Peoria Redwings

Last updated
Peoria Redwings
AAGPBL Peoria.png
Minor league affiliations
Previous leagues
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
Team data
ColorsRed, white, black
   
Previous parks
Peoria Stadium
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
AAGPBL

The Peoria Redwings was a women's professional baseball team who joined the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in the 1946 season and remained in the league through 1951. The team represented Peoria, Illinois, playing home games at Peoria Stadium.

Contents

History

The Redwings made an unsteady start in their inaugural season, going 33–79 to finish last 41 games out of first place in the Western Division. The team improved in 1947 with a 54–57 record, good to finish in fifth place in the eight–team league.

Their most productive season came in 1948, when they finished 71–55 for third place in the division and fourth overall, gaining a playoff spot. In the playoffs, the Redwings were swept by the Racine Belles in three straight games.

Peoria fell to 36–43 and last place in 1949, and next–to–last in 1950 after ending 44–63–2. They went 48–56–2 in 1951, their last season, having finished over .500 once in six years of existence.

Some players of note included pitchers Doris Barr, Dorothy Mueller and Mary Nesbitt; infielders Margaret Callaghan, Betty McKenna and Dorothy Stolze; outfielders Eleanor Callow and Thelma Eisen, and OF/P Mary Reynolds. Eventually, Eisen and Reynolds served as player/managers for the team.

All-time roster

1946 Peoria Redwings: Front row, L-R: Dorothy Ferguson, Terry Donahue, Rita Meyer, Betty Tucker, Mary Wood, Annabelle Lee. Second row, L-R: Irene Ines (chaperone), Mary Moriarity, Kay Blumetta, Jean Cione, Thelma Eisen, Florence Buccor, Bill Rodgers (manager). Back row, L-R: Donna Stageman, Norma Metrolis, Mary Reynolds, Frances Sloan, Mary Rountree, Pauline Crawley. 1946 Peoria Redwings.jpg
1946 Peoria Redwings: Front row, L-R: Dorothy Ferguson, Terry Donahue, Rita Meyer, Betty Tucker, Mary Wood, Annabelle Lee. Second row, L-R: Irene Ines (chaperone), Mary Moriarity, Kay Blumetta, Jean Cione, Thelma Eisen, Florence Buccor, Bill Rodgers (manager). Back row, L-R: Donna Stageman, Norma Metrolis, Mary Reynolds, Frances Sloan, Mary Rountree, Pauline Crawley.
Bold denotes members of the inaugural roster

Managers

* Bill Rodgers 1946 [first half]
* Thelma Eisen 1946 [second half]
* Johnny Gottselig 1947 [first half]
* Leo Schrall 1947 [second half]
1948
1949
* Leo Murphy 1950 [first half]
* Mary Reynolds 1950 [second half]
* Johnny Rawlings   1951

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rockford Peaches</span> Minor league baseball team

The Rockford Peaches were a women's professional baseball team who played from 1943 through 1954 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. A founding member, the team represented Rockford, Illinois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Milwaukee Chicks</span> Minor league baseball team

The Milwaukee Chicks were a women's professional baseball team which played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during the 1944 season. They were managed by Max Carey, former star player for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Brooklyn Robins and a future Hall of Famer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Bend Blue Sox</span> Minor league baseball team

The South Bend Blue Sox was a women's professional baseball team who played from 1943 through 1954 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. A founding member, the team represented South Bend, Indiana, and played their home games at Bendix Field (1943–1945) and Playland Park (1946–1954).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Racine Belles</span> Minor league baseball team

The Racine Belles were one of the original teams of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League playing from 1943 through 1950 out of Racine, Wisconsin. The Belles won the league's first championship. The team played its home games at Horlick Field.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle Creek Belles</span> Womens professional baseball team

The Battle Creek Belles were a women's professional baseball team that played from 1951 through 1952 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The Belles represented Battle Creek, Michigan, and played their home games at Bailey Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Wayne Daisies</span> Minor league baseball team

The Fort Wayne Daisies were a women's professional baseball team based in Fort Wayne, Indiana that played from 1945 through 1954 as members of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muskegon Lassies</span> 1940s American womens baseball team

The Muskegon Lassies were one of the expansion teams of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in the 1946 season, representing Muskegon, Michigan. The team played their home games at Marsh Field. The league, its teams, and its story were later depicted in A League of Their Own.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand Rapids Chicks</span> Minor league baseball team

The Grand Rapids Chicks were a women's professional baseball team based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1945 to 1954, winning championships in 1947 and 1953.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Springfield Sallies</span>

The Springfield Sallies were a women's professional baseball team who were members of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in the 1948 season and became a development team. The Sallies were based in Springfield, Illinois and played home games at Jim Fitzpatrick Memorial Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kalamazoo Lassies</span> Minor league baseball team

The Kalamazoo Lassies were a team who played from 1950 through 1954 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The team represented Kalamazoo, Michigan. Home games were initially played at Lindstrom Field, but later games were played at the Catholic Athletic Association Field, now the Soisson-Rapacz field. Kalamazoo uniforms were white (home) and gold (away) with dark green numbers, belt, socks, and cap.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicago Colleens</span> Minor league baseball team

The Chicago Colleens were a women's professional baseball team who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1948 to 1951, evolving into a development team. The team was based Chicago, Illinois and played their home games at Shewbridge Field.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorothy Stolze</span> Baseball player

Dorothy Stolze [Dottie] was a second basewoman who played from 1946 through 1952 for four teams of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m), 129 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorothy Mueller</span> Baseball player

Dorothy Mueller was a pitcher who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League between the 1947 and 1953 seasons. Listed at 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) and 160 pounds (73 kg), she batted and threw right-handed. She was nicknamed Dottie or Sportie by her close friends and teammates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thelma Eisen</span> American baseball player

Thelma "Tiby" Eisen was an outfielder who played from 1944 through 1952 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 4", 130 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.

Gloria "Baby-Face" Ruiz is a former outfielder who played from 1948 through 1949 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She batted and threw right handed.

The 1946 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season marked the fourth season of the circuit. The AAGPBL expansion brought two new franchises to the previous six-team format. At this point, the Muskegon Lassies and the Peoria Redwings joined the Fort Wayne Daisies, Grand Rapids Chicks, Kenosha Comets, Racine Belles, Rockford Peaches and South Bend Blue Sox. The eight teams competed through a 112-game schedule, while the final Shaugnessy playoffs faced season winner Racine against defending champion Rockford in a Best of Seven Series.

The 1947 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season marked the fifth season of the circuit. The teams Fort Wayne Daisies, Grand Rapids Chicks, Kenosha Comets, Muskegon Lassies, Peoria Redwings, Racine Belles, Rockford Peaches and South Bend Blue Sox competed through a 112-game schedule. The final Shaugnessy playoffs faced second place Grand Rapids against third place Racine in a Best of Seven Series.

References