List of baseball parks in Rockford, Illinois

Last updated

This is a list of venues used for professional baseball in Rockford, Illinois. The information is a compilation of the information contained in the references listed.

Ticket booth at Beyer Stadium Beyer stadium rockford.JPG
Ticket booth at Beyer Stadium
The Commons
Occupant: Forest Citys – independent (1865)
Location: North Whitman Street (southwest); Church Street (southeast)
Currently: Residential
Sources: Filichia, Benson
ballpark unknown
Occupants: Rockford – 2 clubs – Northwestern League 1869–1870
Source: Filichia
Agricultural Society Fair Grounds later renamed Fairgrounds Park
Occupants:
Forest City – independent (1866–1870), NA (1871 only)
Rockford White Stockings – Northwestern League 1879 only
Location:
Original boundaries: Oak (now Acorn) Street (north); Pecatonica Street and Cherry Street (northeast); buildings and Horsman Street (east); Mulberry Street (south); Kent Creek and St. Paul Railroad (later Milwaukee Road) tracks (west)
Current boundaries: Harkins Aquatic Center and Acorn Street (north); Kilburn Avenue, buildings and Horsman Street (east); West Jefferson Street aka Business US-20 (south); and Mulberry Street, Kent Creek and railroad tracks (west) – address 900 West Jefferson Street
Sources: Filichia, Benson, Lowry, contemporary maps, Google Maps
North Church Street Grounds
Occupant: Rockford – Central Inter-State League (1888 only)
Location: somewhere on North Church Street (potentially same area as The Commons)
Source: Filichia, local newspapers
West End Park
Occupant: Rockford Hustlers – Illinois–Iowa League (1891–1892)
Location: uncertain
Source: Filichia, local newspapers
Riverside Park
Occupants:
Rockford Reds (aka Nicol Platers – manager Hugh Nicol) / Forest City / Rough Riders – Western Association (1895–1899)
Rockford Red Sox – Three-I League (1901–1904)
Rockford Reds / Hottentots / Indignants / Wolverines – Wisconsin-Illinois League (1908–1912)
Original location listed as north of Auburn Street (city limits) at B Avenue and Melrose Street
Final location listed as Fulton Avenue (north); Oxford Street (east); Van Wie Avenue (south); Cumberland Street (west)
Sources: Filichia, local newspapers, city directories
Kishwaukee Park aka Rockford Base Ball Park – sold to Rockford High School in December 1923
Occupants:
Rockford Indignants (aka Drys) / Wolves – Wisconsin-Illinois League (1913)
Rockford Wakes (aka Rox 1917) – Three-I League (1915 - mid-1917) (league disbanded)
Rockford Rox (aka Bells / Rocks) – Three-I League (1919–1923)
Location: 311-335 15th Avenue; just east of Seminary Street
Sources: Filichia, local newspapers, city directories
Rockford Municipal Stadium aka 15th Avenue Stadium - renamed Beyer Stadium, 1948
Occupants:
Rockford Peaches – All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (1943–1954)
Rockford High School baseball, football, track and field
Location: same as Kishwaukee Park - 311 15th Avenue (north, left field); Seminary Street (west, third base); entrance booth at 15th and Seminary
Sources: Filichia, local newspapers, city directories
Rox Park or 15th Avenue Park
Occupant: Rockford Rox (aka Rocks) – Central Association (1947–1949)
Location: adjacent to Beyer Stadium, just to the east
Currently: Beyer Early Childhood Center and parking lots
Source: local newspapers
Marinelli Field
Occupants:
Rockford Expos / Royals / Cubbies / Reds – Midwest League (1988–1999)
Rockford RiverHawksFrontier League (2002–2005)
Location: at the north end of Blackhawk Park – 15th Avenue (north, right field); Nelson Boulevard and Rock River (west, left field) – about 4 blocks west of Beyer Stadium – address is 101 15th Avenue
Sources: Filichia, Benson, Google Maps
Aviators Stadium now known as Rivets Stadium; orig. RiverHawks Stadium, then Road Ranger Stadium
Occupants:
Rockford RiverHawks – Frontier League (2006–2009)
Rockford RiverHawks [[Northern League (baseball, 1993–2010)|Northern League] (2010 only)
Rockford RiverHawks / Aviators – Frontier League (2011–2015)
Location: Loves Park, Illinois – 4503 Interstate Boulevard (west, third base); Orth Road (north, left field); Paladin Parkway (east, right field); Commerce Drive (south, first base)

See also

Related Research Articles

Beyer Stadium

The Beyer Stadium, one mile from downtown in Rockford, Illinois, was the home of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League's Rockford Peaches from 1943 to 1954.

The Rockford Rox was the primary moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Rockford, Illinois between 1871 and 1949. In an era of early baseball, Rockford hosted teams in numerous leagues beginning in 1871. From 1916 to 1923, the Rox played in the Class B level Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League, and from 1947 to 1949, they played in the Class C level Central Association. The Rockford Rox were preceded by the Rockford Red Sox (1901–1904) and Rockford Wakes (1914–1916) in the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League. Several other Rockford teams played in various leagues leading up to the Rox. The Rockford Rox were an affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds from 1947 to 1949.

References