The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was originally established as a nonprofit organization, designed to increase Major League baseball parks' profits during World War II. The AAGPBL became popular with the American public during its 12 years in existence, increasing from four to 10 teams. In 1988, the league, along with its women players, became members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, forever enshrining this unique era in American baseball history.
Early Women's Baseball
In 1866, Vassar College organized the first women's baseball team in the United States. From that time on, women played an active role in professional baseball. The women players of the "Bloomer Girls" teams were professional players who traveled the country playing against both men's semi-pro and minor league teams. Rogers Hornsby and Smokey Joe Wood both got their starts in professional ball playing on Bloomer Girl teams, dressed like the women players. In 1928, Lizzie Murphy played in an exhibition game with a Major League team. She became the first person ever to play for both the American League and the National League teams in All-Star games. By the 1930s, women professional baseball players traveled and played internationally, played for junior baseball leagues and even signed contracts to play for minor-league baseball teams.
Birth of Women's Major League Baseball
On December 7, 1941 America entered World War II in response to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Although President Roosevelt felt that Major League Baseball should continue during the war, providing entertainment for the American public, professional players enlisted and were drafted to serve in the military. The nation's servicemen backed the president and wanted the game to continue. Regardless of the pleas, over 500 professional players and more than 4000 minor league players served during the war. By 1942, the talent left the major and minor leagues, prompting Philip K. Wrigley, owner of the Chicago Cubs, to form a committee to keep the Major League Baseball parks from collapsing. The committee came up with the solution, and Women's Major League Baseball was born.
Formation of the First Teams
Professional baseball scouts traveled across the U.S. and Canada, scouting existing softball league's players. The league offered official try-outs across the country, providing hundreds of hopeful women the chance to play for the fledging baseball league. From these hundreds of women, only 280 received invitations to the first Spring Training, held on May 17, 1943 at Chicago's Wrigley Field. The 60 women who survived the cuts signed contracts with salaries ranging from $45 to $85 a week, and became members of the first women's professional baseball league. These 60 women divided up into four teams of 15 players each, the Kenosha Comets, the Racine Belles, the Rockford Peaches and the South Bend Blue Soxs.
The First Season
The American Girls Softball League began official play on May 30, 1943 with Southbend at Rockford and Kenosha at Racine. The girls traded their softball uniforms for a one-piece short-skirted tunic, satin shorts and knee-high socks. Midway through the 108 game season, the league's name changed to the All-American Girls Baseball League to separate the league from existing softball leagues around the country, and because they played by Major League Baseball rules. The league name changed once again at the end of the season to the All-American Girls Professional Ball League. The inaugural season closed with the Kenosha Comets and the Racine Belles playing in the 5-game series League Championship. The Racine Belles won, giving them the honor of being the first All-American Girls Baseball League World Champions.
1944 to 1948
The initial success was evident with the 1943 season reporting an attendance of 176,612 fans. 1944 added two new teams, the Milwaukee Chicks and the Minneapolis Millerettes and an overall attendance increase. The league reorganized in November of that year, adding a League Board of Directors to govern each franchise. World War II ended on August 14, 1945 with the All-American Girls Professional Ball League's popularity increasing. This increase was reflected in the season's attendance of 450,313. Modification to the league rules between 1946 and 1948 lengthened the infield distance, added side arm pitching and overhand pitching. The league increased by adding four more teams and attendance reached its record high of 910,000 fans.
The Decline
Team directors voted to operate their teams independently without the help of the Board of Directors in 1950, resulting in a breakdown of the league and a loss of four of the league's 10 teams by 1952. Because of declining revenues and fan attendance, only five teams remained by 1954, bringing an end to a league that gave over 600 women the opportunity to play baseball professionally.
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