Last fall we visited League Stadium in Huntingburg, Indiana. League Stadium is where the 1992 hit movie A League of Their Own, starring Tom Hanks and Geena Davis, was filmed. Today the Dubois County Bombers summer collegiate baseball league team plays in the stadium. However, our 2016 visit was post-season. The college players had gone back to school. The Rockford Peaches and Racine Belles from the movie were long gone. Even the vintage billboard signs had been taken down for maintenance. As I stood in the stands, I could only imagine a baseball game being played in the retro-style League Stadium.

This summer my imagined game became reality. Not only did we see the Dubois County Bombers play; it was also the 25^th anniversary of A League of Their Own. The Rockford Peaches played a “rematch” game against the Racine Belles. In fact, Bitty Schram, the actress who played the Rockford Peach who cried during the game, came back for the anniversary celebration. Following the rematch game, we stayed for a Dubois County Bombers regular season game.

On this year’s visit to League Stadium the vintage billboards were back in place. Uniforms were back in the movie set lockers. And the packed stands brought life to the retro stadium.

Fun fact: League Stadium, an $800,000 project, is the largest prop ever built and left behind at the end of a movie filming.

All Dubois County Bombers games include lots of family-fun activities between innings. But the 25th anniversary game also included special pre-game fun and photo opportunities.

Peaches-Belles rematch

In A League of Their Own, the final World Series game was against the Racine Belles. The Racine Belles won that game. Now, 25 years later, the Belles took an early lead, and it stayed that way throughout most of the game. It looked like the Belles would win again. But late in the game, the Peaches rallied and tied. The game ended at 8-8.

During the game, one of the players started to cry, just like in the movie. In A League of Their Own, Evelyn Gardner, played by Bitty Schram, began to cry. Manager Jimmy Dugan, played by Tom Hanks, yells, “There’s no crying in baseball!” This time it was Bitty Schram who scolded the player, yelling the same words: “There’s no crying in baseball!”

Dubois County Bombers End the Season on Top

Following the Peaches vs. Rockford rematch, the Dubois County Bombers took the field for a regular season game. Bitty Schram threw the first pitch.

Although there had been quite a crowd for the A League of Their Own 25th anniversary celebration, it seemed to me the stadium got even more crowded for the Dubois County Bombers game. The team has quite a following. And in 2017 they ended the season as champions of the Ohio Valley Summer Collegiate Baseball League.

The Peaches Haven’t Left

Although the Peaches don’t play regular games at League Stadium, they cheer on the Dubois County Bombers at every home game. At League Stadium, every night is Throwback Night. How fun it is to take a step back in time in the retro 1940s stadium that Hollywood left in Huntingburg.

If you visit League Stadium

League Stadium is located in Huntingburg City Park, at 203 S Cherry Street in Huntingburg, Indiana. The Dubois County Bombers play June and July in League Stadium. Watch the team’s website for the 2018 schedule.

Accommodations

During our visit to Huntingburg we stayed at the Hampton Inn Jasper. Check hotel rates.

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Disclosures: Visit Dubois County hosted our visit to League Stadium and the “League of Their Own” 25th anniversary celebration. However, any opinions expressed in this article are my own.
This article contains affiliate links. If you book a room through the “Check hotel rates” link above , I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

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