Claire Schillace
Encyclopedia
Claire Joan Schillace was a center fielder
who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
. Listed at 5' 3", 128 lb., she batted right-handed and threw left-handed
.
, Schillace was attending Northern Illinois University
and played softball in a Chicago league, being a member of the of the Illinois
state and Chicago city championship teams. She impressed the AAGPBL scouts
with her speedy baserunning
and fielding skills. After receiving an tryout invitation, she became one of the first four players signed by the league, joining Ann Harnett
, Shirley Jameson
and Edythe Perlick
.
Schillace spent four years in the league, all with the Racine Belles
. She had an outstanding rookie season, hitting a career-high .251 average
, being selected to the All-Star Team
, and as member of the 1943 Belles Championship Team. During her career, she posted a .202 average and stole
153 bases.
Following her baseball career, Schillace completed her studies and earned a master degree in education. After being married, she changed her name to Claire Schillace Donahoe. For many years she worked as an educator in Illinois, which included advanced spelling studies at DeKalb Teachers College.
dedicated a permanent display to the All American Girls Professional Baseball League. In 1999, she joined Charlene Wright as the two first inductees in the National Women's Baseball Hall of Fame.
Claire died in Bethesda, Maryland
at the age of 76, following complications from a blood clot.
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was a women's professional baseball league founded by Philip K. Wrigley which existed from 1943 to 1954. During the league's history, over 600 women played ball.-History:...
. Listed at 5' 3", 128 lb., she batted right-handed and threw left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
.
AAGPBL career
A native of Melrose Park, IllinoisMelrose Park, Illinois
Melrose Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is a "near-in" suburb of Chicago. The population was 23,171 at the 2000 census. Melrose Park has long been home to a large Italian-American population, though now it is majority Mexican-American. It was the home of Kiddieland...
, Schillace was attending Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P...
and played softball in a Chicago league, being a member of the of the Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
state and Chicago city championship teams. She impressed the AAGPBL scouts
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
with her speedy baserunning
Baserunning
In baseball, baserunning is the act of running around the bases performed by members of the team at bat.In general, baserunning is a tactical part of the game with the goal of eventually reaching home to score a run. In fact, the goal of batting is generally to produce baserunners, or help move...
and fielding skills. After receiving an tryout invitation, she became one of the first four players signed by the league, joining Ann Harnett
Ann Harnett
Ann Harnett is a former female utility who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 6", 139 lb., Harnett batted and threw right-handed...
, Shirley Jameson
Shirley Jameson
Shirley Jameson was a center fielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 4' 10¾" , 104 lb. , Jameson batted right-handed and threw left-handed...
and Edythe Perlick
Edythe Perlick
Edythe Perlick [Edie] was a left fielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 3", 128 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.-Overview profile:...
.
Schillace spent four years in the league, all with the Racine Belles
Racine Belles
The Racine Belles were one of the original teams of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League playing from through out of Racine, Wisconsin. The team played its home games at Horlick Field.-History:...
. She had an outstanding rookie season, hitting a career-high .251 average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
, being selected to the All-Star Team
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League All-Star Team
The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was a women's professional baseball circuit which existed for twelve seasons from through ....
, and as member of the 1943 Belles Championship Team. During her career, she posted a .202 average and stole
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
153 bases.
Following her baseball career, Schillace completed her studies and earned a master degree in education. After being married, she changed her name to Claire Schillace Donahoe. For many years she worked as an educator in Illinois, which included advanced spelling studies at DeKalb Teachers College.
Milestones
In November 1988, Claire, along with her former teammates and opponents, received their long overdue recognition, when the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New YorkCooperstown, New York
Cooperstown is a village in Otsego County, New York, USA. It is located in the Town of Otsego. The population was estimated to be 1,852 at the 2010 census.The Village of Cooperstown is the county seat of Otsego County, New York...
dedicated a permanent display to the All American Girls Professional Baseball League. In 1999, she joined Charlene Wright as the two first inductees in the National Women's Baseball Hall of Fame.
Claire died in Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
at the age of 76, following complications from a blood clot.