Dorothy Kovalchick (later Roark; December 31, 1925 – June 10, 2020) was an American

All-American Girls Professional Baseball League The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) was a professional women's baseball league founded by Philip K. Wrigley which existed from 1943 to 1954. The AAGPBL is the forerunner of women's professional league sports in the Uni ...

player. Kovalchick batted and threw right handed. She was born in

Sagamore, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania Sagamore is an unincorporated community in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, United States. Its ZIP code is 16250. Notable person Dorothy Kovalchick Dorothy Kovalchick (later Roark; December 31, 1925 – June 10, 2020) was an American All-Ame ...

, the daughter of John and Anna (née Lucas) Kovalchick. According to All-American Girls Professional Baseball League data, Kovalchick made appearances at

center field A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the Baseball positions, baseball and softball fielding position between Left fielder, left field and Right fielder, right field. In the numberi ...

and

third base A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball or softball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run. In the scoring system us ...

for the

Fort Wayne Daisies The Fort Wayne Daisies were a women's professional baseball team based in Fort Wayne, Indiana that played from through as members of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. History The Daisies represented Fort Wayne, Indiana, and ...

club during its 1945 inaugural season. After her baseball career ended, she moved to

West Monroe, Louisiana West Monroe is a city in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is situated on the Ouachita River, across from the neighboring city of Monroe. The two cities are often referred to as the Twin Cities of northeast Louisiana. Its population ...

, where she began a new career in real estate, opening Century 21–Dorothy Roark. Predeceased by her husband, Earl Christopher Roark, Dorothy died on June 10, 2020, aged 94. She was survived by her daughter, two stepchildren, three grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, seven step-great-grandchildren, one step-great-great grandchild, and a brother. The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League folded in 1954, but there is now a permanent display at the

Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests. It serves as the central point of the history of baseball in the United States and displays baseball-re ...

Cooperstown, New York Cooperstown is a village in and county seat of Otsego County, New York, United States. Most of the village lies within the town of Otsego, but some of the eastern part is in the town of Middlefield. Located at the foot of Otsego Lake in the C ...

since November 5, 1988 that honors those who were part of this unique experience. Kovalchick is included at the display/exhibit.Before A League of Their Own
''Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum''; retrieved September 5, 2016.

Sources

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kovalchick, Dorothy 1925 births 2020 deaths All-American Girls Professional Baseball League players Fort Wayne Daisies players Baseball players from Pennsylvania Sportspeople from Armstrong County, Pennsylvania People from West Monroe, Louisiana American people of Slovak descent 21st-century American women