1944 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season

Last updated
1944 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season
Logo of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.svg
League All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
SportBaseball
Number of teamsSix
Regular season
Season champions Kenosha Comets (first half)
Milwaukee Chicks (second half)
Scholarship Series
Champions Milwaukee Chicks
AAGPBL seasons
  1943
1945  

The 1944 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season marked the second season of the circuit. The AAGPBL expanded in its second year of existence by adding two franchises to the original four-team format. At this point, the Milwaukee Chicks and the Minneapolis Millerettes joined the Kenosha Comets, Racine Belles, Rockford Peaches and South Bend Blue Sox. The number of games in the schedule also increased to 118, while the final Scholarship Series faced first-half winner Kenosha against Milwaukee, second-half champ, in a Best of Seven Series. [1]

Contents

In that season the ball was decreased in size from 12 inches to 11½ inches. In addition, the base paths were lengthened to 68 feet. [2] As a result, batting averages decreased to low .200 as pitching continued to dominate for second straight season. No batters surpassed the .300 mark, with South Bend's Betsy Jochum collecting the highest average at .296. Once again Kenosha's Helen Nicol led all pitchers in earned run average, turning in a minuscule 0.98 mark, while Minneapolis' Annabelle Lee hurled the first perfect game in league history against Kenosha. Among pitchers who threw no-hitters were Rockford's Carolyn Morris (two) and Mary Pratt, and Kenosha' Elise Harney and Nicol. [3]

The final series was extended from three to seven games. The series went to the limit of seven games and Milwaukee clinched the championship, four to three. Despite losing Game 1, Connie Wisniewski earned the four wins to set a series record, pitching a four-hit shutout in decisive Game 7 to give the Chicks the title. [4]

Although the Chicks won the championship, 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. [5]

The AAGPBL drew 260,000 fans during the 1944 season, which represented a 49 percent raise over the previous year. [1]

Teams

1944 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Teams
TeamCityStadium
Kenosha Comets Kenosha, Wisconsin Lake Front Stadium
Milwaukee Chicks Milwaukee, Wisconsin Borchert Field
Minneapolis Millerettes Minneapolis, Minnesota Nicollet Park
Racine Belles Racine, Wisconsin Horlick Field
Rockford Peaches Rockford, Illinois Rockford Municipal Stadium
South Bend Blue Sox South Bend, Indiana Bendix Field

Map of teams

Black pog.svg All-American Girls Professional Baseball League teams

Standings

First half

RankTeamWLW-L%GB
1 Kenosha Comets 3623.610
2 South Bend Blue Sox 3325.569
3 Milwaukee Chicks 3026.536
4 Racine Belles 2832.467
5 Rockford Peaches 2432.42910½
6 Minneapolis Millerettes 2336.39013

Second half

RankTeamWLW-L%GB
1 Milwaukee Chicks 4019.678
2 South Bend Blue Sox 3127.534
3 Rockford Peaches 2928.50910
4 Kenosha Comets 2631.45613
5 Racine Belles 2532.43914
6 Minneapolis Millerettes 2236.37917½

Composite records

RankTeamWLW-L%GB
1 Milwaukee Chicks 7045.609
2 South Bend Blue Sox 6452.552
3 Kenosha Comets 6254.469
4 Rockford Peaches 5360.45616
5 Racine Belles 5364.45318
6 Minneapolis Millerettes 4572.38526½

Postseason

GameTeamsScore
1  Milwaukee Chicks  
@
Kenosha Comets
2

4
2 Kenosha Comets
@
Milwaukee Chicks
4

1
3 Milwaukee Chicks
@
Kenosha Comets
7

0
4 Kenosha Comets
@
Milwaukee Chicks
1

7
5 Milwaukee Chicks
@
Kenosha Comets
0

9
6 Kenosha Comets
@
Milwaukee Chicks
1

2
7 Milwaukee Chicks
@
Kenosha Comets
3

0

[6]

Batting statistics

StatisticPlayerRecord
  Batting average Betsy Jochum (SB)
Helen Callaghan (MIN)
Faye Dancer (MIN)
Eleanor Dapkus (RAC)
Merle Keagle (MIL)
Vickie Panos (SB/MIL)
Rose Folder (KEN)
  Dorothy Kamenshek (ROC)  
Shirley Jameson (KEN)
Ann Harnett (KEN)
.296
.287
.274
.273
.264
.263
.261
.257
.253
.248
Runs scored Sophie Kurys (RAC)
Vickie Panos (SB/MIL)
Helen Callaghan (MIN)
Pauline Pirok (KEN)
Betsy Jochum (SB)
Merle Keagle (MIL)
Claire Schillace (RAC)
Shirley Jameson (KEN)
Phyllis Koehn (KEN)
Doris Tetzlaff (MIL)
87
84
81
73
72
72
65
64
62
62
Hits Betsy Jochum (SB)
Dorothy Kamenshek (ROC)
Helen Callaghan (MIN)
Merle Keagle (MIL)
Vickie Panos (SB/MIL)
Eleanor Dapkus (RAC)
Sophie Kurys (RAC)
Phyllis Koehn (KEN)
Faye Dancer (MIN)
Ann Harnett (KEN)
128
115
114
107
106
99
96
91
90
87
Doubles Eleanor Dapkus (RAC)
Pauline Pirok (KEN)
Ann Harnett (KEN)
Dorothy Kamenshek (ROC)
Vivian Kellogg (MIN)
Josephine Lenard (ROC)
Lavonne Paire (MIN)
Lucille Colacito (KEN)
Merle Keagle (MIL)
Sophie Kurys (RAC)
Edythe Perlick (RAC)
Lee Surkowski (SB)
10
10
8
8
8
8
8
7
7
7
7
7
Triples Josephine Lenard (ROC)
Ann Harnett (KEN)
Vivian Kellogg (MIN)
Lois Florreich (SB)
Phyllis Koehn (KEN)
Faye Dancer (MIN)
Mildred Deegan (ROC)
Dorothy Maguire (MIL)
Merle Keagle (MIL)
Betty Whiting (MIL)
10
8
7
6
6
5
5
5
5
5
Home runs Merle Keagle (MIL)
Eleanor Dapkus (RAC)
Helen Callaghan (MIN)
Vivian Kellogg (MIN)
Elizabeth Mahon (KEN)
Doris Tetzlaff (MIL)
Lee Surkowski (SB)
Josephine D'Angelo (SB)
Faye Dancer (MIN)
Betsy Jochum (SB)
Mary Nesbitt (RAC)
Edythe Perlick (RAC)
Margaret Wigiser (MIN)
7
5
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
Runs batted in Edythe Perlick (RAC)
Sophie Kurys (RAC)
Eleanor Dapkus (RAC)
Faye Dancer (MIN)
Merle Keagle (MIL)
Vivian Kellogg (MIN)
Margaret Stefani (SB)
Ann Harnett (KEN)
Phyllis Koehn (KEN)
Doris Tetzlaff (MIL)
Thelma Eisen (MIL)
Mary Baker (SB)
63
60
56
48
47
46
46
45
42
42
41
41
Stolen bases Sophie Kurys (RAC)
Vickie Panos (SB/MIL)
Betsy Jochum (SB)
Merle Keagle (MIL)
Shirley Jameson (KEN)
Lois Florreich (SB)
Helen Callaghan (MIN)
Doris Tetzlaff (MIL)
Mary Baker (SB)
Alma Ziegler (MIL)
Pauline Pirok (KEN)
Dorothy Schroeder (SB)
166
141
127
122
119
113
112
101
92
77
75
70

Pitching statistics

StatisticPlayerRecord
Wins Josephine Kabick (MIL)
Carolyn Morris (ROC)
Mary Nesbitt (RAC)
Connie Wisniewski (MIL)
   Charlotte Armstrong (SB)  
Margaret Berger (SB)
Mary Pratt (ROC/KEN)
Dorothy Wiltse (MIN)
Elise Harney (KEN)
Helen Nicol (KEN)
Amy Applegren (ROC)
Viola Thompson (MIL)
Joanne Winter (RAC)
Catherine Bennett (SB)
Betty Luna (ROC)
Annabelle Lee (MIN)
26
23
23
23
21
21
21
20
18
17
16
15
15
14
12
11
Earned run average Helen Nicol (KEN)
Charlotte Armstrong (SB)
Margaret Berger (SB)
Dorothy Wiltse (MIN)
Catherine Bennett (SB)
Carolyn Morris (ROC)
Elise Harney (KEN)
Connie Wisniewski
Annabelle Lee (MIN)
Mary Pratt (ROC/KEN)
Betty Luna (ROC)
Josephine Kabick (MIL)
Amy Applegren (ROC)
Jane Jacobs (RAC)
Viola Thompson (MIL)
Joanne Winter (RAC)
Doris Barr (SB)
0.93
1.51
1.57
1.88
2.04
2.15
2.23
2.23
2.43
2.50
2.61
2.66
2.77
2.82
2.88
2.96
2.98
Strikeouts Dorothy Wiltse (MIN)
Helen Nicol (KEN)
Carolyn Morris (ROC)
Mary Nesbitt (RAC)
Margaret Berger (SB)
Elise Harney (KEN)
Connie Wisniewski
Josephine Kabick (MIL)
Charlotte Armstrong (SB)
Amy Applegren (ROC)
Viola Thompson (MIL)
Joanne Winter (RAC)
205
136
112
106
92
88
82
81
68
56
52
52
Games pitched Josephine Kabick (MIL)
Mary Nesbitt (RAC)
Carolyn Morris (ROC)
Margaret Berger (SB)
Mary Pratt (ROC/KEN)
Joanne Winter (RAC)
Charlotte Armstrong (SB)
Dorothy Wiltse (MIN)
Amy Applegren (ROC)
Connie Wisniewski
Catherine Bennett (SB)
Audrey Haine (MIN)
Elise Harney (KEN)
45
45
44
41
41
40
39
38
36
36
34
34
34
Innings pitched Josephine Kabick (MIL)
Carolyn Morris (ROC)
Mary Nesbitt (RAC)
Charlotte Armstrong (SB)
Margaret Berger (SB)
Joanne Winter (RAC)
Mary Pratt (ROC/KEN)
Dorothy Wiltse (MIN)
Connie Wisniewski
Elise Harney (KEN)
Amy Applegren (ROC)
Helen Nicol (KEN)
366
343
343
321
315
310
303
297
291
262
250
243

[6] [7]

All-Star Game

See also

Sources

  1. 1 2 "All-American Girls Professional Baseball League History".
  2. AAGPBL Rules of Play
  3. All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Record BookW. C. Madden. Publisher: McFarland & Company, 2000. Format: Softcover, 294pp. Language: English. ISBN   978-0-7864-3747-4
  4. Connie Wisniewsi biography by Joyce M. Smith
  5. "University of Wisconsin Oral History Project – The Forgotten Champs: The 1944 Milwaukee Chicks. Interview with Viola Griffin (Thompson). Robert Carter. December 11, 2009".
  6. 1 2 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Record Book
  7. The Women of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League: A Biographical DictionaryW. C. Madden. Publisher: McFarland & Company, 2005. Format: Softcover, 295pp. Language: English. ISBN   0-7864-3747-2

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The 1943 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season marked the inaugural season of the circuit. Since the only organized ball for women in the country was softball, the league created a hybrid game that included both softball and baseball.

The 1945 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season marked the third season of the circuit. The action began with six teams, like the previous season. But the Milwaukee Chicks and the Minneapolis Millerettes franchises were renamed the Grand Rapids Chicks and Fort Wayne Daisies respectively. The measure took effect for poor attendances in the cities of these teams the year before. At this point, the new clubs joined the Kenosha Comets, Racine Belles, Rockford Peaches and South Bend Blue Sox, all founding members of the league. The six teams competed through a 110-game schedule, while the split season was dropped in favor of a longer playoff format with the Shaugnessy format: the one seed facing the three seed and the two seed against the four seed. In addition, the pitching distance increased from 40 to 42 feet during the midseason.

The 1946 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season marked the fourth season of the circuit. The AAGPBL expansion brought two new franchises to the previous six-team format. At this point, the Muskegon Lassies and the Peoria Redwings joined the Fort Wayne Daisies, Grand Rapids Chicks, Kenosha Comets, Racine Belles, Rockford Peaches and South Bend Blue Sox. The eight teams competed through a 112-game schedule, while the final Shaugnessy playoffs faced season winner Racine against defending champion Rockford in a Best of Seven Series.

The 1947 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season marked the fifth season of the circuit. The teams Fort Wayne Daisies, Grand Rapids Chicks, Kenosha Comets, Muskegon Lassies, Peoria Redwings, Racine Belles, Rockford Peaches and South Bend Blue Sox competed through a 112-game schedule. The final Shaugnessy playoffs faced second place Grand Rapids against third place Racine in a Best of Seven Series.

The 1948 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season marked the sixth season of the circuit. The AAGPBL grew to an all-time peak of ten teams in that season, representing Eastern and Western zones, just in the first year the circuit shifted to strictly overhand pitching. Other modifications occurred during 1948. The ball was decreased in size from 11+12 inches (290 mm) to 10+38 inches (260 mm), while the base paths were lengthened to 72 feet and the pitching distance increased to 50 feet.

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The 1951 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season marked the ninth season of the circuit. The teams Battle Creek Belles, Fort Wayne Daisies, Grand Rapids Chicks, Kalamazoo Lassies, Kenosha Comets, Peoria Redwings, Rockford Peaches and South Bend Blue Sox competed through a 112-game schedule, while the Shaugnessy playoffs featured the top four teams from each half of the regular season.

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