Grand Rapids Chicks

Last updated
Grand Rapids Chicks
GrandRapidsChicks caplogo.png
Minor league affiliations
Previous leagues
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
Minor league titles
League titles 1947, 1953
Team data
ColorsRed, white
  
Previous parks
South High School Field (1945–1949, 1953–1954)
Bigelow Field (1950–1952)
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
AAGPBL
Thelma "Tiby" Eisen in 1945 with "G R" hat Face detail, Thelma "Tiby" Eisen (5530700036) (cropped) (cropped).jpg
Thelma "Tiby" Eisen in 1945 with "G R" hat

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, [1] winning championships in 1947 and 1953. [2]

Contents

History

The franchise originated in 1944 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as the Milwaukee Chicks. Although the Chicks won the 1944 AAGPBL championship, they could not compete with the minor league Milwaukee Brewers for ticket sales, and the franchise moved to Grand Rapids. They enjoyed continued success following the move, making the playoffs every year until the league folded following the 1954 season. [2]

Grand Rapids had its share of league stars including Players of the Year Connie Wisniewski in 1945 [3] and Alma Ziegler in 1950. [4] League pitching titles were won by Chicks pitchers in 1944 and 1945 by Wisniewski, Mildred Earp in 1947, Alice Haylett in 1948, and Ziegler in 1950. Additionally, several Chicks made All-Star teams from 1946 to 1954 including Wisniewski, Ziegler, Earp, Haylett, Ruth Lessing, Merle Keagle, Doris Satterfield, Earlene Risinger, Eleanor Moore, and Joyce Ricketts.

The Chicks played their home games at South High School in Grand Rapids, with the exception of 1950-1952 when games were played at Bigelow Field in Wyoming Township. After a fire destroyed Bigelow Field, the Chicks returned to South High School through 1954.

All-time players roster

Bold denotes members of the inaugural roster

Managers

* Benny Meyer      1945
* Johnny Rawlings 1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
* Mitch Skupien 1951
* Woody English 1952
1953
1954

Season-by-season records

   * Championship season

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Wayne Daisies</span> Minor league baseball team

The Fort Wayne Daisies were a women's professional baseball team based in Fort Wayne, Indiana that played from 1945 through 1954 as members of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kalamazoo Lassies</span> Minor league baseball team

The Kalamazoo Lassies were a team who played from 1950 through 1954 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 Soisson-Rapacz field. Kalamazoo uniforms were white (home) and gold (away) with dark green numbers, belt, socks, and cap.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alice Haylett</span> Baseball player

Alice Haylett, nicknamed "Al" and "Sis", was a female pitcher who played from 1946 through 1949 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m), 155 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.

Inez Ferne Voyce, nicknamed Lefty, was a first basewoman who played from 1946 through 1953 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 6", 148 lb., she batted and threw left-handed.

Mary Lou Studnicka [Brazauskas, Caden] was an overhand pitcher who played from 1951 through 1953 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Studnicka batted and threw right-handed. She was nicknamed "ML".

Mildred Kathryn Earp, nicknamed Mid or Millie, was an American female pitcher who played from 1947 to 1950 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m), 135 lb, she batted and threw right-handed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Connie Wisniewski</span> Baseball player

Constance Wisniewski (Wiśniewski) was a starting pitcher and outfielder who played from 1944 through 1952 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 8", 147 lb., she batted left-handed and threw right-handed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alma Ziegler</span> Baseball player

Alma Ziegler was an infielder and pitcher who played from 1944 through 1954 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m), 125 lb., Ziegler batted and threw right-handed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merle Keagle</span> Baseball player

Merle Patricia Keagle was an American center fielder who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League between the 1944 and 1948 seasons. Listed at 5' 2", 144 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorothy Maguire</span> Baseball player

Dorothy Maguire was a catcher and outfielder who played from 1943 through 1949 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Maguire batted and threw right-handed. She also played under the name of Dorothy Chapman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doris Satterfield</span> American baseball player

Doris L. Satterfield [Sadie] was a left and center fielder who played from 1947 through 1954 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She batted and threw right-handed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thelma Eisen</span> American baseball player

Thelma "Tiby" Eisen was an outfielder who played from 1944 through 1952 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 4", 130 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jean Smith (baseball)</span> Baseball player

Jean Marie Smith was an outfielder and relief pitcher who played from 1948 through 1954 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m), 128. lb, she batted and threw right-handed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earlene Risinger</span> Baseball player

Helen Earlene Risinger was a pitcher who played from 1948 through 1954 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 6' 2", 137 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.

Ernestine Petras [״Teeny״] was an infielder who played from 1944 through 1952 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m), 125 lb., Petras batted and threw right-handed. She was born in the Haskell section of Wanaque, New Jersey.

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 1953 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season marked the eleventh season of the circuit. The teams Fort Wayne Daisies, Grand Rapids Chicks, Kalamazoo Lassies, Muskegon Belles, Rockford Peaches and South Bend Blue Sox competed through a 110-game schedule, while the Shaugnessy playoffs featured the top four teams. This time, the postseason was reduced to a best-of-three series for both rounds.

Thelma Josephine Grambo was a Canadian catcher who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 7", 165 lb., she batted and threw right handed.

References

  1. "AAGPBL Teams: Grand Rapids Chicks". www.aagpbl.org. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  2. 1 2 www.grcmc.org, Grand Rapids Community Media Center-. "Grand Rapids Chicks". History Grand Rapids. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  3. "#Shortstops: The Iron Woman". Baseball Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  4. "Alma Ziegler (". aagpbl.org. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  5. Topkin, Marc (1992-07-01). "Kunkel played final role as director's adviser". Tampa Bay Times. p. 28. Retrieved 2022-10-16.

Sources