Milwaukee Chicks
Encyclopedia
The Milwaukee Chicks were a women's professional baseball
team which played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
during the season. They were managed by Max Carey
, former star player for the Pittsburgh Pirates
and Brooklyn Robins
and a future Hall of Famer.
to the league's roster. The Chicks were a well balanced squad that counted with talented players as Josephine Kabick
, Merle Keagle
, Connie Wisniewski
and Alma Ziegler
. With Max Carey at the helm, the Chicks led the league in runs scored
(492), batting average
(.207), stolen bases (739) and tied for first in home run
s (12). The best offensive support came from Keagle, who hit .264 with 47 runs batted in, and led the AAGPBL hitters with seven home run
s and 145 total bases
. The one-two pitching staff was led by Kabick, who posted a 26-19 record for a .578 winning percentage
and topped the league in wins and innings pitched
(366), while Wisniewski went 23-10 (.697) with a 2.23 earned run average
. A daring base runner, Ziegler established at second base as a flashy defender who made outstandings plays routinely, being considered the spark plug of the team.
The Chicks went 30-26 in the first half of the year, but dominated the second half (40-19) and had the best overall record (70-45). They then went on to win the Championship Title, beating the Kenosha Comets
in the postseason. During the seven-game series Wisniewski went 4-1 with a 0.40 ERA in five complete games, including two shutout
s, two one-run games and one two-run game, winning three of four matchups with Kenosha's Helen Nicol
, who finished with a 17-11 mark (.607) and had led the league with a minuscule 0.93 ERA.
Although the Chicks won the AAGPBL championship title, they had no local financial backing and could not compete with the American Association
Milwaukee Brewers
. In fact, the Chicks were forced to play all seven games of the series at Kenosha's Lake Front Stadium because the Brewers were using the Borchert Field
in Milwaukee. In addition, the high ticket prices charged for AAGPBL games failed to encourage significant fan support. Due to lack of community support and skepticism of journalists, the Chicks moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan
prior to the 1945 season.
On August 27, 2000, the surviving Chicks were honored by the Milwaukee Brewers
before a game against the San Diego Padres
. Tributes to the club may be found in Miller Park.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team which played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
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:...
during the season. They were managed by Max Carey
Max Carey
Max George Carey was an American center fielder in Major League Baseball who starred for the Pittsburgh Pirates and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1961...
, former star player for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
and Brooklyn Robins
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
and a future Hall of Famer.
History
By 1944 the AAGPBL added the Milwaukee Chicks and the Minneapolis MillerettesMinneapolis Millerettes
The Minneapolis Millerettes were an expansion All-American Girls Professional Baseball League team that played for one season in 1944. They played their home games in Nicollet Park, home of the men's minor league team the Minneapolis Millers...
to the league's roster. The Chicks were a well balanced squad that counted with talented players as Josephine Kabick
Josephine Kabick
Josephine Kabick [Jo] was a female pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 7", 142 lb., Kabick batted and threw right-handed...
, Merle Keagle
Merle Keagle
Merle Patricia Keagle was a center fielder who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League between the and seasons. Listed at 5' 2", 144 lb., she batted and threw right-handed....
, Connie Wisniewski
Connie Wisniewski
Constance Wisniewski was a starting pitcher and outfielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
and Alma Ziegler
Alma Ziegler
Alma Ziegler was an infielder and pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 3", 125 lb., Ziegler batted and threw right-handed....
. With Max Carey at the helm, the Chicks led the league in runs scored
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
(492), batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
(.207), stolen bases (739) and tied for first in 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...
s (12). The best offensive support came from Keagle, who hit .264 with 47 runs batted in, and led the AAGPBL hitters with seven 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...
s and 145 total bases
Total bases
In baseball statistics, total bases refers to the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i.e., the sum of his hits weighted by 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run.Only bases attained from hits count toward this total....
. The one-two pitching staff was led by Kabick, who posted a 26-19 record for a .578 winning percentage
Winning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
and topped the league in wins and innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
(366), while Wisniewski went 23-10 (.697) with a 2.23 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. A daring base runner, Ziegler established at second base as a flashy defender who made outstandings plays routinely, being considered the spark plug of the team.
The Chicks went 30-26 in the first half of the year, but dominated the second half (40-19) and had the best overall record (70-45). They then went on to win the Championship Title, beating the Kenosha Comets
Kenosha Comets
Based in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the Kenosha Comets were a women's professional baseball team that played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The team played their home games at Kenosha's Lake Front Stadium, but later moved to Simmons Field.The Kenosha Comets were one...
in the postseason. During the seven-game series Wisniewski went 4-1 with a 0.40 ERA in five complete games, including two shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s, two one-run games and one two-run game, winning three of four matchups with Kenosha's Helen Nicol
Helen Nicol
Helen Nicol is a Canadian former baseball pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League . Listed at 5' 3", 120 lb., Nicol batted and threw right-handed...
, who finished with a 17-11 mark (.607) and had led the league with a minuscule 0.93 ERA.
Although the Chicks won the AAGPBL championship title, they had no local financial backing and could not compete with the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers (minor league baseball team)
The Milwaukee Brewers were a Minor League Baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They played in the American Association from 1902 through 1952.-A Milwaukee Tradition:...
. In fact, the Chicks were forced to play all seven games of the series at Kenosha's Lake Front Stadium because the Brewers were using the Borchert Field
Borchert Field
Borchert Field was a baseball park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was the home field for several professional baseball clubs for most of the years from 1888 through 1952....
in Milwaukee. In addition, the high ticket prices charged for AAGPBL games failed to encourage significant fan support. Due to lack of community support and skepticism of journalists, the Chicks moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
prior to the 1945 season.
On August 27, 2000, the surviving Chicks were honored by the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
before a game against the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
. Tributes to the club may be found in Miller Park.
Roster
| * Vivian Anderson | third base |
| * Kay Blumetta Kay Blumetta Catherine Kay Blumetta [Swish] was an utility who played for six different clubs in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League between the and seasons... |
pitcher/first base/outfield |
| * Max Carey Max Carey Max George Carey was an American center fielder in Major League Baseball who starred for the Pittsburgh Pirates and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1961... |
manager |
| * Clara Cook | pitcher |
| * Gladys Davis Gladys Davis (baseball) Gladys Davis [״Terrie״] is a former Canadian shortstop and outfielder who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League between the and seasons. Listed at 5' 5", 130 lb., Davis batted and threw right handed... |
shortstop/outfield |
| * Thelma Eisen Thelma Eisen Thelma Eisen [Tiby] is a former outfielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 4", 130 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.... |
outfield |
| * Dottie Hunter Dottie Hunter Dorothy Hunter [Dottie] was a first basewoman who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during the season. Listed at 5' 6", Hunter batted and threw right-handed... |
chaperone |
| * Josephine Kabick Josephine Kabick Josephine Kabick [Jo] was a female pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 7", 142 lb., Kabick batted and threw right-handed... |
pitcher |
| * Marie Kazmierczak | outfield |
| * Merle Keagle Merle Keagle Merle Patricia Keagle was a center fielder who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League between the and seasons. Listed at 5' 2", 144 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.... |
outfield/third base/pitcher |
| * Dorothy Maguire Dorothy Maguire Dorothy Maguire was a catcher and outfielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Maguire batted and threw right-handed... |
catcher/outfield |
| * Dolores Klosowski | first base/second base/pitcher |
| * Vickie Panos Vickie Panos Vickie Panos is a former outfielder who played for two different teams in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 3", 120 lb., Panos batted left-handed and threw left-handed... |
outfield |
| * Ernestine Petras Ernestine Petras Ernestine Petras [״Tenny״] is a former infielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 5", 125 lb., Petras batted and threw right handed... |
shortstop |
| * Ferne Price | pitcher |
| * Mary Shastal | second base |
| * Emily Stevenson | utility |
| * Viola Thompson | pitcher |
| * Betty Whiting Betty Whiting Elizabeth 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... |
first base/catcher/outfield |
| * Connie Wisniewski Connie Wisniewski Constance Wisniewski was a starting pitcher and outfielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League... |
pitcher/outfielder |
| * Sylvia Wronski | pitcher |
| * Doris Tetzlaff Doris Tetzlaff Doris Tetzlaff [″Tetz″] was an infielder and chaperone in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5'5", 155 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.... |
third base/utility |
| * Alma Ziegler Alma Ziegler Alma Ziegler was an infielder and pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 3", 125 lb., Ziegler batted and threw right-handed.... |
second base/pitcher/shortstop |