Mitch Skupien was a manager and executive in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. [1]
Very little is known about this man who worked hard for the AAGPBL during the final five years of its existence. Previously,Skupien had managed the Rayson Sporting Goods,a Chicago baseball team,and also had served as a scout for the AAGPBL since the early years of the circuit. He reported to the board of directors in 1949 and later managed during four years,leading his teams to three playoff appearances,including the Championship title in the league's last season. [2] [3]
Skupien took the field in 1951 with the Grand Rapids Chicks,managing for them one year before joining the Kalamazoo Lassies (1952–1954). In his first season,Skupien led Grand Rapids to the first-half title with a 40–13 record and posted the second-best record at 71–35 (in an eight-team format),earning a ticket to the playoffs. But the Chicks lost the first round to the Rockford Peaches,two games to none. [1] [4]
He landed in Kalamazoo in 1952 in an attempt to revive the struggling Lassies franchise,who had had losing records in four of their six previous seasons. With him at the helm,the team improved to 49-60 and ended fifth (next to last),after collecting a second-worst 34-75 the previous year. [1] [4] [5]
In 1953,the Lassies finished third with a 53–50 record and advanced to the playoffs. After defeating the Fort Wayne Daisies in the first round (2–1),Kalamazoo was beaten by Grand Rapids in the final series (2-to-1). [4] [6]
The Lassies had a 48–49 mark in 1954 and finished fifth out of six teams. In the playoffs,Kalamazoo defeated the South Bend Blue Sox in three games,and later disposed of the strong Daisies (3-2) to clinch the last Championship title in the league's history. [4] [7] [8] [9]
In addition to his work as a skipper,from 1949 to 1950 Skupien was kept busy as a general manager for the Chicago Colleens and Springfield Sallies touring teams. Both teams were added to the league's roster in 1948,but lost their franchises by the end of that season after finishing last in their respective divisions. For the next two years the Colleens and Sallies recruited new talent for the league,while playing an extensive exhibition schedule against each other through the South and East,including contests at Griffith Stadium in Washington,D.C.,and Yankee Stadium in New York City. Patricia Barringer,who had played at second base in the AAGPBL,was named by Skupien as chaperone and manager of the Colleens,who wore green uniforms,while another former second bagger,Barbara Liebrich,became the chaperone-manager for the Sallies,who wore white uniforms. [8] [10]
Mitch Skupien is part of the AAGPBL permanent display at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum at Cooperstown,New York,opened in 1988,which is dedicated to the entire league rather than any individual figure.
The Battle Creek Belles were a women's professional baseball team that played from 1951 through 1952 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The Belles represented Battle Creek, Michigan, and played their home games at Bailey Park.
The Springfield Sallies were a women's professional baseball team who were members of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in the 1948 season and became a development team. The Sallies were based in Springfield, Illinois and played home games at Jim Fitzpatrick Memorial Stadium.
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.
Maxine Kline [Randall] is a former female starting pitcher who played from 1948 through 1954 with the Fort Wayne Daisies of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 7", 130 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.
Gloria Cordes Elliott was a starting pitcher who played from 1950 through 1954 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 8", 138 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.
Inez Ferne Voyce[Lefty] is a former 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.
Joanne "Joltin' Jo" Weaver was a right fielder who played from 1951 through 1954 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m), 142 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.
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.
Nancy Warren was a pitcher and infielder who played from 1946 through 1954 for six different teams of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m), 130 lb., she batted and threw right-handed. Hank was a nickname she picked up as a youth.
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.
Eleanor Moore [Warner] is a former pitcher who played from 1950 through 1954 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m), Moore batted and threw right-handed. She was born in Long Point, Illinois.
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.
Renae Audrey Youngberg [Ray] was a third basewoman who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during four seasons spanning 1949–1954. She batted and threw right-handed.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The 1954 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season marked the twelfth and last season of the circuit. The AAGPBL was left with five teams after the Muskegon Belles franchise folded at the end of the past season. As a result, it was the lowest number of teams since its opening season in 1943. The Fort Wayne Daisies, Grand Rapids Chicks, Kalamazoo Lassies, Rockford Peaches and South Bend Blue Sox competed through a 96-game schedule, while the Shaugnessy playoffs featured the top four teams in a best-of-three first round series, with the two winning teams facing in a best-of-five series to decide the championship.
Frances L. Janssen [″Big Red″, or ″Little Red″] was an American pitcher who played from 1948 through 1952 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m), 155 lb, she batted and threw right-handed.
