Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The story of Robin Roberts Stadium, now 100 years old and headed for ownership by a new nonprofit foundation, is going back to the beginning.

“The stadium was built by a privately organized group, the Springfield Fans, and it would be kind of appropriate for it to come back into operation by at least a semi public operation as opposed to government,” said Mike Kienzler, who edits SangamonLink for the Sangamon County Historical Society.

Kienzler says the public collected $30,000 to put up the park in baseball’s heyday, during a time when the North End was really the center of community activity.

The ballpark hosted minor league professional baseball from its opening until the early 1950’s, taking a break until the late 1970’s. The Lucky Horseshoes, and before them the Sliders, are made up of top college talent looking to get experience with wooden bats — and maybe catch the eye of a pro scout or two.