Date:
1949
Title:
All American Girls Professional Baseball League Baseball - Signed
Description:
During the Second World War, the shortage of men in the labor market affected baseball leagues at all levels. Philip K. Wrigley, owner of the Chicago Cubs, had the idea to start a women's league to fill in while the men were at war. Wrigley characterized the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL), which began in 1943, as "wholesome entertainment to boost the morale of factory workers." He wanted the players to be "ladylike," and decreed they would play in skirts and makeup. The uniforms were a one-piece dress with a short, flared skirt worn three to four inches above the knee. Satin boxer shorts, designed after the tennis uniforms of the time, were worn underneath. Players signed their contracts with the league, not with individual teams, and were assigned to various teams to ensure a balance of talent.
In 1945 Fort Wayne excitedly welcomed their new team-the Fort Wayne Daisies. The name was chosen during a contest that had thousands of entries. Originally playing on the North Side athletic field, the Daisies played six nights a week with a doubleheader on Sundays. They had practice every morning, had afternoons off, and played games in the evening. In 1946, the Daisies moved their games to Me-morial Park, which had been renovated for the team. From the start, the Daisies were hugely popular, of-ten drawing larger crowds than the Pistons softball team. As with the Pistons, the Daisies were local celebrities, often asked to sign autographs. After winning the regular season pennant three seasons running from 1952 to 1954, the team folded.
These two autographed baseballs reflect the popularity of the Fort Wayne Daisies and the demand for their autographs. The larger ball, used by the AAGPBL during the early years of the league, was larger than the balls used in the major leagues. The President of the AAGPBL, Max Carey, signed this 1949 baseball. The smaller ball, a 1954 baseball used in the team's last year of play, was the same size as those used in major league games.
In 1945 Fort Wayne excitedly welcomed their new team-the Fort Wayne Daisies. The name was chosen during a contest that had thousands of entries. Originally playing on the North Side athletic field, the Daisies played six nights a week with a doubleheader on Sundays. They had practice every morning, had afternoons off, and played games in the evening. In 1946, the Daisies moved their games to Me-morial Park, which had been renovated for the team. From the start, the Daisies were hugely popular, of-ten drawing larger crowds than the Pistons softball team. As with the Pistons, the Daisies were local celebrities, often asked to sign autographs. After winning the regular season pennant three seasons running from 1952 to 1954, the team folded.
These two autographed baseballs reflect the popularity of the Fort Wayne Daisies and the demand for their autographs. The larger ball, used by the AAGPBL during the early years of the league, was larger than the balls used in the major leagues. The President of the AAGPBL, Max Carey, signed this 1949 baseball. The smaller ball, a 1954 baseball used in the team's last year of play, was the same size as those used in major league games.
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AAGPBL 1949 signed baseball
AAGPBL 1949 signed baseball
AAGPBL 1954 signed baseball
AAGPBL 1954 signed baseball
1951 Fort Wayne Daisies Program
1949 All-American Girls Baseball League Official Schedule
Fort Wayne Daisies, 1952
Fort Wayne Daisies, 1952
Fort Wayne Daisies, 1953
AAGPBL 1949 signed baseball
AAGPBL 1949 signed baseball
AAGPBL 1954 signed baseball
AAGPBL 1954 signed baseball
1951 Fort Wayne Daisies Program
1949 All-American Girls Baseball League Official Schedule
Fort Wayne Daisies, 1952
Fort Wayne Daisies, 1952
Fort Wayne Daisies, 1953