The Muskegon Lassies were one of the expansion teams of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in the 1946 season, representing

Muskegon, Michigan Muskegon ( ') is a city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Muskegon County. Muskegon is known for fishing, sailing regattas, pleasure boating, and as a commercial and cruise ship port. It is a popular vacation destination because of the expans ...

. The team played their home games at Marsh Field.

History

The 1946 Muskegon Lassies posted a 46–66 record in their first year, and placed sixth in the eight–team league. They improved to 69–43 in 1947, to win a close pennant race with the

Grand Rapids Chicks The Grand Rapids Chicks were a women's professional baseball team based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1945 to 1954, winning championships in 1947 and 1953. History The franchise ...

. Muskegon was led by OF/ P Doris Sams, who ranked in several offensive categories and also collected 11 victories, including a

perfect game Perfect game may refer to: Sports * Perfect game (baseball), a complete-game win by a pitcher allowing no baserunners * Perfect game (bowling), a 300 game, 12 consecutive strikes in the same game * Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, New York ...

, good enough to win the

Most Valuable Player Award In team sports, a most valuable player award, abbreviated 'MVP award', is an honor typically bestowed upon an individual (or individuals, in the instance of a tie) whose individual performance is the greatest in an entire league, for a particu ...

. Notably, the team counted with three of the top four pitchers in

earned run average In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number ...

, Sams (0.98), Amy Irene Applegren (1.06) and Nancy Warren (1.13), but lost to the Racine Belles in the best-of-five, first-round matchup 3–1. Muskegon went 66–57 in 1948 to gain a playoff berth, but lost to 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 ...

in the first round, three to zero games. The team dropped to 46–66 in 1949 but was able to reach the playoffs for the third consecutive year. Muskegon disposed of the

Kenosha Comets Based in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the Kenosha Comets were a women's professional baseball team that played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The team played their home games at Kenosha's Lake Front Stadium, but l ...

in the first round, 3–1, being swept by the South Bend Blue Sox in the

semifinals A single-elimination, knockout, or sudden death tournament is a type of elimination tournament where the loser of each match-up is immediately eliminated from the tournament. Each winner will play another in the next round, until the final mat ...

, 3–0.

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 ...

became a nightmare for Muskegon, after registering the worst record in the league (36–73) and a relocation during the midseason to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where the team was renamed the

Kalamazoo Lassies The Kalamazoo Lassies were a team who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The team represented Kalamazoo, Michigan. Home games were initially played at Lindstrom Field, but later games were played at th ...

All-time roster

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

Gertrude Alderfer Gertrude Alderfer '' ert' (September 21, 1931 – February 27, 2018) was a first basewoman and catcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She batted and threw right-handed.Beatrice Allard Beatrice Jean Allard ("Bea") (born July 10, 1930) is a former pitcher who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during the season. Listed at , 130 lb, she batted and threw right-handed. Beatrice Allard was a fireballing r ...

* Melba Alspaugh * Amy Applegren *

Norene Arnold Florence Norene Arnold itzel(November 21, 1927 – January 27, 1987) was a right-handed pitcher and utility infielder who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in its 1949 season. She was dubbed 'Blondie'.

Doris Barr Doris "Dodie" Barr (August 26, 1921 – July 12, 2009) was a pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 6", 145 lb., Barr batted and threw left-handed. She was born in Starbuck, ...

Patricia Barringer Patricia Barringer (September 14, 1924 – March 31, 2007) was an All-American Girls Professional Baseball League ballplayer. Listed at 5' 7", 145 lb., she batted and threw right handed. Born in New Carlisle, Ohio, Patricia Barringer attend ...

Erma Bergmann Erma M. "Bergie" Bergmann (June 18, 1924 – September 13, 2015) was an American baseball pitcher and outfielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at , 155 lb., she batted and threw right ...

Jaynne Bittner Jaynne Berrier Bittner B(March 17, 1926 – April 23, 2017) was a starting pitcher who played from through for four teams of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at , 140 lb, she batted and threw right-handed. B ...

Shirley Burkovich Shirley Burkovich (February 4, 1933 – March 31, 2022) was an American professional baseball infielder, outfielder and pitcher who played from 1949 through 1951 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at and , she batted ...

* Phyllis Carlson *

Ann Cindric Ann Cindrić sindrich(September 5, 1922 – December 18, 2010) was a pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 6", 135 lb., Cindrić batted and threw right-handed. She was nicknamed ...

Donna Cook Donna Jean Cook �Cookie״(May 24, 1928 – October 16, 2006) was a pitcher and outfielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at , 121 lb., she batted right-handed and threw left-handed. ...

Gloria Cordes Gloria Cordes Elliott (September 21, 1931 – March 13, 2018) was a starting pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 8", 138 lb., she batted and threw right-handed. Overview pro ...

* Gladys Davis * Betty Degner * Pauline Dennert *

Peggy Fenton Peggy L. Fenton (October 12, 1927 – June 16, 2013) played for the Muskegon Lassies and the South Bend Blue Sox of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during the 1948 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season, 1948 s ...

* Alva Jo Fischer * Anita Foss * Betty Francis * Genevieve George * Julie Gutz *Miss Hack * Helen Hannah * Josephine Hasham * Alice Hohlmayer *

Margaret Holgerson Margaret Holgerson (January 28, 1927 – March 23, 1990) was an American pitcher and infielder who played from to in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She batted and threw right-handed. After being married in 1948 she played u ...

* Anna Mae Hutchison *

Arleene Johnson Arleene Johnson

oga Oga or OGA may refer to: Places * Oga, Akita, Tōhoku, Japan * Oga Peninsula, Japan * Oga, a ''frazione'' of Valdisotto, Italy People * Oga Atsushi, a Japanese sumo wrestler * My Oga at the top, Nigerian Pidgin English term for "boss" or "lea ...

(January 1, 1924 – March 14, 2017) was a Canadian infielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). Listed at 5 feet 4 inches, 137 lb., she batted and threw right-ha ...

* Marilyn Jones * Glenna Sue Kidd * Theresa Klosowski * Arlene Kotil * Marie Kruckel * Josephine Lenard * Sarah Lonetto * Therese McKinley * Dorothy Maguire * Pauline Martin * Naomi Meier *

Norma Metrolis Norma "Trolley" Metrolis (December 5, 1925 – February 2, 2010) was a catcher in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League between 1946 and 1950. She both batted and threw right-handed. Raised in Lake Worth Beach, Florida, Lake Worth, F ...

* Dorothy Montgomery * Eve Mytrysak * Eileen O'Brien *

Joanne Overleese Jo Anne (also Joanne) Overleese (October 3, 1923 – May 15, 2017) was an infielder who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She batted and threw right handed. /www.aagpbl.org/index.cfm/profiles/overleese-md-joanne/803 A ...

* Barbara Payne * Marguerite Pearson * Betty Petryna *

Charlene Pryer Charlene Barbara Pryer ayer(September 24, 1921 – June 3, 1999) was a female utility in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, playing mainly at second base and center field from through . Listed at , 105 lb., Pryer batted a ...

* Sara Reeser * Mary Rini * Juanita Roylance * Doris Sams * June Schofield * Delores Seigfried *

Dorothy Stolze Dorothy Stolze 'Dottie''(May 1, 1923 – July 19, 2003) was a second basewoman who played from through for four teams of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at , 129 lb., she batted and threw right-handed. Career ...

* Doris Tetzlaff * Kathryn Vonderau * Betty Wagoner * Helen Walulik * Nancy Warren * Marion Watson *

Evelyn Wawryshyn Evelyn Wawryshyn itwin/Moroz(November 11, 1924 – February 3, 2022) was a Canadian second base who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 3", 130 lb., Wawryshyn batted and threw right-ha ...

* Marie Wegman * Margaret Wenzell * Elizabeth Wicken * Renae Youngberg

Managers

Sources

*''The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Record Book'' – W. C. Madden. Publisher: McFarland & Company, 2000. Format: Hardcover, 302pp. Language: English. *''Encyclopedia of Women and Baseball – Leslie A. Heaphy, Mel Anthony May. Publisher: McFarland & Company, 2006. Format: Paperback, 438pp. Language: English.

External links

Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame
{{All-American Girls Professional Baseball League All-American Girls Professional Baseball League teams 1946 establishments in Michigan 1950 disestablishments in Michigan Baseball teams established in 1946 Baseball teams disestablished in 1950 Sports in Muskegon, Michigan Defunct baseball teams in Michigan Women's sports in Michigan