Chicago Colleens | |
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Minor league affiliations | |
Previous leagues | All-American Girls Professional Baseball League |
Team data | |
Colors | Green, white |
Previous parks | Shewbridge Field |
Owner(s)/ Operator(s) | AAGPBL |
The Chicago Colleens were a women's professional baseball team who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1948 to 1951, evolving into a development team. The team was based Chicago, Illinois and played their home games at Shewbridge Field.
The Colleens joined the strong Eastern Division in the 1948 season and were managed by former Major League player Dave Bancroft. The team was the worst in the league, getting roughed up as a last-place expansion club with a 47–76 record, ending twenty nine and a half games out of the first place spot in the division. The only team to do worse, the Springfield Sallies of the Western Division, ended 41–84 in last place, 35.5 games out of 1st place. Both teams lost their franchises by the end of that season.
From 1949 through 1950, the Colleens and the Sallies became rookie development teams that played exclusively exhibition games. Their tours included contests at Griffith Stadium and Yankee Stadium. The team dissolved entirely by 1951.
AAGPBL executive Mitch Skupien, who later managed in the league, served as the general manager for both touring teams.
The team's 1948 games were broadcast regularly on television station WBKB in Chicago. [1]
The Colleens played at Shewbridge Field. The ballpark was located at the corner of South Morgan and West 74th Streets on the South Side of Chicago, now part of the campus of the Stagg School of Excellence. [2]
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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.
Mitch Skupien was a manager and executive in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.
Barbara E. Liebrich [Bobbie] was an American infielder, manager and chaperone in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during the 1948 and 1954 seasons. She batted and threw right-handed.
Charlene Barnett ("Barney") was an infielder who played from 1947 through 1950 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She batted and threw right-handed.
Johanna Hageman [Hargraves] was a first base player and chaperone in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League between the 1943 and 1949 seasons. Listed at 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m), 155 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.
Marjorie L. Pieper ["Peeps"] was an infielder, outfielder and pitcher who played from 1946 through 1952 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m), 140 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.
Marilyn Charlotte Jones [Doxey] was an American pitcher and catcher who played from 1948 through 1954 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m), 135 lb (61 kg), she batted and threw right-handed.
Patricia Barringer was an All-American Girls Professional Baseball League ballplayer. Listed at 5' 7", 145 lb., she batted and threw right handed.
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Stagg School of Excellence opened in December of 1966. The original building contained 28 classrooms, a lunchroom, and an assembly hall/gymnasium. The school was built on the site of the old Shewbridge athletic field, which was formerly owned by Leo High School.