Pearl Field, the home field of Iowa's softball program, was dedicated on October 2, 1999, in honor of the late Robert L. Pearl. In the fall of 2002, pro-style sunken dugouts were added, along with the addition of 500 permanent seats, bringing the grandstand capacity to 1,500.
(courtesy hawkeyesports.com)
Bob Pearl
1937 - 2001
Achievements
- The First African-American baseball player at the University of Iowa and longtime supporter of Hawkeye softball
- He was the first black pitcher to ever graduate from a Big Ten school and went on and play professional baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals farm team in Estherville
- He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1960 with bachelors of arts degrees in geography and business
- He served two terms with the National Iowa Varsity Club board of directors and was president from 1989 to 1990 and was the Letterwinner of the Year Award winner.
- He served on the board of directors of the Johnson County I Club; board and past president of the Keokuk Community Schools; board and past president of Area 16 Educational Agency; board of trustees and past vice president of Southeast Iowa Community College in Keokuk and Burlington; board of directors of Keokuk Chamber of Commerce and the United Way; board of directors of the Keokuk City Planning Commission; board of directors of the Citizens Utility Board; board of directors of the Low Rent Housing Agency; board of directors and past president of the Mental Health Center of Lee County; board of directors of YWCA and the YMCA in Keokuk
- Appointed by Gov. Robert Ray to the State and Local Task Force for the First District of Iowa; and appointed by Gov. Tom Vilsack to State and Local Government Juvenile Task Force Committee
- He was known as "Mr. Hawkeye" to many in the Iowa City area
Building Information
Street Address
105 1st Avenue
Year built
1998
Additional building information