All-American Girls Professional Baseball League interviews

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: RHC-58

Staff Only

All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Interviews

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Collection Description

Videotaped interviews and transcripts of the former players in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The collection consists of interviews conducted by Grand Valley State University faculty and associates at reunions and other league events. Interviewees discuss their experience in the league and their lives after the league ceased to exist.

Dates

Creation: 2007-2010

Creator

Grand Valley State University. History Department (Organization)

Access to Materials

Collection is open for research use. Materials may be accessed by request at Special Collections and University Archives in Seidman House. Materials do not circulate.

Publication Rights

For information on copyright or permissions for this collection, contact Grand Valley State University Special Collections.

Administrative History

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.