Kenosha Comets

Last updated
Kenosha Comets
AAGPBL Kenosha.png KenoshaComets caplogo.png
Team logoCap insignia
Minor league affiliations
Previous leagues
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
Team data
Previous names
Shamrocks [1]
ColorsGreen, white
  
Previous parks
Lake Front Stadium (1943–1947)
Simmons Field (1948–1951)
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
AAGPBL
1943 Kenosha Comets inaugural season - Back L-R: Josh Billings (Manager), Audrey Wagner, Ethel McCreary, Lee Harney, Ann Harnett, Janice O`Hara, Ada Ryan (Chaperone).
Middle L-R: Phyllis Koehn, Kay Heim, Helen Westerman, Helen Nicol, Darlene Mickelsen.
Front L-R: Clara Cook, Myrna Nearing, Mary Louise Lester, Shirley Jameson, Pauline Pirok. 1943 Kenosha Comets.jpg
1943 Kenosha Comets inaugural season - Back L-R: Josh Billings (Manager), Audrey Wagner, Ethel McCreary, Lee Harney, Ann Harnett, Janice O`Hara, Ada Ryan (Chaperone).
Middle L-R: Phyllis Koehn, Kay Heim, Helen Westerman, Helen Nicol, Darlene Mickelsen.
Front L-R: Clara Cook, Myrna Nearing, Mary Louise Lester, Shirley Jameson, Pauline Pirok.

The Kenosha Comets were a women's professional baseball team based in Kenosha, Wisconsin that played from 1943 through 1951 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.

Contents

History

The Kenosha Comets were one of the first four teams in the AAGPBL. Unofficially nicknamed the "Shamrocks" by out of town newspapers owing to their green uniforms, a contest to name the team was won by Mrs. Hazel Templeton who chose The Comets which the team officially adopted on June 4. [2] [1] In 1943, the Comets posted the third-best record of the league at 56–52, but had won the second-half title (33–21) and earned a ticket to the playoffs; they were swept in three games by the Racine Belles.

Kenosha again placed third in 1944 (62–54) and made the playoffs, thanks to a first-half title (36–23). The Comets took a 3–2 lead over the Milwaukee Chicks in the best-of-seven series, but lost the decisive Game 7. Kenosha faded after that, placing last in 1945 (41–69), seventh of eight teams in 1946 (42–70), and last in 1947 (43–69).

The Comets rebounded in 1948, placing fifth (61–64) in the five–team Western Division and advancing to the playoffs, but were defeated by Racine in the first round, three games to zero. In 1949, Kenosha finished fourth (58–55) in the eight–team league, and lost to the Muskegon Lassies in two games during the first round of post–season action.

Their most productive season came in 1950, when they finished second with a 64–46 record, three games behind Racine, only to lose for the fifth straight appearance in the first round, this time to the Rockford Peaches in four games.

In 1951, Kenosha placed sixth (36–71) in the eight-team league, out of contention. The team folded at the end of the season.

In its nine years of history, the Kenosha Comets had in their rosters notable players as pitcher Helen Nicol and slugger Audrey Wagner, as well as Lois Florreich, Katie Horstman, Elizabeth Mahon, Dorothy Schroeder, and Fern Shollenberger.

All-time roster

Bold denotes members of the inaugural roster

Managers

* Josh Billings 1943
1944
* Marty McManus 1944
* Eddie Stumpf 1945
* Press Cruthers 1946
* Ralph Shinners 1947
* Chet Grant 1948
* Johnny Gottselig 1949
1950
1951
* Ernestine Petras 1950

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1943 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season</span> Sports season

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 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.

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.

The 1950 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season marked the eight 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.

References

  1. 1 2 @AAGPBL (May 30, 2018). "1st game in the doubleheader between the #RacineBelles & Kenosha Shamrocks (renamed Comets later that week) resulted in Kenosha winning 8-6 in 7 inns due to rain and heavy fog. 2nd game was rained out and picked up the next day where Racine won 6-3 (in 7 innings due to rain)" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  2. Kenosha Evening News, June 5, 1943

Sources