Mitch Skupien
Encyclopedia
Mitch 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 also had served as a scout
for the AAGPBL since the early years of the circuit. He reported to the board of directors in 1949 and later managed during four years, leading his teams to three playoff appearances, including the Championship title in the league's last ever season.
Skupien took the field in 1951 with the Grand Rapids Chicks
, managing for them one year before joining the Kalamazoo Lassies
(1952–1954). In his first season, Skupien led Grand Rapids to the first-half title with a 40–13 record and posted the second-best record at 71–35 (in an eight-team format), earning a ticket to the playoffs. But the Chicks lost the first round to the Rockford Peaches
, two games to none.
He landed in Kalamazoo in 1952 in an attempt to revive the struggling Lassies franchise, who had had losing records in four of their six previous seasons. With him at the helm, the team improved to 49-60 and ended fifth (next to last), after collecting a second-worst 34-75 the previous year.
In 1953, the Lassies finished third with a 53-50 record and advanced to the playoffs. After defeating the Fort Wayne Daisies
in the first round (2–1), Kalamazoo was beaten by Grand Rapids in the final series (2-to-1).
The Lassies had a 48-49 mark in 1954 and finished fifth out of six teams. In the playoffs, Kalamazoo defeated the South Bend Blue Sox
in three games, and later disposed of the strong Daisies (3-2) to clinch the last Championship title in the league's history.
In addition to his work as a skipper, from 1949 to 1950 Skupien was kept busy as a general manager
for the Chicago Colleens
and Springfield Sallies
touring teams. Both teams were added to the league's roster in 1948, but lost their franchises by the end of that season after finishing last in their respective divisions. For the next two years the Colleens and Sallies recruited new talent for the league, while playing an extensive exhibition schedule against each other through the South and East, including contests at Griffith Stadium
in Washington, D.C, and Yankee Stadium in New York City
. Patricia Barringer, who had played at second base in the AAGPBL, was named by Skupien as chaperone and manager of the Colleens, who wore green uniforms, while another former second bagger, Barbara Liebrich
, became the chaperone-manager for the Sallies, who wore white uniforms.
Mitch Skupien is part of the AAGPBL permanent display at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum at Cooperstown, New York
, opened in , which is dedicated to the entire league rather than any individual figure.
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
and executive 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:...
.
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
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
baseball team, and also had served as a scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
for the AAGPBL since the early years of the circuit. He reported to the board of directors in 1949 and later managed during four years, leading his teams to three playoff appearances, including the Championship title in the league's last ever season.
Skupien took the field in 1951 with 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....
, managing for them one year before joining the Kalamazoo Lassies
Kalamazoo Lassies
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...
(1952–1954). In his first season, Skupien led Grand Rapids to the first-half title with a 40–13 record and posted the second-best record at 71–35 (in an eight-team format), earning a ticket to the playoffs. But the Chicks lost the first round to the 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....
, two games to none.
He landed in Kalamazoo in 1952 in an attempt to revive the struggling Lassies franchise, who had had losing records in four of their six previous seasons. With him at the helm, the team improved to 49-60 and ended fifth (next to last), after collecting a second-worst 34-75 the previous year.
In 1953, the Lassies finished third with a 53-50 record and advanced to the playoffs. After defeating the 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...
in the first round (2–1), Kalamazoo was beaten by Grand Rapids in the final series (2-to-1).
The Lassies had a 48-49 mark in 1954 and finished fifth out of six teams. In the playoffs, Kalamazoo defeated 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 later disposed of the strong Daisies (3-2) to clinch the last Championship title in the league's history.
In addition to his work as a skipper, from 1949 to 1950 Skupien was kept busy as a general manager
General manager (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
for the Chicago Colleens
Chicago Colleens
The Chicago Colleens were a women's professional baseball team who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The team represented Chicago, Illinois and played their home games at Shewbridge Field....
and Springfield Sallies
Springfield Sallies
The Springfield Sallies were a women's professional baseball team who joined the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in the season. The team represented Springfield, Illinois, and played their games at Lanphier Ball Park....
touring teams. Both teams were added to the league's roster in 1948, but lost their franchises by the end of that season after finishing last in their respective divisions. For the next two years the Colleens and Sallies recruited new talent for the league, while playing an extensive exhibition schedule against each other through the South and East, including contests at Griffith Stadium
Griffith Stadium
Griffith Stadium was a sports stadium that stood in Washington, D.C. from 1911 to 1965, between Georgia Avenue and 5th Street, and between W Street and Florida Avenue, NW. An earlier wooden baseball park had been built on the same site in 1891...
in Washington, D.C, and Yankee Stadium in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Patricia Barringer, who had played at second base in the AAGPBL, was named by Skupien as chaperone and manager of the Colleens, who wore green uniforms, while another former second bagger, Barbara Liebrich
Barbara Liebrich
Barbara 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....
, became the chaperone-manager for the Sallies, who wore white uniforms.
Mitch Skupien is part of the AAGPBL permanent display at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum at Cooperstown, New York
Cooperstown, New York
Cooperstown is a village in Otsego County, New York, USA. It is located in the Town of Otsego. The population was estimated to be 1,852 at the 2010 census.The Village of Cooperstown is the county seat of Otsego County, New York...
, opened in , which is dedicated to the entire league rather than any individual figure.