Formed during World War II when almost half of the nation's major leaguers entered Military service, the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was an instant success and drew 176,000 rapid fans during the first season - 1943. Womens Baseball History The AAGBL was conceived by Chicago Cubs owner Phillip K. Wrigley, the principal owner of Wrigley Gum Corp., and a group of investors.

The four Midwest teams were Kenosha Comets and Racine Belles, both from southern Wisconsin, the Rockford Peaches, from northern Illinois, and the South Bend Blue Sox, from northern Indiana. Baseball Historian