Rockford Rewind: Peaches Fans

The Rockford Peaches entertained fans during World War II. Even though the league folded in 1954...Peaches fans saved memorabilia for decades. Fans like Sharon Kitzmiller Hollembeck.  She collected autographs from players during home games. Midway Village Museum Curator of Education Mark Herman says, "She would get the players to sign the back of her jacket. Then her mother, when she went home would embroider over top of the signatures. "

For 15-year old Charlene Tomenellie, going to a Peaches game meant coming home with a raffle prize. Herman says, "This was a prize given at a Rockford Peaches baseball game for fans that happened to be there that night. A local furniture company happened to sponsor the night and that was a give away."  Another fan saved this private photo book filled with pictures of Peaches players. "These are one of kind photographs and they were snapshots taken with a brownie camera." says Herman.  The Peaches were one of the best teams in the league winning four league championships. In the 1950's, television became very popular in American homes which ultimately led to the end of the league.