1951 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season

The 1951 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season marked the ninth season of the circuit. The teams Battle Creek Belles, Fort Wayne Daisies, Grand Rapids Chicks, Kalamazoo Lassies, Kenosha Comets, Peoria Redwings, Rockford Peaches and South Bend Blue Sox competed through a 112-game schedule, while the Shaugnessy playoffs featured the top four teams from each half of the regular season.[1]

1951 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season
LeagueAll-American Girls Professional Baseball League
SportBaseball
Number of teamsEight
Regular season
Season championsGrand Rapids Chicks (first half)
South Bend Blue Sox (second half)
Shaugnessy playoffs
ChampionsSouth Bend Blue Sox
AAGPBL seasons
← 1950
1952 →

In 1951, many things changed in relation to the previous season, when attendance began to decline dramatically. The Racine Belles franchise was moved to Battle Creek, Michigan, while the Chicago Colleens and Springfield Sallies traveling teams were disbanded. Betty Foss of Fort Wayne led all hitters for the second year in a row with a .368 batting average, breaking her own single-season record of .346 set in her rookie season. Foss also topped the league with 34 doubles, setting an all-time single-season record that would never be surpassed. Nine pitchers recorded an earned run average below 2.00, while Rose Gacioch of Rockford was the only one to gain 20 victories during the year. The Player of the Year Award was given to South Bend pitcher Jean Faut, who posted a 15–7 record with a 1.33 ERA and a league-leading 135 strikeouts, including a perfect game against Rockford on July 21 of that season.[2][3]

During the best-of-three series, first-place South Bend defeated third-place Fort Wayne, two games to one, while second-place Grand Rapids swept fourth-place Rockford in two games. South Bend pitching star Jean Faut drove in a run and held Fort Wayne to a run in Game 1, and later struck out nine batters and allowed one run in Game 3 to advance to the finals. In the other series, Rockford's Helen Nicol gave up six hits and shut out Grand Rapids in the first contest, while Marie Mansfield hurled a 7–6, 11-inning victory to defeat the Chicks.[4]

The final series took all five games to decide the champion team. Rockford held a 2–0 advantage in the series and looked to take it all, but South Bend rebounded and won the last three games to clinch the title. In Game 3, Faut stopped the Peaches in their tracks, pitching a six-hit, 3–2 victory, and picked up the win in a seven-inning relief effort in Game 5 to continue her winning ways. South Bend batted a collective .275 average in the finals, with Jane Stoll leading the offense with a .333 average (6-for-18) and six RBI, while Senaida Wirth batted .412 (7-for-17) and scored four runs, and Betty Wagoner hit .389 (7-for-18) with five runs.[4]

In 1951, the AAGPBL attendance declined for the third straight year. As revenues fell, individual teams' funds were limited to advertise nationally as a way of recruiting scattered baseball talent. With no centralized control of publicity, promotion, rookie training teams, and equalization of player talent, the League began to break down. The Kenosha and Peoria franchises withdrew at the end of the year, leaving the league with six teams for the next season.[5]

Teams

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1951 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Teams
Team City Stadium
Battle Creek Belles Battle Creek, Michigan Bailey Park
Fort Wayne Daisies Fort Wayne, Indiana Memorial Park
Grand Rapids Chicks Grand Rapids, Michigan Bigelow Field
Kalamazoo Lassies Kalamazoo, Michigan Lindstrom Field
Kenosha Comets Kenosha, Wisconsin Simmons Field
Peoria Redwings Peoria, Illinois Peoria Stadium
Rockford Peaches Rockford, Illinois Beyer Stadium
South Bend Blue Sox South Bend, Indiana Playland Park

Map of teams

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  All-American Girls Professional Baseball League teams

Standings

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First half

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Rank Team W L W-L% GB
1 Grand Rapids Chicks 40 13 .755
2 Fort Wayne Daisies 34 17 .667 5
3 South Bend Blue Sox 38 22 .633
4 Rockford Peaches 31 26 .544 11
5 Peoria Redwings 28 25 .528 12
6 Kenosha Comets 21 36 .368 21
7 Kalamazoo Lassies 19 38 .333 23
8 Battle Creek Belles 11 45 .196 30½

[6]

Second half

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Rank Team W L W-L% GB
1 South Bend Blue Sox 38 14 .731
2 Rockford Peaches 34 15 .694
3 Fort Wayne Daisies 34 18 .654 4
4 Grand Rapids Chicks 31 22 .585
5 Peoria Redwings 21 31 .404 17
6 Battle Creek Belles 19 35 .352 20
7 Kenosha Comets 15 35 .333 22
8 Kalamazoo Lassies 15 37 .288 23

[6]

Overall

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Rank Team W L W-L% GB
1 South Bend Blue Sox 76 36 .679
2 Grand Rapids Chicks 71 35 .670 2
3 Fort Wayne Daisies 68 35 .660
4 Rockford Peaches 65 41 .613 8
5 Peoria Redwings 49 56 .467 23½
6 Kenosha Comets 36 71 .336 37½
7 Kalamazoo Lassies 34 75 .312 40½
8 Battle Creek Belles 30 80 .273 45

[6]

Postseason

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First round
Best of three series
Second round
Best of five series
      
1 South Bend Blue Sox 2
3 Fort Wayne Daisies 1
1 South Bend Blue Sox 3
4 Rockford Peaches 2
2 Grand Rapids Chicks 0
4 Rockford Peaches 2

[4]

Batting statistics

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Statistic Player Record
 Batting average Betty Foss (FW)
    Dorothy Kamenshek (ROC)   
Eleanor Callow
Connie Wisniewski (GR)
Charlene Pryer (SB)
Doris Sams (KAL)
Alice Pollitt (ROC)
June Peppas (BC/KAL)
Inez Voyce (GR)
Doris Satterfield (GR)
Ruth Richard (ROC)
Evelyn Wawryshyn (FW)
Joanne Weaver (FW)
Wilma Briggs (FW)
Senaida Wirth (SB)
Delores Brumfield (KEN)
Betty Wagoner (SB)
.368
.345
.326
.326
.312
.306
.299
.285
.285
.279
.277
.277
.276
.275
.274
.273
.274
Runs scored Charlene Pryer (SB)
Dorothy Harrell (ROC)
Dorothy Kamenshek (ROC)
Thelma Eisen (FW)
Alice Pollitt (ROC)
Marilyn Olinger (GR)
Connie Wisniewski (GR)
Betty Foss (FW)
Senaida Wirth (SB)
Betty Wagoner (SB)
Eleanor Callow
Wilma Briggs (FW)
Doris Satterfield (GR)
Evelyn Wawryshyn (FW)
106
91
90
88
88
82
78
77
77
77
66
64
64
60
Hits Charlene Pryer (SB)
Betty Foss (FW)
Connie Wisniewski (GR)
Eleanor Callow (ROC)
Alice Pollitt (ROC)
Dorothy Kamenshek (ROC)
Doris Satterfield (GR)
June Peppas (BC/KAL)
Doris Sams (109)
Evelyn Wawryshyn (FW)
Wilma Briggs (FW)
Inez Voyce (GR)
Betty Wagoner (SB)
133
126
126
124
121
117
112
109
109
108
106
106
102
Doubles Betty Foss (FW)
Shirley Stovroff (SB)
Thelma Eisen (FW)
Eleanor Callow (ROC)
Marjorie Pieper (PEO/BC)
Doris Sams (KAL)
Jane Stoll (SB)
Connie Wisniewski (GR)
Delores Brumfield (KEN)
Inez Voyce (GR)
Wilma Briggs (FW)
Dorothy Kamenshek (ROC)
Doris Satterfield (GR)
June Peppas (BC/KAL)
34
19
17
16
16
16
15
15
14
14
12
12
12
11
Triples Eleanor Callow (ROC)
Dorothy Kamenshek (ROC)
Alice Pollitt (ROC)
Doris Satterfield (GR)
Connie Wisniewski (GR)
Margaret Wenzell (KAL/BC)
Jacquelyn Kelley (ROC)
Elizabeth Mahon (SB)
Marguerite Pearson (BC/KAL)
   Barbara Payne (KAL/BC/ROC)   
Inez Voyce (GR)
10
9
9
9
9
7
6
5
5
5
5
Home runs Eleanor Callow (ROC)
Betty Foss (FW)
Alice Pollitt (ROC)
Dorothy Schroeder (FW)
Jean Lovell (KEN/KAL)
Doris Sams (KAL)
Doris Satterfield (GR)
Jean Faut (SB)
Jean Geissinger (FW)
Jacquelyn Kelley (ROC)
Margaret Russo (PEO)
Doris Sams (KAL)
Inez Voyce (GR)
Joanne Weaver (FW)
4
4
4
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
Runs batted in Eleanor Callow (ROC)
Elizabeth Mahon (SB)
Doris Satterfield (GR)
Ruth Richard (ROC)
Betty Foss (FW)
Lavonne Paire (GR)
Shirley Stovroff (SB)
Evelyn Wawryshyn (FW)
Senaida Wirth (SB)
Margaret Russo (PEO)
Joyce Hill (PEO)
Inez Voyce (GR)
Jane Stoll (SB)
Alice Pollitt (ROC)
Dorothy Schroeder (FW)
Rita Briggs (PEO)
84
68
62
60
58
56
54
54
54
51
50
49
47
45
45
44
Stolen bases Charlene Pryer (SB)
Dorothy Harrell (ROC)
Thelma Eisen (FW)
Senaida Wirth (SB)
Dorothy Kamenshek
Alice Pollitt (ROC)
Betty Foss (FW)
Elizabeth Mahon (SB)
Betty Wagoner (SB)
Evelyn Wawryshyn (FW)
Margaret Russo (PEO)
129
91
88
69
63
61
60
53
50
50
45
Total bases Betty Foss (FW)
Eleanor Callow (ROC)
Connie Wisniewski (GR)
Alice Pollitt (ROC)
Doris Satterfield (GR)
Dorothy Kamenshek
Charlene Pryer (SB)
Inez Voyce (GR)
Doris Sams (KAL)
June Peppas (BC/KAL)
Elizabeth Mahon (SB)
Margaret Russo (PEO)
Jacquelyn Kelley (ROC)
Evelyn Wawryshyn (FW)
Jane Stoll (SB)
Margaret Wenzell (KAL/BC)
176
172
159
158
148
147
147
136
135
131
125
124
117
116
112
105

[4]

Pitching statistics

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Statistic Player Record
Wins Rose Gacioch (ROC)
Maxine Kline (FW)
Helen Nicol (ROC)
Mirtha Marrero (FW)
Margaret Holgerson (GR)
Marie Mansfield (ROC)
Jean Faut (SB)
Lillian Faralla (SB)
Alice Hohlmayer (PEO)
Pat Scott (FW)
Mary Lou Studnicka (GR)
Jaynne Bittner (GR)
Alma Ziegler (GR)
20
18
18
17
16
16
15
15
15
15
15
15
14
Winning percentage Louise Arnold (SB)
Dorothy Mueller (SB)
Maxine Kline (FW)
Lillian Faralla (SB)
Mary Lou Studnicka (GR)
Rose Gacioch (ROC)
Jaynne Bittner (GR)
Helen Nicol (ROC)
Jean Faut (SB)
Pat Scott (FW)
Mirtha Marrero (FW)
.833
.833
.818
.789
.750
.741
.727
.720
.682
.682
.680
Earned run average Dorothy Naum (KEN)
Alma Ziegler (GR)
Jean Faut (SB)
Margaret Holgerson (GR)
Dorothy Mueller (SB)
Rose Gacioch (ROC)
Lillian Faralla (SB)
Maxine Kline (FW)
Ruth Williams (KAL)
Alice Hohlmayer (PEO)
Pat Scott (FW)
Earlene Risinger (GR)
Nancy Warren (PEO)
Mirtha Marrero (FW)
1.14
1.26
1.33
1.53
1.56
1.68
1.85
1.95
1.96
2.02
2.13
2.14
2.20
2.24
Strikeouts Jean Faut (SB)
Margaret Holgerson (GR)
Marie Mansfield (ROC)
Jean Marlowe (KEN)
Georgette Vincent (SB)
Barbara Rotvig (KEN)
Mirtha Marrero (FW)
Nancy Warren (PEO)
Mary Lou Studnicka (GR)
Gloria Cordes (BC/KAL)
Maxine Kline (FW)
Helen Nicol (ROC)
Pat Scott (FW)
Alma Ziegler (GR)
Erma Bergmann (BC)
Ruth Williams (KAL)
135
123
121
116
113
93
87
79
72
70
69
67
62
62
59
59
Complete games Migdalia Pérez (BC)
Rose Gacioch (ROC)
Helen Nicol (ROC)
Alice Hohlmayer (PEO)
Alma Ziegler (GR)
Margaret Holgerson (GR)
Jean Marlowe (KEN)
Erma Bergmann (BC)
Jean Faut (SB)
Maxine Kline (FW)
Mirtha Marrero (FW)
26
25
23
22
22
21
21
20
20
20
20
Shutouts Rose Gacioch (ROC)
Alma Ziegler (GR)
Jean Faut (SB)
Alice Hohlmayer (PEO)
Margaret Holgerson (GR)
Maxine Kline (FW)
Jaynne Bittner (GR)
Lillian Faralla (SB)
Mary Lou Studnicka (GR)
Ruth Williams (KAL)
9
8
7
6
5
5
4
4
4
4
Games pitched Migdalia Pérez (BC)
Josephine Hasham (PEO)
Marie Mansfield (ROC)
Elaine Roth (KAL)
Rose Gacioch (ROC)
Alice Hohlmayer (PEO)
Mirtha Marrero (FW)
Eleanor Moore (FW)
Jean Marlowe (KEN)
Helen Nicol (ROC)
Nancy Warren (FW/PEO)
Gloria Cordes (BC/KAL)
   Frances Janssen (FW/PEO/BC//KAL)   
Pat Scott (FW)
32
30
30
30
29
29
29
29
28
28
27
26
26
26
Innings pitched Migdalia Pérez (BC)
Rose Gacioch (ROC)
Josephine Hasham (PEO)
Helen Nicol (ROC)
Mirtha Marrero (FW)
Jean Marlowe (KEN)
Alice Hohlmayer (PEO)
Marie Mansfield (ROC)
Erma Bergmann (BC)
Margaret Holgerson (GR)
Maxine Kline (FW)
Jean Faut (SB)
Pat Scott (FW)
Nancy Warren (FW/PEO)
237
231
218
214
213
211
209
202
200
200
194
190
190
188

[4]

All-Star Game

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See also

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Sources

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  1. ^ All-American Girls Professional Baseball League teams by season
  2. ^ All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Record BookW. C. Madden. Publisher: McFarland & Company, 2000. Format: Softcover, 294pp. Language: English. ISBN 978-0-7864-3747-4
  3. ^ The Women of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League: A Biographical DictionaryW. C. Madden. Publisher: McFarland & Company, 2005. Format: Softcover, 295pp. Language: English. ISBN 0-7864-3747-2
  4. ^ a b c d e All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Record Book
  5. ^ All-American Girls Professional Baseball League history
  6. ^ a b c "All-American Girls Professional Baseball League records".
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