Fiercely Competitive Ladies of Baseball
The All American Girls Professional Baseball League
As the sounds of World War II raged across vast portions of the globe, the sound of exultant crowds continued to be heard in ballparks throughout the Midwest of America. While the game was the same, the players were unexpected: women. The Rockford Peaches, South Bend Blue Sox, Kenosha Comets, Racine Belles, Milwaukee Chicks, Minneapolis Millerettes, Grand Rapids Chicks, Fort Wayne Daisies, Muskegon Lassies, Peoria Redwings, Chicago Colleens, Springfield Sallies, Battle Creek Belles and Kalamazoo Lassies became the teams hundreds of thousands of baseball fans would spend close to a decade cheering for.
The All American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) was the brainchild of Philip K. Wrigley, chewing gum magnate and owner of the Chicago Cubs. As the war continued to draft young men from the minor league baseball teams, Wrigley feared the collapse of Major League Baseball. In an effort to keep the sport alive and crowds filling the ballparks, it was determined that women should take to the field. There were already thousands of women playing softball across the country, the challenge now was to recruit and advance these women to play professional baseball.
An extensive search was performed with scouts searching all across the country, as well as in Canada and Latin America, for the women who would fill the new teams. The pool of talent was considerable, but under three hundred players were brought to Chicago for the final selection. In the end, only 60 women were chosen for the first season set to start in 1943.
During the day the women were expected to train and play like their male counterparts, but their evenings were spent learning an entirely different skill. Once the uniforms, bats, and mitts were put away, the ladies were required to attend charm school. Helena Rubenstein's Beauty Salon was contracted to teach the girls the behavior that was expected of them as well as proper hygiene and a daily beauty routine. When the sessions were over each player received her own beauty kit including: cleansing cream, lipstick, rouge medium, cream deodorant, mild astringent, face powder, hand lotion and hair remover.
It took two years from the start of the league before the Fort Wayne Daisies were debuted as a team in 1945. Home games were played at North Side High School from 1945-1946, the rest of their seasons until 1954 were played at Memorial Park. The Daisies made it to the playoffs every year from 1947 to 1954, taking first three years in a row. Despite these successes they were never able to win a championship title.
Lacking a title didn’t mean they were lacking in talent. Sisters Betty Foss and Joanne Weaver proved that they were a family that could truly knock it out of the park. Foss won player of the year in 1952, played for the All-Star Team twiceWeaver had the highest batting average of the League. She achieved a batting average of 429 in 1954.
The All American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) was the brainchild of Philip K. Wrigley, chewing gum magnate and owner of the Chicago Cubs. As the war continued to draft young men from the minor league baseball teams, Wrigley feared the collapse of Major League Baseball. In an effort to keep the sport alive and crowds filling the ballparks, it was determined that women should take to the field. There were already thousands of women playing softball across the country, the challenge now was to recruit and advance these women to play professional baseball.
An extensive search was performed with scouts searching all across the country, as well as in Canada and Latin America, for the women who would fill the new teams. The pool of talent was considerable, but under three hundred players were brought to Chicago for the final selection. In the end, only 60 women were chosen for the first season set to start in 1943.
During the day the women were expected to train and play like their male counterparts, but their evenings were spent learning an entirely different skill. Once the uniforms, bats, and mitts were put away, the ladies were required to attend charm school. Helena Rubenstein's Beauty Salon was contracted to teach the girls the behavior that was expected of them as well as proper hygiene and a daily beauty routine. When the sessions were over each player received her own beauty kit including: cleansing cream, lipstick, rouge medium, cream deodorant, mild astringent, face powder, hand lotion and hair remover.
It took two years from the start of the league before the Fort Wayne Daisies were debuted as a team in 1945. Home games were played at North Side High School from 1945-1946, the rest of their seasons until 1954 were played at Memorial Park. The Daisies made it to the playoffs every year from 1947 to 1954, taking first three years in a row. Despite these successes they were never able to win a championship title.
Lacking a title didn’t mean they were lacking in talent. Sisters Betty Foss and Joanne Weaver proved that they were a family that could truly knock it out of the park. Foss won player of the year in 1952, played for the All-Star Team twiceWeaver had the highest batting average of the League. She achieved a batting average of 429 in 1954.
How We Remember Them
Over 60 years since the ladies retired their uniforms, the fascination with them is still strong today, even in our own town. Recently, Isabel Alvarez, who played for the Daisies in 1951 and 1954, was honored during a Fort Wayne Tincaps game and a simultaneous fundraiser was held for her. Mayor Tom Henry joined the crowds in wishing Alvarez the best of luck as she maneuvers through health issues. A brief interview with the Mayor was recorded and highlights the relationship and admiration he holds for this long time Fort Wayne Resident. Alvarez didn't start her life here, but it was her love of baseball and an encouraging mother that created her path to American citizenship.
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