League of Their Own - Merrie Fidler shares stories from the AAGPBL

Philip Wrigley, Cubs executive, begins a Women’s Softball
League. 

Wrigley would be 1 of 3 executives, including Branch Rickey,
to launch the AAGPBL

Joe Boland, South Bend Tribune Sports Editor & AAGPBL
legendary pitcher Jean Faut

Arthur Meyerhoff invites Merrie to dig through the basement
files & letters in the Wrigley Building for her research.

Merrie completes AAGPBL thesis after 4 years of research in
1976

June “Lefty” Peppas – 1st base & pitcher for the
Kalamazoo Lassies asks to print & circulate Merrie Fidler’s
thesis amongst other AAGPBL players

Peppas prepares the first national AAGBPL reunion in Chicago,
July 1982. Reunions begin to spread across the U.S.

Petition Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame to have AAGBPL –
Fall of 1988 HOF launches AAGBPL

Documentary of league –  Kelly Candaele & Kim
Wilson  “A League of Their Own” PBS documentary 

Penny Marshall, Yankees fan, directs a “A League Of Their
Own” movie – highest grossing baseball movie in history.

Movie inspires many - Little League allowing young girls to
play baseball

Former AAGPBL Sue Zipay, is starting a new League of Their
Own with tournament in Sarasota, Nov. 17th – 19th

Fall 1942, US War Department notifies major league baseball
owners that in 1943 there may not be a baseball season due to man
power needed for the war. 

Wrigley responds to War Dept news & creates the AAGPBL

League moves to overhand pitching in 1948 

Tampa Baseball Museum 

Shu-Shu Wirth – Ybor native makes it to the AAGPBL – South
Bend Blue Sox

Shu-Shu bridged the language gap between Cuban players &
AAGBPL Managers

Players for teams were selected at a league level prior to
each season

Loaning players to other teams

Dodgers Spring Training in 1947 moves to Havana Cuba as they
brought Jackie Robinson onto the team

Branch Rickey was one of 3 trustees to begin the AAGBPL and
set it up as a non-profit league

Cuban promoter had developed girls teams in Havana

AAGBPL were drawing 15,000+ crowds for their Havana games

Shortstop Shu-Shu Wirth spoke Spanish & helped
communicate with players & coaches

Exhibition games a good tool for scouting & recruiting
new players on the road. 

Ruth Davis, bat girl for the Blue Sox, shares impact of
AAGPBL on how the women in the league broadened her horizons for
careers as she watched players succeed off-field.

Merrie’s visit to Cooperstown and the AAGPBL Reunion in
Syracuse, New York

Post League many players continued as athletes in other
professional sports including tennis,  golf &
professional bowling. 

Jean Faut became a successful professional bowler



Merrie’s book
  “The Origins & History of the All-American Girls
Professional Baseball League”  
 All-American Women’s Baseball Classic in Sarasota -
November 17 – 19, 2023
https://americangirlsbaseball.org/all-american-womans-baseball-classic/ 


Past Tournament Video Highlights
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Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music "Rocking Forward"