All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Interviews
Creator
- Grand Valley State University. History Department (Organization)
Summary
The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was started by Philip Wrigley, owner of the Chicago Cubs, during World War II to fill the void left by the departure of most of the best male baseball players for military service. Players were recruited from across the country, and the league was successful enough to be able to continue on after the war. The league had teams based in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan, and operated between 1943 and 1954. The 1954 season ended with only the Fort Wayne, South Bend, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Rockford teams remaining. The League gave over 600 women athletes the opportunity to play professional baseball. Many of the players went on to successful careers, and the league itself provided an important precedent for later efforts to promote women's sports.
Language of Materials
English
- Illinois Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Indiana Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Michigan Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Minnesota Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Ohio Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Oral histories Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Sports for women Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Women baseball players Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Repository Details
Part of the Grand Valley State University Special Collections and University Archives Repository
Seidman House
1 Campus Drive
Allendale MI 49401 United States
616-331-8726
collections@gvsu.edu
