In the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, women were paid weekly from $40 to $80 and as high as $125 per/week in later years. The Racine Belles, located in southeastern Wisconsin, drew more spectators than any male sports' team had ever drawn in that city.

Highly successful, Racine won the AAGPBL first Playoff Championship in 1943, and ran away in the 1946 regular season with a sterling 74-38 record and then won that year's Playoff Championship.

Leading Women Baseball Player Bios:

Pauline Pirok, Kenosha Comets & South Bend Blue Sox, RH - born in Chicago on 10/18/1926... went by the nickname of Pinky Pirok, she tried out in Chicago's Wrigley Field in 1943 and was signed by Kenosha of the state of Wisconsin and attended spring training in later years in Havana, Cuba... hit a career-best .234 in her rookie season as a 17-year-old in '43... Pauline Pirak six seasons' career stats: .208 BA, 32 Doubles, 14 Triples, 0Hr, 262 Runs, 127 RBIs, 223 Stolen Bases in 1,976 at-bats spanning 559 games - 1943-1948.

Kerry Kerrigan, Pitcher and Utility Player Rockford Peaches, RH - good-looking with curly-hair, she was An all-around athlete... possessed a strong pitching arm and played two seasons - 1950-1951 - with Rockford of the AAGBL...her lifetime achievements include playing on two Florida softball champions, and volleyball champion team.

Erma Keyes, Outfielder Battle Creek Belles, RH - joined the league as a rookie in 1951 after she collected 9 varsity letters and graduated from Ursinus College in Pennsylvania. A fine hitter, played one season in the women's league, Keyes lined 67 hits in 316 at bats, for a .212 batting average, sacored 23 runs, had 23 RBIs in 89 games.

Helen Ketola, Third Baseman Fort Wayne Daises, RH - listed playing days 5-ft, 4-inches, 129-pounds.... Nicknamed Pee Wee... although she played just one season - 1950. Ketola often recalled 'the opportunity to play in the league was the best thing that ever happened to her.' Born in Quincy MA on 9/30/1931... Copyright 2003 by baseballhistorian.com - AAGBL Archives

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