The Rockford Peaches were a women's professional baseball team who played from through in the

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 ...

. A founding member, the team represented Rockford, Illinois. The Peaches were one of two teams to play in every AAGPBL season, the other being the South Bend Blue Sox. They played their home games at

Beyer Stadium The Beyer Stadium, one mile from downtown in Rockford, Illinois, was the home of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League's Rockford Peaches from 1943 to 1954. It was a multi-purpose facility, as contemporary newspaper articles also ...

on 15th Avenue in Rockford. The team's uniform consisted of a peach colored dress featuring the Rockford city seal centered on the chest, along with red socks and cap. In later years, the Peaches wore a white home uniform with black socks and cap.

History

One of the more successful teams in the AAGPBL, the Peaches won the league championship in

1945 1945 marked the end of World War II and the fall of Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan. It is also the only year in which nuclear weapons have been used in combat. Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. Januar ...

1948 Events January * January 1 ** The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) is inaugurated. ** The Constitution of New Jersey (later subject to amendment) goes into effect. ** The railways of Britain are nationalized, to form British ...

1949 Events January * January 1 – A United Nations-sponsored ceasefire brings an end to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. The war results in a stalemate and the division of Kashmir, which still continues as of 2022. * January 2 – ...

, and

1950 Events January * January 1 – The International Police Association (IPA) – the largest police organization in the world – is formed. * January 5 – Sverdlovsk plane crash: ''Aeroflot'' Lisunov Li-2 crashes in a snowstorm. All 19 ...

and had its share of star players. Dyes were hard to come by towards the end of the war and the team chose to dye their white uniforms a light shade of peach, which inspired the team nickname. Peaches players who were named to the All-Star teams from 1946 to 1954 included Dorothy Kamenshek, Lois Florreich, Dorothy Harrell, Carolyn Morris, Alice Pollitt, Ruth Richard, Rose Gacioch, Eleanor Callow, and

Joan Berger Joan Berger ''Knebl(October 9, 1933 – September 11, 2021) was a infielder and outfielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at , 132 lb, she batted and threw right-handed. She was bor ...

. Pitcher

Olive Little Olive Bend Little 'Ollie''(May 17, 1917 − February 2, 1987) was a female pitcher who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League between the and seasons. Listed at 5' 3", 135 lb., Little batted and threw right-handed. Sh ...

hurled the first

no-hitter In baseball, a no-hitter is a game in which a team was not able to record a hit. Major League Baseball (MLB) officially defines a no-hitter as a completed game in which a team that batted in at least nine innings recorded no hits. A pitcher w ...

both in team and league history. In addition, Florreich was the pitching champion in 1949 during the league's overhand era, and Gladys Davis won the league batting crown in the 1943 inaugural season, while Kamenshek earned the honors in the 1946 and

1947 It was the first year of the Cold War, which would last until 1991, ending with the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Events January * January– February – Winter of 1946–47 in the United Kingdom: The worst snowfall in the count ...

seasons. When former player

Eileen Burmeister Eileen Dean (née Burmeister, November 30, 1924 – March 23, 1990) played eight defensive positions for the Rockford Peaches in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 5", 140 lb., she batted and threw left handed ...

was asked why The Peaches supposedly favored theatricality over technical skill, she replied, "If God meant for us to play baseball, He would've made us any good at it.". The last living player of the first Peaches roster in AAGPBL, pitcher Mary Pratt, died on May 6, 2020, at the age of 101.

All-time roster

:''Bold denotes members of the inaugural roster'' *

Velma Abbott Flora Velma Abbott (May 29, 1929 – January 1, 1987) was a utility infielder who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 2", 110 lb., she batted and threw right handed. A native of Regina, Saskatchewan ...

Melba Alspaugh Melba Irene Alspaugh (July 13, 1926 – February 16, 1983) was an American backup outfielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She batted and threw right-handed. Born in Wichita, Kansas, Alspaugh w ...

Amy Applegren Amy Irene "Lefty" Applegren (November 16, 1926April 3, 2011) was an American baseball pitcher and infielder who played from 1944 through 1953 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5'4, 125 lb., she batted and threw ...

Ange Armato Ange Lou Armato (born October 27, 1929) is an American former infielder who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Born in Rockford, Illinois, Ange Armato was the seventh girl out of eight children from a large Italian f ...

* Beverly Armstrong * Charlene Barnett *

* Rita Briggs * Christine Bruce *

Jean Buckley Jean Buckley Bucketts"(December 4, 1931 – July 7, 2019) was a center fielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at , , Buckley batted and threw right-handed. She was born in Dorchester, ...

* Lorraine Bunton * Shirley Burkovich *

* Aldine Calacurcio * Eleanor Callow * Mary Carey * Betty Carveth *

Bea Chester Bea Chester (born c.1921) was a utility infielder who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She batted and threw right-handed. A native of Brooklyn, New York, Bea Chester was one of the original South Bend Blue Sox fou ...

Jean Cione Jean S. Cione ��Cy″(June 23, 1928 – November 22, 2010) was a pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 8", 143 lb., She batted and threw left-handed. AAGPBL rules of play The ...

* Muriel Coben *

Clara Cook Clara Ruth Cook �Babe״(June 19, 1921 – July 23, 1996) was a pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at , 130 lb., she batted and threw left-handed. A fastpitch left hander, Clara ...

* Donna Cook * Dorothy Cook *

Betty Jane Cornett Betty Jane Cornett (November 24, 1932 – March 18, 2006) was an infielder and pitcher who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 5", 125 lb., she batted and threw right handed. Born in Pittsburgh, Penns ...

Dorothy Cramer Dorothy Cramer was an All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player.Louella Daetweiler * Barbara Anne Davis * Gladys Davis * Mildred Deegan * Wanita Dokish * Cartha Doyle * Beverly Dustrude * Louise Erickson * Elizabeth Farrow * Dorothy Ferguson *

Helen Filarski Helen Filarski (later Steffes; May 11, 1924September 13, 2014) was an American baseball player. She was an infielder and outfielder who played from 1945 through 1950 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at , 125 lb. ...

* Alva Jo Fischer * Lorraine Fisher * Lois Florreich * Anita Foss *

Betty Jane Fritz Betty Jane Fritz (October 14, 1924 – August 11, 1994) was a center fielder who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during the season. Listed at , 130 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.

* Rose Gacioch * June Gilmore *

Thelma Golden Thelma Golden (born 1965 in St. Albans, Queens) is the Director and Chief Curator of The Studio Museum in Harlem, New York City, United States. Golden joined the Museum as Deputy Director for Exhibitions and Programs in 2000 before succeedin ...

Annie Gosbee Annie Gosbee (December 29, 1935 – December 9, 1976) was an infielder who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She batted and threw right handed.Dorothy Green * Carol Habben * Audrey Haine * Dorothy Harrell * Josephine Hasham * Ruby Heafner *

Lillian Hlavaty Lillian Hlavaty (June 13, 1932 – October 4, 2009) played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in 1951. She threw right-handed In human biology, handedness is an individual's preferential use of one hand, known as the ...

* Margaret Holgerson * Marjorie Hood * Lillian Jackson *

Donna Jogerst Donna Mae Jogerst (September 11, 1932 – October 17, 2000) was an American left-handed pitcher who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Born in Freeport, Illinois, Jogerst saw little action with the Rockford Peaches i ...

Marguerite Jones Marguerite Jones (later Davis; November 3, 1917 – May 9, 1995) was a Canadian pitcher who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 9", 150 lb., she batted and threw right handed. Born in Regina, Saskat ...

* Marilyn Jones *

Margaret Jurgensmeier Margaret Jurgensmeier (later Carroll; September 2, 1934 – June 26, 2020) was a pitcher who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 7", 130 lb., she batted and threw right handed. She was dubbed ''Jurgy'' by ...

* Dorothy Kamenshek * Joan Kaufman * Jacquelyn Kelley *

Adeline Kerrar Adeline Kerrar ("Addie") (August 31, 1924 – July 4, 1995) was an American infielder and catcher who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during the season. Listed at , 130 pounds, she was a switch-hitter and threw ...

* Marguerite Kerrigan * Nancy King * Irene Kotowicz *

Dolores Lee Dolores Margaret Lee (April 21, 1935 – May 14, 2014) was an American female baseball player who played as a pitcher from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at , 130 lb, she batted and threw right-hande ...

Josephine Lenard Veronica Josephine Lenard (September 2, 1921 – February 7, 2007), nicknamed "Bubblegum", was an American center fielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 4", 130 lb., she batted a ...

* Barbara Liebrich *

Claire Lobrovich Claire Lobrovich Krumpotich (April 5, 1923 – July 29, 2011) was an outfielder who played from 1947 to 1948 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She batted and threw right handed.Jean Lovell *

Shirley Luhtala Shirley Ann Luhtala (April 9, 1933 – January 30, 2013) was a first baseman in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She played for the Racine Belles in 1950 and the Battle Creek Belles and Rockford Peaches in 1951. In her final ...

* Betty Luna * Gloria McCloskey * Ethel McCreary * Marie Mansfield *

Hazel Measner Hazel Measner (later Wildfong; June 2, 1925 – January 1, 1984) was a Canadian pitcher who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.Naomi Meier Naomi Meier ��Sally″(November 17, 1926 – July 15, 1989) was an outfielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at , 115 lb., Meier batted and threw right-handed. She was born in Fort Wayne, ...

Berith Melin Berith "Berry" Ahlquist (later Melin; May 2, 1918 – December 11, 1977) was an outfielder who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She batted and threw right-handed. Berith Ahlquist was one of the Rockford Peaches foun ...

Bernice Metesch Bernice Metesch or Metesh (born August 9, 1929) is an American former baseball outfielder and pitcher who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 6" and 132 lb, Metesch batted and threw right-handed. She was ...

* Ruth Miller * Anne "Annie" (Mihelich) Henry * Betty Moczynski *Dorothy Moon * Mary Moore * Carolyn Morris * Doris Nelson * Helen Nelson *

Helen Nicol Helen Nicol (later Fox; May 9, 1920 – July 25, 2021) was a Canadian-American baseball pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). Listed at , , Nicol batted and threw right-handed. She was ...

Helen Nordquist Helen E. Nordquist �Nordie״(born March 23, 1932) is a former pitcher and right fielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at , 160 lb., she batted and threw right-handed. Helen Nordqu ...

* Cynthia Normine * Anna Mae O'Dowd * Pauline Oravets * Shirley Palesh *

Suzanne Parsons Suzanne may refer to: People * Suzanne (given name), a feminine given name (including a list of people with the name) * S. U. Zanne, pen name of August Vandekerkhove (1838–1923), Belgian writer and inventor * Suzanne, pen name of Renée Ménde ...

* Barbara Payne * Migdalia Pérez * Marjorie Peters * Betty Jean Peterson *

Hattie Peterson Hattie A. Peterson Oberg (April 17, 1930 – March 30, 2017) was a pitcher who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She played under her maiden name, Hattie Peterson.Alice Pollitt * Mary Pratt * Donna Reid * Ruth Richard * Ruth Ries *

Kay Rohrer Kay Rohrer (June 29, 1922 – March 17, 1962) was a catcher who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at , 139 lb, she batted and threw right-handed. A member of a championship team, Kay Rohrer was one of the best ...

Jenny Romatowski Jenniffer A. Romatowski ��Romey″(September 13, 1927 – March 12, 2014) was an American baseball utility player who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at , 145 lb., she batted and threw righ ...

Irene Ruhnke Irene Ruhnke (later Sanvitis; March 30, 1920 – July 13, 1999) was an infielder and outfielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at , 130 lb., she batted and threw right-handed. She was ...

* Margaret Russo * Sarah Jane Sands * Dorothy Sawyer *

Edna Scheer Edna H. Scheer (November 4, 1926 – April 25, 2000) was a pitcher who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at , 104 lb., Scheer batted and threw right-handed. She was born in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. Edna Scheer p ...

* Marilyn Schmidt * Violet Schmidt *

Minnie Simons As a first name, Minnie is a feminine given name. It can be a diminutive (hypocorism) of Minerva, Winifred, Wilhelmina, Hermione, Mary, Miriam, Maria, Marie, Naomi, Miranda, Clementine or Amelia. It may refer to: People with the given nam ...

* Josephine Skokan * Helen Smith * Mae Starch *

Jackie Stallings Jackie or Jacky may refer to: People and fictional characters * Jackie (given name), a list of people and fictional characters named Jackie or Jacky ** Jackie, current ring name of female professional wrestler Jacqueline Moore ** Jackie Lee (I ...

Elma Steck Elma Steck Weiss (May 3, 1923 – July 22, 2014) was a fourth outfielder who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 4", 120 lb., Elma batted left-handed and threw right-handed. She was born in Columbus, Ohi ...

Margaret Stefani Margaret Stefani 'Marge''(December 18, 1917 – January 13, 1964) was an infielder and chaperone in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Summary Born in Detroit, Michigan, Stefani was one of the sixty original players of the A ...

* Lee Surkowski * Rella Swamp *

Georgia Terkowski Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

* Barbara Thompson * Gene Travis *

Betty Tucker Eulah Elizabeth Tucker (January 28, 1924 – August 20, 2012) was a pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 4", 123 lb., she batted and threw right-handed. A native of Detr ...

Joan Tysver Joan may refer to: People and fictional characters *Joan (given name), including a list of women, men and fictional characters *: Joan of Arc, a French military heroine *Joan (surname) Weather events *Tropical Storm Joan (disambiguation), multipl ...

* Virginia Ventura * Zonia Vialat *

Helen Waddell Helen Jane Waddell (31 May 1889 – 5 March 1965) was an Irish poet, translator and playwright. She was a recipient of the Benson Medal. Biography She was born in Tokyo, the tenth and youngest child of Hugh Waddell, a Presbyterian ministe ...

* Betty Warfel *

Mildred Warwick Mildred Marion Warwick �Mille״(October 18, 1922 – December 9, 2006) was an infielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 2", 115 lb., she batted and threw right handed. Born in ...

* Rossey Weeks * Marie Wegman *

Helen Westerman Helen Louise Westerman ''Austin (September 10, 1926 – November 4, 2006) was a catcher who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at , 118 lb, she batted and threw right-handed. Helen Westerman was one of th ...

* Margaret Wigiser * Hazel Wildfong *

Janet Wiley Janet M. Wiley ''Sears(October 12, 1933 – July 10, 2010) was an infielder and pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at , 112 lb, she batted and threw right-handed. A member of a c ...

* Vilma Williams * Verna Wilson * Lorraine Wuethrich * Betty Yahr
''The Women of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League: A Biographical Dictionary'' – W. C. Madden. Publisher: McFarland & Company, 2005. Format: Paperback, 295 pp. Language: English.

Managers

''A League of Their Own''

The Rockford Peaches feature in the

1992 File:1992 Events Collage V1.png, From left, clockwise: Riots break out across Los Angeles, California after the police beating of Rodney King; El Al Flight 1862 crashes into a residential apartment building in Amsterdam after two of its engines ...

film ''

A League of Their Own ''A League of Their Own'' is a 1992 American sports comedy-drama film directed by Penny Marshall that tells a fictionalized account of the real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). The film stars Tom Hanks, Geena Da ...

'' by

Penny Marshall Carole Penny MarshallBorn Carole Penny Marshall in 1943, as per ''My Mother Was Nuts, a Memoir'', p. 10; . Copyright 2012 (October 15, 1943 – December 17, 2018) was an American actress, director and producer. She is known for her role as ...

. However, all of the characters in the film are fictitious. The team did not play in the 1943 league championship, as depicted in the film. In real life, the

Racine Belles The Racine Belles were one of the original teams of the All-American Gi