Kalamazoo Lassies
Encyclopedia
The Kalamazoo Lassies were a team who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
. The team represented Kalamazoo, Michigan
. Home games were initially played at Lindstrom Field, but later games were played at the Catholic Athletic Association Field, now the Soisson-Rapacz field. Kalamazoo uniforms were white (home) and gold (away) with dark green numbers, belt, socks, and cap.
team on a trial basis when the city of Muskegon could no longer support them. The move took place in the middle of the season and the new Kalamazoo Lassies played their first game, still in their Muskegon uniforms, on 15 June of 1950 at Lindstrom Field. About 1,400 fans attended the game, which was won by the defending league champion Rockford Peaches
, 8–2. The new Lassies posted their first victory the next night, a 10–2 rout of Rockford led by pitcher
Doris Sams
and player-manager Bonnie Baker
. The Lassies combined for a 36-73 record that year and finished in the cellar.
The Lassies ended 1951 with a mark of 33 wins, 75 losses and two ties, but moved up one spot in the final standings. In 1952, the team finished fifth of six teams with a 49-60 record, their best yet. Kalamazoo improved in 1953, ending third at 59-50-2 and reaching the playoffs for the first time. After dropping the opener to the first-place Fort Wayne Daisies
, Kalamazoo won 2–1 and 5–3 as Jean Lovell
got a couple big hits. But the Lassies lost both games in the finals to the Grand Rapids Chicks
.
In 1954, the Lassies posted a 48-49-1 record and finished fourth of five teams, advancing to the playoffs. In the first round, the team disposed of the South Bend Blue Sox
in three games and faced the Fort Wayne Daisies for the Championship Title.
, who also helped herself by hiting 2-for-4, including one home run
. Her teammates Carol Habben
and Fern Shollenberger
also slugged one each, and Chris Ballingall
belted a grand slam
. Pitching star Maxine Kline
, who had posted an 18-7 record with 3.23 ERA for the Daisies during the regular season, gave up 11 runs in six innings and was credited with the loss. Katie Horstman
connected two home runs for the Daisies in a lost cause, and her teammate Joanne Weaver
slugged one.
The Daisies bounced back in Game 2, hitting five home runs against the Lassies to win, 11–4. Horstman started the feat with a two-run home run to open the score in the first inning. In the rest of the game, Betty Weaver Foss
added two homers and drove in
five runs, while her sister Joanne and
In Game 4, starter Gloria Cordes
helped Kalamazoo to tie the series, pitching a complete game
victory over the Daisies, 6–5. Habben drove in two runs who marked the difference, while Kline suffered her second loss of the Series.
In decisive Game 5, Peppas pitched a clutch complete game and went 3-for-5 with an RBI against her former Daisies team, winning by a 8–5 margin to gave the Lassies the Championship title in the AAGPBL's last ever game. She received support from Mary Taylor (5-for-5), Balingall (3-for-4) and Schroeder, who drove in the winning run in the bottom of the eight. Peppas finished with a .450 average in the Series and collected two of the three Lassies victories, to become the winning pitcher of the last game in the league's history.
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was a women's professional baseball league founded by Philip K. Wrigley which existed from 1943 to 1954. During the league's history, over 600 women played ball.-History:...
. The team represented Kalamazoo, Michigan
Kalamazoo, Michigan
The area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
. Home games were initially played at Lindstrom Field, but later games were played at the Catholic Athletic Association Field, now the Soisson-Rapacz field. Kalamazoo uniforms were white (home) and gold (away) with dark green numbers, belt, socks, and cap.
History
In 1950 the AAGPBL was losing money and fans, and the teams and host cities were changing almost every year. This was a good thing for Kalamazoo as the city was granted the Muskegon LassiesMuskegon Lassies
The Muskegon Lassies were one of the expansion teams of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in , representing Muskegon, Michigan. The team played their home games at Marsh Field....
team on a trial basis when the city of Muskegon could no longer support them. The move took place in the middle of the season and the new Kalamazoo Lassies played their first game, still in their Muskegon uniforms, on 15 June of 1950 at Lindstrom Field. About 1,400 fans attended the game, which was won by the defending league champion Rockford Peaches
Rockford Peaches
The Rockford Peaches were a team in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League playing out of Rockford, Illinois for the entire existence of the league from 1943 to 1954....
, 8–2. The new Lassies posted their first victory the next night, a 10–2 rout of Rockford led by pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Doris Sams
Doris Sams
Doris Jane Sams [Sammye] is a former female outfielder and pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 9", 145 lbs., she batted and threw right handed....
and player-manager Bonnie Baker
Bonnie Baker
Mary Geraldine Baker, née George was an all-star catcher in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1943 to 1952.-Career:...
. The Lassies combined for a 36-73 record that year and finished in the cellar.
The Lassies ended 1951 with a mark of 33 wins, 75 losses and two ties, but moved up one spot in the final standings. In 1952, the team finished fifth of six teams with a 49-60 record, their best yet. Kalamazoo improved in 1953, ending third at 59-50-2 and reaching the playoffs for the first time. After dropping the opener to the first-place Fort Wayne Daisies
Fort Wayne Daisies
The Fort Wayne Daisies were a women's professional baseball team that played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
, Kalamazoo won 2–1 and 5–3 as Jean Lovell
Jean Lovell
Jean Lovell [″Grumpy″] was a female catcher and pitcher who played for three different teams of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League between the and seasons. Lovell batted and threw right-handed...
got a couple big hits. But the Lassies lost both games in the finals to the Grand Rapids Chicks
Grand Rapids Chicks
The Grand Rapids Chicks were a women's professional baseball team based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1945 to 1954, winning championships in 1947 and 1953....
.
In 1954, the Lassies posted a 48-49-1 record and finished fourth of five teams, advancing to the playoffs. In the first round, the team disposed of the South Bend Blue Sox
South Bend Blue Sox
The South Bend Blue Sox were a women's professional baseball team who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
in three games and faced the Fort Wayne Daisies for the Championship Title.
1954 Championship Title
In Game 1 of the AAGPBL Series, Kalamazoo defeated Fort Wayne 17-9 behind a four-hit, seven strong innings from June PeppasJune Peppas
June Peppas is a former first basewoman and pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 5", 145 lb., she batted and threw left-handed.-Early life:...
, who also helped herself by hiting 2-for-4, including one home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
. Her teammates Carol Habben
Carol Habben
Carol Habben was a center fielder and backup catcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 5", 135 lb., she batted and threw right-handed....
and Fern Shollenberger
Fern Shollenberger
Fern Shollenberger [Shelly] was a third basewoman who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 4", 125 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.-Brief profile:...
also slugged one each, and Chris Ballingall
Chris Ballingall
Chris Ballingall is a former female catcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5'6", 145 lb., she batted left-handed and threw right-handed....
belted a grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
. Pitching star Maxine Kline
Maxine Kline
Maxine Kline [Randall] is a former female starting pitcher who played from through with the Fort Wayne Daisies of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
, who had posted an 18-7 record with 3.23 ERA for the Daisies during the regular season, gave up 11 runs in six innings and was credited with the loss. Katie Horstman
Katie Horstman
Catherine Horstman [″Horsey″] is a former female utility who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
connected two home runs for the Daisies in a lost cause, and her teammate Joanne Weaver
Joanne Weaver
Joanne Weaver [″Joltin' Jo″] was a right fielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
slugged one.
The Daisies bounced back in Game 2, hitting five home runs against the Lassies to win, 11–4. Horstman started the feat with a two-run home run to open the score in the first inning. In the rest of the game, Betty Weaver Foss
Betty Foss
Betty Foss [Fossey] was a infielder and outfielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 10", 180 lb., she was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed. She started her career as Betty Weaver but changed her last name to Foss after marrying...
added two homers and drove in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
five runs, while her sister Joanne and
In Game 4, starter Gloria Cordes
Gloria Cordes
Gloria Cordes [Elliott] is a former starting pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
helped Kalamazoo to tie the series, pitching a complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
victory over the Daisies, 6–5. Habben drove in two runs who marked the difference, while Kline suffered her second loss of the Series.
In decisive Game 5, Peppas pitched a clutch complete game and went 3-for-5 with an RBI against her former Daisies team, winning by a 8–5 margin to gave the Lassies the Championship title in the AAGPBL's last ever game. She received support from Mary Taylor (5-for-5), Balingall (3-for-4) and Schroeder, who drove in the winning run in the bottom of the eight. Peppas finished with a .450 average in the Series and collected two of the three Lassies victories, to become the winning pitcher of the last game in the league's history.
All-time roster
- Agnes Allen
- Isabel AlvarezIsabel ÁlvarezIsabel Álvarez [Lefty] is a former female pitcher and outfielder who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League between the and seasons...
- Ange ArmatoAnge ArmatoAnge Lou Armato is a former infielder who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.Born in Rockford, Illinois, Ange Armato was the seventh girl out of eight children from a large Italian family...
- Bonnie BakerBonnie BakerMary Geraldine Baker, née George was an all-star catcher in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1943 to 1952.-Career:...
- Chris BallingallChris BallingallChris Ballingall is a former female catcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5'6", 145 lb., she batted left-handed and threw right-handed....
- Mary BaumgartnerMary BaumgartnerMary Baumgartner [Wimp] is a former female catcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
- Donna Becker
- Kay BlumettaKay BlumettaCatherine Kay Blumetta [Swish] was an utility who played for six different clubs in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League between the and seasons...
- Mary Carey
- Ysora Castillo
- Donna Cook
- Doris Cook
- Gloria CordesGloria CordesGloria Cordes [Elliott] is a former starting pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
- Betty Jane Cornett
- Alice DeCambraAlice DeCambraAlice G. DeCambra [″Moose″] was an infielder and pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 3", 126 lb., she batted and threw right handed...
- Lillian FarallaLillian FarallaLillian Faralla [Lil] is a former female pitcher and utility who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She batted and threw right-handed.-A brief history:...
- Betty FrancisBetty FrancisBetty Francis [″BF″] is a former outfielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
- Carol HabbenCarol HabbenCarol Habben was a center fielder and backup catcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 5", 135 lb., she batted and threw right-handed....
- Alice HohlmayerAlice HohlmayerAlice Hohlmayer [Naughton] is a former first basewoman and pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
- Frances Janssen
- Barbara LiebrichBarbara LiebrichBarbara E. Liebrich [Bobbie] was an infielder, manager and chaperone in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during the and seasons. She batted and threw right-handed....
- Jean LovellJean LovellJean Lovell [″Grumpy″] was a female catcher and pitcher who played for three different teams of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League between the and seasons. Lovell batted and threw right-handed...
- Betty LunaBetty LunaBetty Luna [Hill] a pitcher and outfielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 5", 133 lb., she batted and threw right handed....
- Jean Malanowski
- Mirtha Marrero
- Jane MoffetJane MoffetJane Moffet is a former utility who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 10", 151 lb., Moffett batted and threw right handed. She was born in Pitman, New Jersey....
- Eleanor MooreEleanor MooreEleanor Moore [Warner] is a former pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 10", Moore batted and threw right-handed...
- Nancy MudgeNancy MudgeNancy Mudge [Cato] is a former second basewoman who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 2", 120 lb., Mudge batted and threw right handed. She was nicknamed ″Smudgie″....
- Dorothy NaumDorothy NaumDorothy Mary Naum [Parker] was a catcher, infielder and pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 4", 112 lb., she batted and threw right handed....
- Anna Mae O'Dowd
- Barbara Payne
- Marguerite PearsonMarguerite PearsonMarguerite Pearson [Tesseine] was an utility who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League between the and seasons. Listed at 5' 5", 125 lb., Pearson batted and thew right handed...
- June PeppasJune PeppasJune Peppas is a former first basewoman and pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 5", 145 lb., she batted and threw left-handed.-Early life:...
- Betty Jean Peterson
- Charlene PryerCharlene PryerCharlene Barbara Pryer [Mayer] was a female utility in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, playing mainly at second base and center field from through . Listed at 5' 1", 105 lb., Pryer batted and threw right-handed...
- Sara ReeserSara ReeserSara Louise Reeser is a former infielder who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League between the and seasons. Listed at 5' 4", 130 lb., she batted and threw left handed....
- Jenny RomatowskiJenny RomatowskiJenniffer A. Romatowski [″Romey″] is a former utility who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5'4", 145 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.-A brief history:...
- Eilaine RothEilaine RothEilaine Roth [″I″] was an outfielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 2", 123 lb., she batted and threw right-handed....
- Elaine RothElaine RothElaine Roth [E] was a female pitcher and outfielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
- Terry Rukavina
- Doris SamsDoris SamsDoris Jane Sams [Sammye] is a former female outfielder and pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 9", 145 lbs., she batted and threw right handed....
- Dorothy SchroederDorothy SchroederDorothy Schroeder [″Dottie″] was a shortstop who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 7", 150 lb., Schroeder batted and threw right-handed...
- Fern ShollenbergerFern ShollenbergerFern Shollenberger [Shelly] was a third basewoman who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 4", 125 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.-Brief profile:...
- Joan Sindelar
- Joyce Steele
- Jane StollJane StollJane Stoll was an outfielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 2", 135 lb., she batted and threw right-handed....
- Mary Taylor
- Nancy WarrenNancy Warren (baseball)Nancy Warren was a pitcher and infielder who played from through for six different teams of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 5", 130 lb., she batted and threw right handed...
- Margaret Wenzell
- Betty WhitingBetty WhitingElizabeth Jane Whiting was a utility who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5'6", 147 lb., Whiting batted and threw right handed...
- Ruth WilliamsRuth WilliamsRuth Williams [Heverly] was a pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 4", 139 lb., she batted and threw right handed....
Managers
- 1950: Bonnie BakerBonnie BakerMary Geraldine Baker, née George was an all-star catcher in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1943 to 1952.-Career:...
- 1951: Source not Available
- 1952 to 1954: Mitch SkupienMitch SkupienMitch Skupien was a manager and executive in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.Very little is known about this man who worked hard for the AAGPBL during the final five years of its existence. Previously, Skupien had managed the Rayson Sporting Goods, a Chicago baseball team, and...
Sources
- All-American Girls Professional Baseball League history
- Kalamazoo Public Library
- June Peppas: All-American Star
- All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Record Book – W. C. Madden. Publisher: McFarland & Company. Format: Paperback, 294pp. Language: English. ISBN 0786437472