Minneapolis Millerettes

Last updated
Minneapolis Millerettes
MinneapolisOrphans caplogo.png
Minor league affiliations
Previous leagues
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
Team data
NameLakers, Orphans
ColorsMaroon, pink, white
   
Previous parks
Nicollet Park
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
AAGPBL

The Minneapolis Millerettes were an expansion All-American Girls Professional Baseball League team that played for one season in 1944 based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Millerettes played home games at Nicollet Park, home of the men's minor league baseball team the Minneapolis Millers.

Contents

History

The Millerettes' uniform consisted of a maroon cap and socks and a pink dress uniform with the circular Minneapolis city seal at the center of the chest.

Like their expansion counterparts the Milwaukee Chicks, the team did not have an official nickname. They were alternately known as "Millerettes", after the city's American Association ballclub, and "Lakers" from Minnesota's nickname, "Land of 10,000 Lakes". [1] That nickname would be adopted by the city's professional basketball team three years later. Halfway through the season, the league gave up on the Minneapolis market and the Millerettes became a traveling team playing all games on the road, earning another nickname, the "Orphans".

The team was managed by Claude "Bubber" Jonnard, although the manager has often been incorrectly identified as Claude's brother Clarence Bubber Jonnard,.

The most significant players were pitcher Dorothy Wiltse, who posted a 20–16 record and a 1.88 ERA in 38 appearances, and outfielder Helen Callaghan, who finished second in the league in average (.287) and third in runs (81), hits (114), home runs (3), and total bases (136). Pitcher Annabelle Lee threw the first perfect game in AAGPBL history on July 29, 1944, against the Kenosha Comets.

The following year, the Millerettes moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where they became the Fort Wayne Daisies.

All-time players roster

1944 Minneapolis Millerettes
Back, L-R: Bubber Jonnard (Manager), Dorothy Wiltse (P), Vivian Kellogg (1B), Audrey Haine (P), Lavonne Paire (C), Kay Blumetta (P/1B), Lillian Jackson (OF), Ada Ryan (Chaperone).
Middle, L-R: Faye Dancer (OF), Elizabeth Farrow (P), Margaret Callaghan (3B), Audrey Kissel (2B), Margaret Wigiser (OF). Front, L-R: Ruth Lessing (C), Annabelle Lee (P), Helen Callaghan (OF), Betty Trezza (IF/OF). 1944 Minneapolis Millerettes.jpg
       1944 Minneapolis Millerettes
Back, L-R: Bubber Jonnard (Manager), Dorothy Wiltse (P), Vivian Kellogg (1B), Audrey Haine (P), Lavonne Paire (C), Kay Blumetta (P/1B), Lillian Jackson (OF), Ada Ryan (Chaperone).
Middle, L-R: Faye Dancer (OF), Elizabeth Farrow (P), Margaret Callaghan (3B), Audrey Kissel (2B), Margaret Wigiser (OF). Front, L-R: Ruth Lessing (C), Annabelle Lee (P), Helen Callaghan (OF), Betty Trezza (IF/OF).

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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.

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References

  1. "Girls Give Up at Minneapolis". The Milwaukee Journal. July 23, 1944. Retrieved July 15, 2019.

Sources