History All-American Girls Professional Baseball League

the teams played in midwestern cities. south bend blue sox , rockford peaches 2 teams stayed in home cities full 12-year period of aagpbl s existence.

with america s entry world war ii, several major league baseball executives started new professional league women players in order maintain baseball in public eye while majority of able men away. founders included wrigley, branch rickey , paul v. harper. feared major league baseball cease, due war. initial tryouts held @ wrigley field in chicago.

the name of league of misnomer, aagpbl never played regulation baseball. in first season, league played game hybrid of baseball , softball. ball 12 inches in circumference, size of regulation softball (regulation baseballs 9 9 ⁄4 inches). pitcher s mound forty feet home plate, closer in regulation softball , closer baseball distance of 60 feet, 6 inches. pitchers threw underhand windmill, in softball, , distance between bases 65 feet, 5 feet longer in softball 25 feet shorter in baseball. major similarities between aagpbl , baseball included 9 player teams , use of pitcher s mound (softball pitchers throw flat ground). 1948 ball had shrunk 10 3/8 inches, overhand pitching allowed, , mound moved 50 feet. on history of league, rules continued gradually approach of baseball. final season in 1954, ball regulation baseball size, mound moved 60 feet, , basepaths extended 85 feet (still 5 feet shorter in regulation baseball).

salaries ranged $45–$85 (or $623–$1176 in 2016 dollars) week during first years of play $125 (or $1153 in 2016 dollars) per week in later years.

first aagpbl players signed in 1943: back, l-r: claire schillace, ann harnett , edythe perlick. seated: shirley jameson. photo courtesy of northern indiana center history collection.

the uniforms worn female ballplayers consisted of belted, short-sleeved tunic dress slight flare of skirt. rules stated skirts worn no more 6 inches above knee, regulation ignored in order facilitate running , fielding. circular team logo sewn on front of each dress, , baseball caps featured elastic bands in one-size-fits-all

ann harnett became first girl sign all-americans, being followed shirley jameson, edythe perlick , claire schillace.

during spring training girls required attend helena rubinstein s evening charm school classes. proper etiquette every situation taught, , every aspect of personal hygiene, mannerisms , dress code presented players. in effort make each player physically attractive possible, each player received beauty kit , instructions on how use it. part of leagues rules of conduct , girls not permitted have short hair, smoke or drink in public places, , required wear lipstick @ times. fines not following leagues rules of conduct 5 dollars first offense, ten second, , suspension third.

during 1946–1948 seasons league went on road spring training. went mississippi in 1946, havana, cuba in 1947 , florida in 1948.

the aagpbl peaked in attendance during 1948 season, when 10 teams attracted 910,000 paid fans.

the rockford peaches won league championships 4 (1945, 1948, 1949, 1950). milwaukee/grand rapids chicks second 3 (1944 in milwaukee, 1947 , 1953 in grand rapids). racine belles (1943 , 1946) , south bend blue sox (1951 , 1952) each won two, , kalamazoo lassies won in league s final season (1954).

bill allington successful manager in league s history. 1945 1954, posted 583-398 record .594 winning percentage, never had losing season , all-time leader in victories in league. active talent scout league. allington reached playoff 8 times, winning aagpbl championship title in 1945 , in consecutive years 1948 1956.