Racine Belles
Encyclopedia
The Racine Belles were one of the original teams of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
playing from through out of Racine, Wisconsin
. The team played its home games at Horlick Field.
Racine won the first half with a 33-10 mark, and finished the regular season with an overall record of 55 wins and 38 losses. Mary Nesbitt
led the pitching staff with a 26-13 record for a .667 winning percentage
(fifth-best of the league), including 308 innings of work in 47 appearances. She also hit .280, scored 34 runs
, and drove in
29 more in 73 games. At a time of the season, Nesbitt put together a 11-game winning streak. Besides Nesbitt, the Belles also counted with Joanne Winter
, who posted a 11-11 record, to give the team a strong one-two pitching staff. Slugger right fielder
Eleanor Dapkus
hit a league-lead 10 home run
s, while Sophie Kurys
stole
a league-best 44 bases and scored
60 runs. Margaret Danhauser
, Maddy English
, Edythe Perlick
and Claire Schillace
could be counted on for their bats and solid defense.
The first AAGPBL Championship Series pitted first-half winner Racine against the Kenosha Comets
, second-half champ. In the best-of-five series, Racine swept Kenosha to clinch the championship. Nesbitt claimed complete-game victories in Games 1 and 3, and saved
Game 2 after Winter ran into trouble in the eight inning. Irene Hickson
, who shared the catching
duties with Dorothy Maguire
, led all-hitters with a .417 average and five RBI in the three games.
In 1946, Anna Mae Hutchison
posted a 26-14 record with 102 strikeout
s in 51 games, setting an all-time, single-season record for games pitched, and also hurled the first nine-inning no-hitter
in Belles history, a 1–0 victory over the Kenosha Comets
. Winter finished with a 33-9 record, including 17 shutout
s and 183 strikeout
s in 46 pitching appearances. The Belles claimed first place with a league-best 74-38 record, and won the semifinal round of playoffs by defeating the South Bend Blue Sox
in four games. In Game 1, English drove in the winning run by hitting a double
in the bottom half of the 14th inning. Then, in decisive Game 5 she knocked the winning run with a single
in the bottom half of the 17th inning. In this first round series she went 11-for-31 for a .353 average, including her two game-winning RBI. After that, After that, the Belles beat the 1945 champions, the Rockford Peaches
, four games to two in the final best-of-seven series to clinch the Championship Title. Throughout the playoffs, Kurys led all players in average
, stolen bases and runs. On the other hand, Winter collected four wins in the playoffs, including a 14-inning, 1–0 shutout victory over the Peaches in decisive Game Six. The winning run was scored by Kurys on an RBI-single by Betty Trezza
, while Danhauser handled 22 chances
flawlessly. During the regular season, the Belles again showed a great defense, notably by infielder
s Danhauser (1B), Kurys (2B) and English (3B), while Perlick (LF), Schillace (CF) and Dapkus (RF) patrolled the outfield
. And moreover, fielding ability and speed on the bases were immensely more crucial and challenging in a dominant pitching league.
But after eight successful seasons the Belles lacked the financial resources to keep the club playing in Racine and decided to move to Battle Creek, Michigan
at the end of the 1950 season. Some founding team members, including Danhauser, Dapkus, English, Kurys, Perlick, Schillace and Winter, were disappointed with the new location and would not make the move. During eight years, the Belles were a close-knit team, always like a family away from home. They thought that all would be different, like a new team, maybe a new manager and, specially, a new location.
After the moving, the team was renamed the Battle Creek Belles
and played from to . For their final season, they moved to Muskegon, Michigan
and played as the Muskegon Belles
.
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:...
playing from through out of Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin
Racine is a city in and the county seat of Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city had a population of 82,196...
. The team played its home games at Horlick Field.
History
In 1943, the Belles claimed the first Championship Title in the league's history. This team was characterized by strong pitching, solid defense, timely hitting and speed on the bases.Racine won the first half with a 33-10 mark, and finished the regular season with an overall record of 55 wins and 38 losses. Mary Nesbitt
Mary Nesbitt Wisham
Mary Nesbitt [Choo-Choo] is a former pitcher and first basewoman who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 8", 155 lb., Nesbitt batted and threw left handed. She was born Marie Crews Nesbitt in Greenville, South Carolina...
led the pitching staff with a 26-13 record for a .667 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...
(fifth-best of the league), including 308 innings of work in 47 appearances. She also hit .280, scored 34 runs
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...
, 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...
29 more in 73 games. At a time of the season, Nesbitt put together a 11-game winning streak. Besides Nesbitt, the Belles also counted with Joanne Winter
Joanne Winter
Joanne Emily Winter [Jo] was a pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 8", 138 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.-Overview profile:...
, who posted a 11-11 record, to give the team a strong one-two pitching staff. Slugger right fielder
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
Eleanor Dapkus
Eleanor Dapkus
Eleanor Dapkus [Wolf] was a center fielder and pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 6", 160 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.-Women in baseball:...
hit a league-lead 10 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, while Sophie Kurys
Sophie Kurys
Sophie Kurys is a former second basewoman who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 5", 115 lb., Kurys batted and threw right-handed.-Career:...
stole
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
a league-best 44 bases and 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...
60 runs. Margaret Danhauser
Margaret Danhauser
Margaret L. Danhauser [Marnie] was a first basewoman who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She batted and threw right-handed.-Career:...
, Maddy English
Maddy English
Madeline Catherine English [Maddy] was a third basewoman who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 4", 130 lb., English batted and threw right-handed...
, Edythe Perlick
Edythe Perlick
Edythe Perlick [Edie] was a left fielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 3", 128 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.-Overview profile:...
and Claire Schillace
Claire Schillace
Claire Joan Schillace was a center fielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
could be counted on for their bats and solid defense.
The first AAGPBL Championship Series pitted first-half winner Racine against 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...
, second-half champ. In the best-of-five series, Racine swept Kenosha to clinch the championship. Nesbitt claimed complete-game victories in Games 1 and 3, and saved
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
Game 2 after Winter ran into trouble in the eight inning. Irene Hickson
Irene Hickson
Irene Hickson was a catcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 2", 116 lb., she batted and threw right-handed....
, who shared the catching
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
duties with 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...
, led all-hitters with a .417 average and five RBI in the three games.
In 1946, Anna Mae Hutchison
Anna Mae Hutchison
Anna Mae Hutchison [Hutch] was a female pitcher and catcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 7", 149 lb., she batted and threw right-handed...
posted a 26-14 record with 102 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s in 51 games, setting an all-time, single-season record for games pitched, and also hurled the first nine-inning no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
in Belles history, a 1–0 victory over 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...
. Winter finished with a 33-9 record, including 17 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 and 183 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s in 46 pitching appearances. The Belles claimed first place with a league-best 74-38 record, and won the semifinal round of playoffs by defeating 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 four games. In Game 1, English drove in the winning run by hitting a double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
in the bottom half of the 14th inning. Then, in decisive Game 5 she knocked the winning run with a single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
in the bottom half of the 17th inning. In this first round series she went 11-for-31 for a .353 average, including her two game-winning RBI. After that, After that, the Belles beat the 1945 champions, 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....
, four games to two in the final best-of-seven series to clinch the Championship Title. Throughout the playoffs, Kurys led all players in 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 :...
, stolen bases and runs. On the other hand, Winter collected four wins in the playoffs, including a 14-inning, 1–0 shutout victory over the Peaches in decisive Game Six. The winning run was scored by Kurys on an RBI-single by Betty Trezza
Betty Trezza
Betty Trezza [″Moe″] was an American professional baseball player. An infield and outfield utility, she played from through for four different teams of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League....
, while Danhauser handled 22 chances
Total chances
In baseball statistics, total chances , also called chances offered, represents the number of plays in which a defensive player has participated. It is calculated as follows: Total Chances = assists + putouts + errors. Chances accepted refers to the total of putouts and assists only. Fielding...
flawlessly. During the regular season, the Belles again showed a great defense, notably by infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
s Danhauser (1B), Kurys (2B) and English (3B), while Perlick (LF), Schillace (CF) and Dapkus (RF) patrolled the outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
. And moreover, fielding ability and speed on the bases were immensely more crucial and challenging in a dominant pitching league.
But after eight successful seasons the Belles lacked the financial resources to keep the club playing in Racine and decided to move to Battle Creek, Michigan
Battle Creek, Michigan
Battle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses all of Calhoun county...
at the end of the 1950 season. Some founding team members, including Danhauser, Dapkus, English, Kurys, Perlick, Schillace and Winter, were disappointed with the new location and would not make the move. During eight years, the Belles were a close-knit team, always like a family away from home. They thought that all would be different, like a new team, maybe a new manager and, specially, a new location.
After the moving, the team was renamed the Battle Creek Belles
Battle Creek Belles
The Battle Creek Belles were a women's professional baseball team that played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
and played from to . For their final season, they moved to Muskegon, Michigan
Muskegon, Michigan
Muskegon is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 38,401. The city is the county seat of Muskegon County...
and played as the Muskegon Belles
Muskegon Belles
The Muskegon Belles were a women's professional baseball team that played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during the season....
.
Season-by-Season records
| Year | Manager 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... | W 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... | L 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... | W-L% 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... | End | GB Games behind In sports, the phrase games behind or games back , is a common way to reflect the gap between a leading team and another team in a sports league, conference, or division... |
Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 1943 in baseball -Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over St. Louis Cardinals *All-Star Game, July 13 at Shibe Park: American League, 5-3-Other champions:*Negro League World Series: Homestead Grays over Birmingham Black Barons... |
Johnny Gottselig Johnny Gottselig John Gottselig was a professional ice hockey left winger who played 17 seasons for the Chicago Black Hawks of the National Hockey League between 1928 and 1946. He was the second player born in the Russian Empire to play in the NHL, as well as the first European-born head coach in the league's... |
34 25 |
20 23 |
.630 .521 |
1st 3rd |
– 13.0 |
First half Second half Playoff champion |
| 1944 1944 in baseball -Major League Baseball:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over St. Louis Browns , in the "Streetcar Series"*All-Star Game, July 11 at Forbes Field: National League, 7-1-Other champions:... |
Johnny Gottselig Johnny Gottselig John Gottselig was a professional ice hockey left winger who played 17 seasons for the Chicago Black Hawks of the National Hockey League between 1928 and 1946. He was the second player born in the Russian Empire to play in the NHL, as well as the first European-born head coach in the league's... |
28 26 |
32 31 |
.467 .456 |
4th 4th |
6½ 13.0 |
First half Second half |
| 1945 1945 in baseball -Major League Baseball:*World Series: Detroit Tigers over Chicago Cubs *All-Star Game cancelled due to flight restrictions. However, inter-league games were played during the All-Star break.-Other champions:... |
Charley Stis Charley Stis Charles C. Stis [Pepper] was a baseball infielder, manager, scout and umpire.Little is known about this man who spent more than six decades in professional baseball.... Leo Murphy Leo Murphy (baseball) Leo Joseph Murphy [Red] was a catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates during the season. Listed at 6' 1", 179 lb., Murphy batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Terre Haute, Indiana.Murphy started his professional career in 1912 with Double-A Columbus... |
50 | 60 | .455 | 4th | 17.0 | |
| 1946 1946 in baseball -Major League Baseball:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over Boston Red Sox *All-Star Game, July 9 at Fenway Park: American League, 12–0-Other champions:*Negro League World Series: Newark Eagles over Kansas City Monarchs... |
Leo Murphy Leo Murphy (baseball) Leo Joseph Murphy [Red] was a catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates during the season. Listed at 6' 1", 179 lb., Murphy batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Terre Haute, Indiana.Murphy started his professional career in 1912 with Double-A Columbus... |
74 | 38 | .661 | 1st | – | League and Playoff champion |
| 1947 1947 in baseball -Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers *All-Star Game, July 8 at Wrigley Field: American League, 2-1-Other champions:*First College World Series: California... |
Leo Murphy Leo Murphy (baseball) Leo Joseph Murphy [Red] was a catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates during the season. Listed at 6' 1", 179 lb., Murphy batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Terre Haute, Indiana.Murphy started his professional career in 1912 with Double-A Columbus... |
65 | 47 | .580 | 3rd | 4.0 | |
| 1948 1948 in baseball -Major League Baseball:*World Series: Cleveland Indians over Boston Braves *All-Star Game, July 13 at Sportsman's Park: American League, 5-2-Other champions:*College World Series: USC*Little League World Series: Lock Haven, Pennsylvania... |
Leo Murphy Leo Murphy (baseball) Leo Joseph Murphy [Red] was a catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates during the season. Listed at 6' 1", 179 lb., Murphy batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Terre Haute, Indiana.Murphy started his professional career in 1912 with Double-A Columbus... |
76 | 49 | .608 | 1st | – | Western Division Champion |
| 1949 1949 in baseball -Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers *All-Star Game, July 12 at Ebbets Field: American League, 11-7-Caribbean leagues:*Cuba - Almendares Scorpions*Panama - Spur Cola*Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Indians... |
Leo Murphy Leo Murphy (baseball) Leo Joseph Murphy [Red] was a catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates during the season. Listed at 6' 1", 179 lb., Murphy batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Terre Haute, Indiana.Murphy started his professional career in 1912 with Double-A Columbus... |
45 | 65 | .409 | 7th | 29½ | |
| 1950 1950 in baseball -Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Philadelphia Phillies *All-Star Game, July 11 at Comiskey Park: National League, 4-3 -Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Carta Vieja *College World Series: Texas... |
Norm Derringer Norm Derringer Norman W. Dieringer [Nummy], surname more commonly spelled Derringer , was a softball player and a baseball manager.... |
50 | 60 | .455 | 6th | 15½ |
All-time players roster
- Beatrice Arbour
- Doris BarrDoris BarrDoris Barr [Dodie] was a pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 6", 145 lb., Barr batted and threw left-handed...
- Annastasia BatikisAnnastasia BatikisAnnastasia Batikis [Stash] is a former female center fielder who played for the Racine Belles of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during the season...
- Barbara Berger
- Erma Bergmann
- Rita BriggsRita BriggsRita Briggs [Maud] was a female catcher who played from through for seven different teams in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 3", 120 lb., Briggs batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
- Leola Brody
- Geraldine Bureker
- Clara Chiano
- Gloria CordesGloria CordesGloria Cordes [Elliott] is a former starting pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
- Rita Corrigan
- Dorothy Damaschke
- Margaret DanhauserMargaret DanhauserMargaret L. Danhauser [Marnie] was a first basewoman who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She batted and threw right-handed.-Career:...
- Shirley Danz
- Eleanor DapkusEleanor DapkusEleanor Dapkus [Wolf] was a center fielder and pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 6", 160 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.-Women in baseball:...
- Julie Dusanko
- Elizabeth Emry
- Maddy EnglishMaddy EnglishMadeline Catherine English [Maddy] was a third basewoman who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 4", 130 lb., English batted and threw right-handed...
- Louise EricksonLouise EricksonLouise Erickson [Sauer] is a former pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 9", 162 lb., she batted and threw right handed....
- Philomena Gianfrancisco
- Beverly Hatzell
- Ruby Heafner
- Irene HicksonIrene HicksonIrene Hickson was a catcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 2", 116 lb., she batted and threw right-handed....
- Joyce HillJoyce HillJoyce E. Hill [Westerman] is a former catcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 5", 150 lb., she batted left handed and threw right handed....
- Dottie HunterDottie HunterDorothy 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...
- Anna Mae HutchisonAnna Mae HutchisonAnna Mae Hutchison [Hutch] was a female pitcher and catcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 7", 149 lb., she batted and threw right-handed...
- Jane Jacobs
- Janet Jacobs
- Marie Kazmierczak
- Mary Ellen Kimball
- Ruby Knezovich
- Phyllis KoehnPhyllis KoehnPhyllis C. Koehn [″Sugar″] was a pitcher and utility who played from through for six different teams of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 5", 120 lb., Koehn batted and threw right-handed. She was born in Madison, Wisconsin.By the fall of 1942, World War II...
- Irene Kotowicz
- Ruth Kramer
- Sophie KurysSophie KurysSophie Kurys is a former second basewoman who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 5", 115 lb., Kurys batted and threw right-handed.-Career:...
- Laurie Ann Lee
- Sarah Lonetto
- Dorothy MaguireDorothy MaguireDorothy Maguire was a catcher and outfielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Maguire batted and threw right-handed...
- Gloria Marks
- Mildred Meacham
- Naomi Meier
- Marie Menheer
- Norma Metrolis
- Dorothy Montgomery
- Mary NesbittMary Nesbitt WishamMary Nesbitt [Choo-Choo] is a former pitcher and first basewoman who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 8", 155 lb., Nesbitt batted and threw left handed. She was born Marie Crews Nesbitt in Greenville, South Carolina...
- Anna Mae O'Dowd
- Pepper PairePepper PaireLavonne Paire Davis [″Pepper″] is a former catcher and infielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 4", 138 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.-Overview profile:...
- Shirley Palesh
- 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:...
- Edythe PerlickEdythe PerlickEdythe Perlick [Edie] was a left fielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 3", 128 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.-Overview profile:...
- Marjorie Pieper
- Grace Piskula
- 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:...
- Betty Russell
- Claire SchillaceClaire SchillaceClaire Joan Schillace was a center fielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
- Doris Shero
- Charlotte SmithCharlotte Smith (baseball)Charlotte Smith was an infielder and outfielder who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 6", 130 lb., Smith batted and threw right handed. She was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee....
- Ruby StephensRuby StephensRuby Lee Stephens [Stevie] was a pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
- Dorothy StolzeDorothy StolzeDorothy Stolze [Dottie] was a second basewoman who played from through for four different teams of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
- Lucille Stone
- Virginia Tezak
- Betty TrezzaBetty TrezzaBetty Trezza [″Moe″] was an American professional baseball player. An infield and outfield utility, she played from through for four different teams of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League....
- Georgette Vincent
- Frances VukovichFrances VukovichFrances Vukovich is a former pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 7", 140 lb., she batted and threw left handed...
- Rossey Weeks
- Margaret Wenzell
- 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....
- Dorothy Wind
- Joanne WinterJoanne WinterJoanne Emily Winter [Jo] was a pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 8", 138 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.-Overview profile:...
- Thelma Wolmesley
- Agnes Zurowski
Facts
- The Belles wore yellow dress uniforms with knee-high brown woolen socks and brown caps.
- The Belle Panda was the team's unofficial mascot.
- In 1945 the team won the attendance trophy for having the largest audience on opening night, May 23, with 4,019 fans.
- The Belles were the first team in the AAGPBL to sponsor a junior team. The Junior Belles were local high school girls who played on four teams, the Golds, the Greens, the Reds, and the Grays. Their coaches, uniforms, and equipment were provided by Western PublishingWestern PublishingWestern Publishing, also known as Western Printing and Lithographing Company was a Racine, Wisconsin firm responsible for publishing the Little Golden Books. Western Publishing also produced children's books and family-related entertainment products as Golden Books Family Entertainment...
, the sponsor for the professional Belles. - Although the 1992 film1992 in filmThe year 1992 in film involved many significant films. -Top grossing films:-Awards:Academy AwardsGolden Globe AwardsNational Film Awards...
A League of Their OwnA League of Their OwnA League of Their Own is a 1992 American comedy-drama film that tells a fictionalized account of the real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League . Directed by Penny Marshall, the film stars Geena Davis, Lori Petty, Tom Hanks, Madonna, and Rosie O'Donnell...
features the Racine Belles, all of the characters playing on the team were fictional. The Belles, however, did win the league championship in 19431943 in baseball-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over St. Louis Cardinals *All-Star Game, July 13 at Shibe Park: American League, 5-3-Other champions:*Negro League World Series: Homestead Grays over Birmingham Black Barons...
, but over the Kenosha CometsKenosha CometsBased 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...
, not the Rockford PeachesRockford PeachesThe 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....
as the movie depicts.
Fastpitch
The name Racine Belles now refers to a non-profit organization dedicated to the development of girls' fastpitch softball in southeastern Wisconsin.Sources
- A League Of My Own: Memoir of a Pitcher for the All-American Girls – Patricia I. Brown. Publisher: Macfarland & Company, 2003. Format: Paperback, 216pp. Language: English. ISBN 9780786414741
- A Whole New Ball Game: The Story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League – Sue Macy. Publisher: Puffin, 1995. Format: Paperback, 160pp. Language: English. ISBN 014037423X
- All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Record Book – W. C. Madden. Publisher: McFarland & Company, 2000. Format: Paperback, 294pp. Language: English. ISBN 0786437472
- Biographical Dictionary of American Sports – David L. Porter. Publisher: Greenwood Press, 2000. Format: Hardcover, 2064pp. Language: English. ISBN 9780313298844
- Encyclopedia of Women and Baseball – Leslie A. Heaphy, Mel Anthony May. Publisher: McFarland & Company, 2006. Format: Paperback, 438pp. Language: English. ISBN 0786421002
- Women in Baseball: The Forgotten History – Gai Ingham Berlage, Charley Gerard. Publisher: Greenwood Publishing Group, 1994. Format: Hardcover, 224pp. Language: English. ISBN 0275947351
- The Women of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League: A Biographical Dictionary – W. C. Madden. Publisher: McFarland & Company, 2005. Format: Paperback, 295 pp. Language: English. ISBN 0786437472
- When Women Played Hardball – Susan Johnson. Publisher: Seal Press, 1994. Format: Paperback, 320pp. Language: Language: English. ISBN 1878067435