Badini, Jane Jacobs (Interview transcript and video, 2010)
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: Video recordings
subject: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League--Personal narratives
subject: Baseball for women--United States
subject: Baseball
subject: Sports for women
subject: World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
subject: Baseball players--Wisconsin
subject: Baseball players--Illinois
description: Jane Jacobs Badini was born in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, in 1924. She grew up playing softball, first with her brothers, and later with organized teams. She was a talented pitcher, and one of the players recruited by the AAGPBL when it was formed in 1943. She played in the league for four years, primarily with Racine, before leaving and starting her own business. The audio on this recording has significant noise interference.
creator: Badini, Jane Jacobs
source: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Collection, (RHC-55)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2010-08-05
contributor: Smither, James (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: mp4
format: pdf
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text
coverage: World War II

Zipay, Sue (Interview transcript and video), 2017
subject: Oral history
subject: Video recordings
subject: Sports for women
subject: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League--Personal narratives
subject: Baseball players--Michigan
subject: Baseball for women--United States
description: Sue Zipay was born in Medford, Massachusetts, in 1934 and grew up in Hingham. In grade school, Zipay recalled the wartime rationing, blackouts, and public celebrations at the end of the Second World War. In high school, she played for a Catholic Youth Organization basketball team, and a softball team as a shortstop, before graduating in 1952. After undergoing a tryout for AAGPBL Rockford Peaches chaperone Dottie Green, Zipay was contracted to play for the team during the 1953 season and attended spring training in South Bend, Indiana. Zipay did not have a set position with the Peaches, so she could be placed into any empty field position while also coaching first and third bases while not on the field. The team was forbidden to wear pants, smoke, swear, or have long hair while in public as to still give off a feminine appearance while not on the field. After acquiring a winter job, Zipay returned to the Rockford Peaches for the 1954 season and eventually learned that the League was being disbanded at the end of the season. Some of her colleagues went on to play for a new traveling team while Zipay got married and started a family. After having three children, she recognized that she could not return to any baseball programs and remained committed to serving her family while also taking up tennis in her spare time. Still interested in athletics, Zipay became a ranked tennis player in New England and attended Vic Braden School in California for a degree in teaching. She then moved to Florida and opened a tennis club, joined the Women's Baseball League Association, and helped organize plans for the construction of a women's baseball museum. Reflecting upon her time with the League, Zipay believed she gained a greater sense of confidence and camaraderie while playing for the Rockford Peaches.
creator: Zipay, Sue
source: Veterans History Project collection, RHC-27
publisher: Grand Valley State University Libraries, Special Collections & University Archives, 1 Campus Drive, Allendale, MI, 49401.
date: 2017-08-24
contributor: Smither, James (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: video/mp4
format: application/pdf
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text
coverage: World War II

O'Rear, Nancy Kellogg (Interview transcript and video), 2016
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: United States--History, Military
subject: Veterans
subject: Video recordings
subject: World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American
subject: Baseball players--Michigan
description: Nancy O'Rear was born on January 7, 1938 in Grandville, Michigan. She grew up in Grandville and Grand Rapids, Michigan, and in 1951 she started following the Grand Rapids Chicks, an All-American Girls Professional Baseball League team. From the 1951 season through the 1954 season she practiced with the Chicks, befriended the players, and traveled with the team to away games in Michigan and Indiana. There were plans for Nancy to join the team once she graduated from high school, but with the team's disbanding in 1954 those plans were scrapped.
creator: O'Rear, Nancy Kellogg
source: Veterans History Project collection, (RHC-27)
publisher: Grand Valley State University Libraries. Allendale, Michigan
date: 2016-01-21
contributor: Boring, Frank (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: video/x-m4v
format: application/pdf
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Burkovich, Shirley (Interview transcript and video), 2009
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: Video recordings
subject: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League--Personal narratives
subject: Baseball for women--United States
subject: Baseball
subject: Sports for women
subject: World War, 1939-1945
subject: Baseball players--Illinois
subject: Women
description: Shirley Burkovich was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She played softball with the neighborhood boys and her brother throughout her childhood. She first heard about the All American Girls Professional Baseball League one day when she was reading the newspaper. Her brother took her down to where they were holding tryouts; she tried out and afterwards was told to report to Cape Giradeau, Missouri for spring training. She played with the Springfield Sallies during the 1950 softball season and then was traded to the Rockford Peaches where she played out the 1951 season there. During her time in the league, her fondest memory is hitting the game-ending single to center field in 12-inning game. While with the league she played utility infield and utility outfield.
creator: Burkovich, Shirley
source: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Collection, (RHC-55)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2009-09-26
contributor: Smither, James (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Cione, Jean (Interview transcript and video), 2009
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: Video recordings
subject: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League--Personal narratives
subject: Baseball for women--United States
subject: Baseball
subject: Sports for women
subject: World War, 1939-1945
subject: Baseball players--Illinois
subject: Baseball players--Wisconsin
subject: Baseball players--Michigan
subject: Women
description: Jean Cione was born in Rockford, Illinois in 1928. She grew up in the Rockford area and played softball with the neighborhood boys and then also played with the local industrial teams. When the Rockford Peaches made Rockford their headquarters, Cione tried out for the team and at age 15 joined the ranks of the Rockford Peaches in 1945 as a reserve rookie first baseman. In 1946, she was traded to the Peoria Red Wings and played first baseman for them but was then traded to the Kenosha Comets in 1947. She remained with the Kenosha Comets from 1947 to 1953 and played sometimes as a left-handed pitcher, first baseman, or outfield. Consequently, the Comets franchise disbanded in 1954 and she was traded back to the Rockford Peaches where she finished out when the All American Girls Baseball League was disbanded.
creator: Cione, Jean
source: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Collection, (RHC-55)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2009-09-26
contributor: Olson, Gordon (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Kellogg, Vivian (Interview transcript and video), 2010
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: Video recordings
subject: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League--Personal narratives
subject: Baseball for women--United States
subject: Baseball
subject: Sports for women
subject: World War, 1939-1945
subject: Baseball players--Indiana
subject: Baseball players--Minnesota
subject: Women
description: Vivian Kellogg was born in Jackson, Michigan, in 1922. She grew up playing baseball with her brothers, and joined a girls' team in Jackson when she was seventeen. She was spotted by a scout in 1943, and was assigned to the Minneapolis Millerettes for the 1944 season. The team became the Fort Wayne Daisies in 1945, and she was their starting first baseman through the 1950 season, and then retired due to knee injuries. After working for a number of years in Fort Wayne, she returned to Michigan and coached boys' little league teams and started a girls' softball league.
creator: Kellogg, Vivian
source: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Collection, (RHC-55)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2010-08-05
contributor: Smither, James (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Palermo, Toni (Interview transcript and video), 2009
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: Video recordings
subject: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League--Personal narratives
subject: Baseball for women--United States
subject: Baseball
subject: Sports for women
subject: World War, 1939-1945
subject: Baseball players--Illinois
subject: Women
description: Toni Palermo was born and grew up in Forest Park, Illinois. When she was ten, her P.E. teacher encouraged her to try out for a professional softball league in Chicago. She played for a farm team until she turned fourteen when she joined the professional team. She was recruited into the All American Girls Professional Baseball League shortly afterward, and played two years with their barnstorming teams, the Chicago Colleens and the Springfield Sallies. Over the next several years she alternated between playing on AAGPBL teams and a Chicago softball team. She played shortstop throughout her career. She went on to become a nun as well as a teacher, and remained active in competitive sports.
creator: Palermo, Toni
source: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Collection, (RHC-55)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2009-09-26
contributor: Olson, Gordon (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Kidd, Sue (Interview transcript and video), 2009
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: Video recordings
subject: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League--Personal narratives
subject: Baseball for women--United States
subject: Baseball
subject: Sports for women
subject: World War, 1939-1945
subject: Baseball players--Michigan
subject: Baseball players-Illinois
subject: Baseball players--Indiana
subject: Women
description: Sue Kidd was born in 1933 in Choctaw, Arkansas. She got her interest in baseball from her father and two brothers who she played with regularly as a child. Growing up, Kidd played other sports too like football and basketball but eventually decided on a career in baseball following a meeting with her high school guidance counselor. In the spring of 1949, Kidd, at age 15, was scouted and tried out for a pitcher position in Little Rock, Arkansas. Beginning her professional career in 1950 Kidd played until 1954 when the All American Girls Professional Baseball League ended. At the start of 1950, Kidd played for the Muskegon Lassies, Peoria Redwings, and South Bend Blue Sox. In 1951, she played for the South Bend Blue Sox but then was on loan for a brief time with the Battle Creek Belles. From 1952 to 1954 she stayed with the South Bend Blue Sox. In that time, she pitched and won two double headers in 1953 and won two championships. She played pitcher, first base, and right field during her time with South Bend. When the league shut down in 1954 she went on to play basketball with the South Bend Rockettes until 1959 when she went on to pursue a career in teaching which did for twenty-six years. She wraps up the interview by discussing how baseball impacted her.
creator: Kidd, Sue
source: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Collection, (RHC-55)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2009-09-25
contributor: Smither, James (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Stevenson, Rosemary (Interview transcript and video), 2008
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: Video recordings
subject: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League--Personal narratives
subject: Baseball for women--United States
subject: Baseball
subject: Sports for women
subject: World War, 1939-1945
subject: Baseball players--Michigan
subject: Women
description: Rosemary Stevenson was born on July 2, 1936 in Stalwart in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Growing up she loved to play baseball with the neighborhood kids. Before entering the All American Girls Professional Baseball League she played for the Sault Lockettes. She first heard about the All American Girls from a baseball scouting book and then tried out in Battle Creek in summer 1954. After tryouts she signed with the Grand Rapids Chicks and played both left and right field. One of her career highlights during the 1954 season was saving a home run against Fort Wayne Daisies.
creator: Stevenson, Rosemary
source: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Collection, (RHC-55)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2008-06-10
contributor: Boring, Frank (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Ozburn, Dolly (Interview transcript and video),2016
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: United States--History, Military
subject: Veterans
subject: Video recordings
subject: Baseball players--Michigan
subject: Baseball players--Indiana
description: Dolly Ozburn was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, in June 1937. At the end of the 9th grade, at the age of 14, she signed a contract with the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League team, the Fort Wayne Daisies in 1952. She played with the Daisies in 1952 and 1953, and played with the South Bend Blue Sox in 1954, the final year of the League. After the League’s end, she played with a travelling team created by Bill Allington (a former manager). Dolly played with the non-professional team from 1955 through 1958 before ultimately leaving organized baseball to attend college. She went on to be a physical education teacher and a coach, and collaborated with the filming of, A League of Their Own.
creator: Ozburn, Dolly Vanderlip
source: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Collection, (RHC-55)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2016-10-21
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

O'Dowd, Anna (Interview transcript and video), 2016
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: United States--History, Military
subject: Veterans
subject: Video recordings
subject: Baseball players--Michigan
subject: Baseball players--Wisconsin
description: Annie O’Dowd was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1929. She graduated from high school in 1947 and worked in a box factory before trying out for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in 1949. She was initially placed in the Chicago Colleens, a travelling team (similar to a minor-league team), and played with them for a season. After the Colleens, she joined the Rockford Peaches and played with them for half of a season. The final team she played with was the Kalamazoo Lassies in the early 1950s before leaving the League.
creator: O'Dowd, Anna Mae
source: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Collection, (RHC-55)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2016-10-21
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Dearfield, Norma (Interview transcript and video), 2010
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: Video recordings
subject: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League--Personal narratives
subject: Baseball for women--United States
subject: Baseball
subject: Sports for women
subject: World War, 1939-1945
subject: Baseball players--Illinois
subject: Women
description: Norma Dearfield was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania in 1928. She talked her parents into giving her a baseball glove for Christmas when she was twelve, and played on local girls' teams while in high school. She saw an ad in the newspaper for tryouts for the All Americans in the spring of 1949, and played all that summer for the Chicago Colleens on their barnstorming tour. She played second base, batted second and stole a lot of bases. An eye injury at the end of the season ended her professional career, but she later coached girls' softball teams in her home town.
creator: Dearfield, Norma
source: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Collection, (RHC-55)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2010-08-05
contributor: Smither, James (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Pratt, Mary (Interview transcript and video), 2009
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: Video recordings
subject: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League--Personal narratives
subject: Baseball for women--United States
subject: Baseball
subject: Sports for women
subject: World War, 1939-1945
subject: Baseball players--Illinois
subject: Baseball players--Wisconsin
subject: Women
description: Mary Pratt was born in 1918 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Throughout her early childhood and on through college she played baseball. Before joining the All American Girls Professional Baseball League, Pratt played hockey for two seasons with the Boston Olympets from 1939 to 1940. She got her start professionally in baseball with the Rockford Peaches in 1943. In 1944, she played for the Rockford Peaches and the Kenosha Comets and then in 1945 played just for the Kenosha Comets. From 1946 to 1947 she played for the Rockford Peaches. Throughout her professional career she played as a pitcher and saw how the rules in softball changed how the game was played. The highlights in her professional career were from her 1944 season when she won 21 games and pitched a no-hitter.
creator: Pratt, Mary
source: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Collection, (RHC-55)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2009-09-25
contributor: Boring, Frank (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Jenkins, Marilyn M. (Interview transcript and video), 2008
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: Video recordings
subject: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League--Personal narratives
subject: Baseball for women--United States
subject: Baseball
subject: Sports for women
subject: World War, 1939-1945
subject: Baseball players--Michigan
subject: Women
description: Marilyn Jenkins was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1934. She grew up in Grand Rapids and played baseball with family and friends, and played softball with the neighborhood kids. When the Grand Rapids Chicks arrived in 1945, she talked her way into a job with the team and quickly became their batgirl, a job she held through the 1951 season. She played as a batgirl from 1945 thru 1951. Upon graduating high school in 1952, she became eligible to play in the All American Girls Professional Baseball League and went on to play with the Grand Rapids Chicks from 1952 to 1954 as a catcher.
creator: Jenkins, Marilyn
source: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Collection, (RHC-55)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2008-07-01
contributor: Boring, Frank (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Corona, Mike (Interview transcript and video), 2009
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: Video recordings
subject: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League--Personal narratives
subject: Baseball for women--United States
subject: Baseball
subject: Sports for women
subject: World War, 1939-1945
subject: Baseball players--Wisconsin
subject: Women
description: Mike Corona was born in Racine, Wisconsin on November 9, 1928. He grew up in the Racine area playing baseball with his friends. At the age of ten, because of his friendship with the caretaker of the Horlick Athletic Field, he started playing as a batboy for men's semi-pro teams. When the All American Girls League came to Racine, he became a batboy working under Racine manager, Johnny Gottselig and his team. Corona worked as batboy only in 1943 and then went off to college and pursued other career endeavors.
creator: Corona, Mike
source: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Collection, (RHC-55)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2009-09-26
contributor: Olson, Gordon (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Caden , Mary Lou (Interview transcript and video), 2009
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: Video recordings
subject: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League--Personal narratives
subject: Baseball for women--United States
subject: Baseball
subject: Sports for women
subject: World War, 1939-1945
subject: Baseball players--Indiana
subject: Women
description: Mary Lou Caden (née Studnicka) was born in Oak Lawn, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. She grew up in the Oak Lawn area and started playing softball with the neighborhood kids and transitioned to playing for local teams. She played as a short-stop in her amateur career and eventually was contacted by Mitch Skupien in 1950 to play for the Grand Rapids Chicks. She played for the Grand Rapids Chicks from 1951 to 1953 when she was traded to Fort Wayne and due to a pay cut decided to quit baseball and return to her job for National City Bank. During her time with them she played positions such as pitcher and second base.
creator: Caden, Mary Lou
source: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Collection, (RHC-55)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2009-09-25
contributor: Olson, Gordon (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Blair, Maybelle (Interview transcript and video), 2009
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: Video recordings
subject: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League--Personal narratives
subject: Baseball for women--United States
subject: Baseball
subject: Sports for women
subject: World War, 1939-1945
subject: Baseball players--Illinois
subject: Women
description: Maybelle Blair was born in 1927 in Longvale, California. Before joining the All American Girl's Baseball League she played baseball with her brothers at the age of nine and then later in 1942 at age twelve began playing organized softball. At about this time she played for a semi-pro league out of Burbank, California and then with the Pasadena Ramblers from 1943 to 1946 who she toured with playing games at army bases for servicemen. Her semi-pro career ended in 1947 when the Chicago Cardinals scouted her and signed her to be a pitcher. In 1948, Max Carey signed her to play on the Peoria Redwings as a pitcher. Due to an injured leg, her career was cut short and she only played a month with the Peoria Redwings. Later, she went on to play 2nd base for the New Orleans Jacks for a month in 1951. Her career ended with them ended when she was forced to choose between playing softball and giving up her job driving VIPs for Northrop Airport; she chose to quit softball. Blair wraps by mentioning how the All American Girls Professional Baseball League changed her perspective on the course of her life.
creator: Blair, Maybelle
source: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Collection, (RHC-55)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2009-09-26
contributor: Smither, James (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Youngen, Lois (Interview transcript and video), 2010
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: Video recordings
subject: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League--Personal narratives
subject: Baseball for women--United States
subject: Baseball
subject: Sports for women
subject: World War, 1939-1945
subject: Baseball players--Indiana
subject: Baseball players--Wisconsin
subject: Women
description: Lois Youngen was born in a small town in Ohio in 1933. She grew up playing baseball with boys from her town, and played on a boys' team for several years before switching to a girls' softball team while in high school. She learned about the All American League while visiting a relative in Fort Wayne in 1950. She joined the league the next year and played for Fort Wayne, Kenosha and South Bend as a catcher and outfielder until the league folded in 1954. She used the money she earned as a player to go to college, and eventually earned a doctorate in Physical Education and taught at the University of Oregon.
creator: Youngen, Lois
source: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Collection, (RHC-55)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2010-08-04
contributor: Boring, Frank (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Horstman, Katie (Interview transcript and video), 2009
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: Video recordings
subject: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League--Personal narratives
subject: Baseball for women--United States
subject: Baseball
subject: Sports for women
subject: World War, 1939-1945
subject: Baseball players--Wisconsin
subject: Baseball players--Indiana
subject: Women
description: Katie Horstman was born on April 14, 1935 in Minster, Ohio. Before joining the All American Girls Professional Baseball League she played baseball with her brother John. She started playing softball with the Catholic Youth Organization (CYI). At 15, Horstman started her professional career when Max Carey signed her to play for the Fort Wayne Daisies. In her first season of 1951 she played for the Kenosha Comets and the Fort Wayne Daisies as a pitcher and outfielder. Under Coach Jimmy Foxx in 1952, During her second season, in 1952 she played under Jimmy Foxx who switched her to play as a utility infielder. In 1953, she played for the Fort Wayne Daisies and the All Star Team as a third baseman and pitched part of an all-star game. Her biggest highlight was finishing her final season with a batting average of three twenty eight just as the All American Girls Professional League was ending. Afterwards, Horstman went on to become a Physical Education teacher.
creator: Horstman Katie
source: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Collection, (RHC-55)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2009-09-26
contributor: Boring, Frank (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Baumgart, Jacqueline Mattson (Interview transcript and video), 2009
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: Video recordings
subject: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League--Personal narratives
subject: Baseball for women--United States
subject: Baseball
subject: Sports for women
subject: World War, 1939-1945
subject: Baseball players--Illinois
subject: Baseball players--Wisconsin
subject: Women
description: Jacqueline Baumgart (née Mattson) was born in Waukegan, Illinois. She grew up in Waukegan area and played with the neighborhood boys. She played outfield positions as a kid. In 1942, her family moved to Milwaukee, WI where she played with as a catcher for a few local softball teams. Eventually, she was scouted for the All American Girls Baseball League. At the start of her first spring training she had not been assigned to a team yet. She was eventually assigned to the Springfield Sallies in 1950. She played the 1950 season with them and was then traded to the Kenosha Comets and played the 1951 season with them. One of her main career highlights was having the opportunity to play as a professional in Yankee Stadium.
creator: Baumgart, Jacqueline Mattson
source: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Collection, (RHC-55)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2009-09-25
contributor: Boring, Frank (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Smith, Helen "Gig" (Interview transcript and video), 2009
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: Video recordings
subject: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League--Personal narratives
subject: Baseball for women--United States
subject: Baseball
subject: Sports for women
subject: World War, 1939-1945
subject: Baseball players--players--Wisconsin
subject: Baseball players--Michigan
subject: Women
description: Helen "Gig" Smith was born on January 5, 1922 in Richmond, Virginia. She began playing softball at the age of 13. She joined the Women's Army Corps after Pearl Harbor and later was attached on special assignment to the Pentagon to decrypt Japanese codes. In 1947, she joined the AAGPBL's Kenosha Comets and then in 1948 played for the Grand Rapids Chicks. During her time in the league she played the infield. In 1948, she left the league to pursue teaching art in Virginia.
creator: Smith, Helen
source: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Collection, (RHC-55)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2009-09-26
contributor: Smither, James (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Filarski, Helen (Interview transcript and video), 2010
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: Video recordings
subject: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League--Personal narratives
subject: Baseball for women--United States
subject: Baseball
subject: Sports for women
subject: World War, 1939-1945
subject: Baseball players--Indiana
subject: Baseball players--Illinois
subject: Baseball players--Wisconsin
subject: Women
description: Helen Filarski Steffes was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1924. She grew up playing baseball with boys in the neighborhood. She met some of the players from the All American league who encouraged her to try out, and went on to play third base for Rockford, Peoria, Kenosha and South Bend between 1944 and 1950.
creator: Filarski, Helen
source: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Collection, (RHC-55)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2010-07-02
contributor: Boring, Frank (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Piskula, Grace (Interview transcript and video), 2009
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: Video recordings
subject: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League--Personal narratives
subject: Baseball for women--United States
subject: Baseball
subject: Sports for women
subject: World War, 1939-1945
subject: Baseball players--Wisconsin
subject: Baseball players-Illinois
subject: Women
description: Grace Piskula was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on February 26, 1926. Growing up she played softball with the neighborhood boys and in school. She played all positions but mainly stuck to playing shortstop, first and third base and left field. Eventually, her coach, Buddy Greif, approached her one day and informed her she would be playing for the Rockford Peaches. Soon thereafter while she was up at college, she received a call from Mr. Wrigley, owner for the Chicago Chicks to come play for them. She played one year for the Rockford Peaches and then the next for the Chicago Chicks. Her career highlights include hitting a triple for Chicago and then catching a fly ball while with Rockford. Following her two years in the league she quit and went back to college. She discusses her post-baseball career in some detail.
creator: Piskula, Grace
source: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Collection, (RHC-55)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2009-02-26
contributor: Olson, Gordon (Interviewer)
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text

Fidler, Merrie (Interview transcript and video), 2016
subject: Oral history
subject: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
subject: United States--History, Military
subject: Veterans
subject: Video recordings
subject: Baseball players--Michigan
subject: Baseball players--California
description: Merrie Fidler was born in Weed, California, on October 31, 1943. She attended community college in the Redding area, then a Bible college in Los Angeles before dropping out of school and working as a secretary in the physical education department at UC – Davis. Merrie completed her bachelor’s degree and got her teaching credentials, then pursued a master’s degree at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. During her master work, she took a course on American women in sports and discovered the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Over the course of several years she interviewed former players and managers and eventually completed her thesis, The Development & Decline of the All-American Girls Baseball League. She went on to contact more players and became part of the League’s association and attended the reunions. Merrie is now the association’s historian and a contributor to its newsletter.
creator: Fidler, Merrie
source: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Collection, (RHC-55)
publisher: Grand Valley State University. University Libraries. Lemmen Library and Archives
date: 2016-10-22
rights: In Copyright
relation: Veterans History Project (U.S.)
format: application/pdf
format: video/mp4
language: eng
type: Moving Image
type: Text