass playing surface and restored ticket booth.
Other upgrades at Maybelle Blair Park include landscaping, paving, retaining walls, sidewalks, and a public park beyond the left field fence. The park features a peach orchard in honor of the Rockford Peaches.
The completion of Beyer Stadium at Maybelle Blair Park is the first of a three-phase comprehensive vision designed by Belvidere, Illinois, native Jeanne Gang, a world-renowned architect and founding partner of Studio Gang.
Once completed, the campus is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of athletes and visitors annually.
The lead donor to the Beyer Stadium restoration is the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, which made a gift of $2 million.
“Thanks to our generous donors and partners, Beyer Stadium at Maybelle Blair Park now features a beautiful new stadium, field and family park that are wonderful resources for the community,” Williams said. “As we look to events like the WBSC Women Baseball World Cup next week in Rockford, Beyer Stadium will also be enjoyed by visiting fans and athletes from the region, nation and around the world.”
The celebration continues
The grand re-opening of Beyer Stadium at Maybelle Blair Park comes as the Rockford area prepares to welcome women’s baseball players from all over the world to compete in the World Baseball Softball Confederation Women’s Baseball World Cup Group Stage, scheduled for July 22-26 at Rivets Stadium in Loves Park.
The tournament will feature six of the world’s top-ranked national teams from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Korea, and Hong Kong, China.
The five-day tournament will follow a round-robin format with three games scheduled each day at 11 a.m., 3 p.m., and 7 p.m. Team USA will play each day at 7 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased at iwbc.org/worldcup. One-day tickets are $25. Single game tickets are $10. Kids under six are free. An all-week pass costs $95.
The World Cup also will have promotional theme nights including Global Spirit Night on July 22, Baseball for All Night on July 23, The Sports Bra Night on July 24, Mascot and Superhero Night on July 25, and Rockford Region Night to end World Cup week on July 26.
The second group stage of the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup will be played Aug. 23-27, 2026, in Tainan, Taiwan at the Secondary Field of the Asia Pacific International Baseball Complex.
The WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup 2026/2027 is being played under a two-stage competition format. The top three teams from each group stage will advance to the finals, which will be hosted July 19-25, 2027 in Rockford.
Taylor Ponto is a freelance contributor to the Rockford Register Star.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford celebrates Beyer Stadium at Maybelle Blair Park reopening
Reporting by Taylor Ponto, Special to the Rockford Register Star / Rockford Register Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Taylor Ponto, Special to the Rockford Register Star | USA TODAY Network
