SABR Field of Dreams Iowa Chapter dedicates historical marker for Council Bluffs ballpark
On Thursday, June 25, 2026, the SABR Field of Dreams Chapter in Iowa hosted a dedication ceremony for the installation of a historical marker where a significant ballpark in Council Bluffs once stood.
Built in 1910, Broadway/Legion Park hosted local, amateur, semipro, Negro League, and professional teams. Over its nearly 50-year history, 25 future Baseball Hall of Famers appeared at the park, including Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson, Bob Feller, Dizzy Dean, and Ernie Banks. From 1946–1948, at least six Negro American League games involving the Kansas City Monarchs were played there, which are now recognized as major league games. It was also the home field for the Class A Omaha Cardinals and the Southwestern Iowa Baseball Tournament, one of the largest amateur tournaments in the country. Click here to learn more about the ballpark’s history.
The dedication ceremony featured guest speakers including Council Bluffs Mayor Jill Shudak, Omaha Storm Chasers President/GM Martie Cordaro, SABR’s John Shorey, and former Kansas City Monarchs batboy Dean Wood, along with a baseball memorabilia display provided by the Marsh Collection.
SABR members, friends, and family also attended a Triple-A baseball game that evening between the Omaha Storm Chasers and the Columbus Clippers at Werner Park in nearby Omaha, Nebraska.
The Field of Dreams Chapter was a recipient of a SABR Local Grant in 2026 for this project. Click here to learn more about the Local Grants program.
Click here for a photo gallery from the event at Flickr.com.
Originally published: June 29, 2026. Last Updated: June 29, 2026.