All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
In the midst of removing barriers for women to be able to work in the industry to help the war effort, Phillip K. Wrigley, owner of the Chicago Cubs joined forces with Branch Rickey and several small town entrepreneurs to create the first professional baseball league for women. A new, more open game using men's baseball rules, with 80 feet between bases, 55 feet for the pitching distance and nine players rather than ten. This made a faster action game. Wrigley and his advertising agent promoted the new "Girls Baseball" as wholesome family entertainment for war workers.
Thirty scouts were hired to start looking for outstanding softball players all over the United States and as far as Canada. Four teams were formed and the league started its first season in 1943. In 1944, the All American Girls Professional Baseball League expanded to six teams. By 1946 eight teams were playing 110 games per season.
Four "Hall of Famers" including Branch Rickey, Jimmy Foxx, Max Carey and David Brancroft were managers of teams in the AAGPBL LEAGUE plus other major league players such as: Johnny Rawlings, Bill Skinner, Pres Carruthers and Bill Wamspam (only person to make a triple play unassisted).
The schedule of 110-120 games per season consisted of playing single games six days a week plus double headers on Sundays. The only time off were rained out games and then they were made up by doubleheaders next time around. Traveling was done by bus between the different cities leaving right after the game and sometimes arriving just in time to play the next game in the new city.
The pay schedule was from $55.00 to $125.00 per week. Expenses on the road were paid by the team including $2.25 per day for meals.
Attendance fell in the early 1950s, partly due to the return of men from World War II and partly due to changes in the upper management. The league was disbanded in 1954.
The All American Girls Professional Baseball League memorabilia was enshrined in the Cooperstown, New York Hall of Fame on November 5, 1988.
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