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July 7, 1961: Satchel Paige and the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Baseball League play an exhibition game against the Danville Boosters. On his 55th birthday, Paige pitched three scoreless innings in relief, striking out four in a row at one point.
1977-1981: The Danville Roosters played in the Central Illinois Collegiate League.
July 1-12, 1991: Filming of“ The Babe,” a movie about the larger-than-life Babe Ruth, takes place at the stadium. Danville Stadium is transformed to look like Fenway Park in Boston and Forbes Field in Pittsburgh.
1988: The Danville Dans begin play in the Central Illinois Collegiate League. Now entering their 36th season, they are part of the Prospect League.
July 9, 2011: In celebrating the 65th anniversary of Danville Stadium, the press box was named in honor of Fowler Connell( retired sports editor of Commercial-News and broadcaster with WDAN, covering games since the early 1950’ s) and Bob Kay( who as a batboy retrieved baseballs off the stadium roof and was later long-time baseball coach for Danville High School, then also part of the WDAN broadcast team).
2018: Thanks to a generous donation by Julius W. Hegeler, II Foundation, a new fixed-digit scoreboard and videoboard was installed. The videoboard – built by Watchfire here in Danville – is 8’ tall x 36’ wide, with the capability to display photos and movie clips.
July 20, 2019: The original Danville Dodgers uniform worn by Carl Erskine batboy John Dowling was presented to the Dans by his children following John and his wife’ s death the previous year.
2021: The 75th anniversary of the stadium is celebrated Special events included a commemoration of the visit by the Brooklyn Dodgers on June 20, and a 75th anniversary celebration on July 24.
2023: The baseball from the old scoreboard is mounted on the wall above the main gates.
Now Available in the Beer Room at Danville Stadium!
18 2025 DANVILLE DANS Official Program