Doris Sams
Encyclopedia
Doris Jane Sams [Sammye] (born February 2, 1927) is a former female outfielder
and pitcher
who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
. Listed at 5' 9", 145 lbs., she batted and threw right handed.
title, ranked in several offensive and pitching categories, and hurled a perfect game
and a no-hitter
, being considered by fanatics, readers, and baseball enthusiasts, among the best players in the 12-year history of the AAGPBL.
, Doris was the only daughter of Robert and Pauline Sams. She grew up in a home where baseball was considered of vital importance. Her grandfather was a semi-professional hurler who taught her how to pitch, while her father was a semi-professional center fielder
who taught her how to catch and field. Athletically inclined, she started playing sports at an early age with the assistance of her brothers Paul and Robert Jr. She started playing softball with older girls in 1938 when she was 11, helping her softball team win the state championship in seven of the next eight years, and representing Tennessee in a national tournament in 1941. In addition to softball, Sams had already achieved local notoriety. At age nine she won the Southern Appalachian Marbles Tournament, which made her the first girl to qualify for the National Marbles Championship in Chicago
. She later played for the Nelson's Cafe club, until the Pepsi Cola Company
bought it. She stayed with the Pepsi Cola team until 1946, winning three championships with them before starting her career in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.
. She had an auspicious debut, hitting a .276 batting average
with 15 runs
scored and nine runs driven home
in 42 games. As an underhand pitcher, she posted a 8-9 record with a 3.78 earned run average
in 25 pitching appeances, while her average was seventh best in the league for players with 100 or more at-bat (she went 29-for-106). Muskegon, with Buzz Boyle
at the helm, placed sixth in the eight-team league with a 46-66 record.
The first AAGPBL spring training
outside the United States
was held in 1947 in Havana, Cuba, as part of a plan to create an International League of Girls Baseball. Sams was one of two hundred players to attend the new training camp, in a Lassies team now managed
by legendary Bill Wambsganss
. The team included talented players as shortstop
Dorothy Stolze
and pitchers Amy Applegren and Nancy Warren
, between others. The All-Americans stayed at the Seville-Biltmore Hotel, and they played their games at the Gran Stadium
. On the other hand, all the teams were filmed for Fox News
going down the steps at the University of Havana
. That season the league made the transition from underhand to full side-arm pitching.
Sams exploded in her sophomore season, to become one of the leading all-around players in the circuit. She finished with a .280 average, the third-highest among regulars, and collected nine doubles
, five triples
, 41 RBI and 31 runs in 107 games. She also pitched 19 games, going 11-4 with a low 0.93 ERA and a significant .733 winning percentage
, allowing 26 runs (15 earned) while striking out
34 and walking
28. She was second only to Mildred Earp
of the Grand Rapids Chicks
, who posted a 20-8 record (.714) and a 0.68 ERA in 35 games. In addttion, Sams ended 7th in total bases
(116), tied for 9th in hits (97), and tied for 7th in RBI. But her great highlight came on August 18, 1947, when she collected her eleventh victory by pitching a perfect game
, defeating the strong Fort Wayne Daisies
, 2–0. Sams earned the Player of the Year Award
and made her first All-Star Team
as an outfielder and pitcher that year, becoming the only player in AAGPBL history to be so honored. Muskegon went on to win the regular season title with a 69-43 record, but failed to the Racine Belles
in the first round.
In 1948 the AAGPBL expanded to a historical peak of ten teams divided into Eastern and Western Divisions, and made the switch from side-arm to overhand pitching. On July 12, Sams opened the year by hurling a 3–0 no-hitter
against the Springfield Sallies
, one of the league’s two new clubs, along with the Chicago Colleens
. One evening later, she helped beat the Sallies 6–5, going 3-for-4, including a two-run homer, a single and an RBI triple. Then, the next day she pitched a one-hitter, 3–1 victory against South Bend, and contributed with two hits and one RBI. But Sams never really made the adjustment to the new style pitching, finishing with a 18-10 mark and a 1.54 ERA. Nevertheless, she enjoyed a productive season as a hitter, collecting a .257 average (9th in the league) after going 105-for-409. She also scored 105 runs, slugged six doubles, seven triples and three home runs, recording career-best numbers with 59 RBI and 117 games played. Thanks in part to her timely hitting, Muskegon finished second in the Eastern Division with a record of 66-57 and advanced to the playoffs, only to be beaten by the Fort Wayne Daisies
in the first round. Unfortunately, Sams was overlooked for the All-Star Team, being surpassed by Kenosha Comets
center fielder and Player of the Year Audrey Wagner
, who won the batting title with a .312 average, and belted four homers with 70 runs and 56 RBI. Wagner was the only girl to hit over .300 in that season, ending 23 points ahead of runner-up Connie Wisniewski
. The other two All-Star outfielders were Racine's Edythe Perlick
(LF), who averaged .243 with two home runs and 51 RBI, and Grand Rapids' Wisniewski (RF), who hit .289 with seven homers and 66 RBI.
As hurlers addapted to the new pitching style, batting averages declined even more during the 1949 season. Sams won the batting crown with a .279 mark, as she repeated as Player of the Year to become the first player in the league to twice win player of the year honors. She won the batting title race by a single point over Wisniewski and led the circuit with 114 hits (one more hit than Wisniewski), but was not among the leaders in any other offensive category. As a pitcher, Sams had a 15-10 mark with a 1.58 ERA and finished 8th in ERA, tied for 7th in wins and tied for 8th in shutout
s. On July 14 of that season, she hurled a one-hitter, 3–1 victory against South Bend and helped herself with two hits and one RBI. Then, on August 19 she defeated again South Bend on a three-hit shutout, 2–0, while hitting a single with a run scored. All pitchers were led by Jean Faut
of the South Bend Blue Sox
, who went 24-8 with 120 strikeouts a 1.58 ERA, and Lois Florreich
of the Rockford Peaches
, who posted a 22-7 record with 210 strikeouts (a league high) and a minuscule 0.67 ERA, to set an all-time season record for lowest ERA in the league's history. Sams made the All-Star Team for a second time while Muskegon, managed by Carson Bigbee
, had a fifth-best record of 46-66 and advanced to the playoffs. The Belles took the first round from Kenosha but were swept in the semi-finals by South Bend.
The AAGPBL used a livelier ball in 1950. As a result, offensive levels augmented significantly in all cases with more hits, scoring more runs and hitting four times as many home runs as they did in previous seasons. That year, Sams began a string of four consecutive seasons with a batting average over .300. She finished 5th in the batting race with a .301 average, was 3rd in slugging (.419), and tied for 5th in home runs (4). It was the last season she pitched on a regular basis, going 12-13 with a 2.60 ERA, as she made her third All-Star Team. During the midseason, poor attendance in Muskegon
forced the movement of the struggling Lassies to Kalamazoo, Michigan
. The change of scenery did not help, as the now Kalamazoo Lassies
finished in the cellar with the worst record of the league (36-73-2). Bonnie Baker
, who catched
for South Bend early in the season, joined the Kalamazoo team as player-manager in a short stint for her, because the following year the league passed a rule banning female managers.
In 1951, Sams allowed 13 hits and 11 runs in her final three innings of work on the mound, though her offensive production remained consistent. She ranked 6th in average (.306) and 9th in total bases (135), tying for 4th in doubles (16) and for 8th in hits (109). She added two homers, 40 runs and 33 RBI in 97 games, and also earned a fourth selection to the All-Star Team. The Lassies posted a measly record of 34-75 and finished in 7th place (out of 8th in the league).
Sams enjoyed a career-season in 1952, when she led the circuit with 12 home runs and finished third in average (.314) in 109 games. She also was second in hits (128), doubles (25) and total bases (195), and ended third in RBI (57) in her last year as an All-Star Team, while Kalamazoo finished 5th of six teams with a 49-60 record. During a double-header sweep of Grand Rapids in June, she homered in both games, including a two-run blast in a four-hit, 3–0 shutout by Ruth Williams
in game one, and a solo homer in a seven-hit, 2–1 victory of Gloria Cordes
in the nightcap. With her 12 dingers
, Sams broke the league’s all-time home run record of 10 set in 1943 by Racine’s Eleanor Dapkus
. That mark would be eclipsed in 1954 by Fort Wayne's Joanne Weaver
, when she hit 29 home runs during what turned out to be the league’s final season.
In 1953 Sams played her last season in the AAGPBL. She appeared in 46 games and hit .312 (54-for-173), including 23 runs, seven extrabases and 22 RBI.
In an eight-year career, Sams was a .290 hitter in 271 games and posted a 64-47 record with a 2.16 ERA as a pitcher.
Sams, who never married, was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 1970 and the Knoxville Hall of Fame in 1982. She also is part of the AAGPBL permanent display at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum at Cooperstown, New York
, opened in 1988, which is dedicated to the entire league rather than any individual player. At , she is still living in her homeland of Knoxville.
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
and pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
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' 9", 145 lbs., she batted and threw right handed.
Overview profile
Doris Sams was an outstanding player during her eight years tenure in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. A pitcher turned outfielder, she was the only player named to the All-Star Team at both positions. Sams was an all-around athlete who could pitch, hit and field as well as any player in the league. A two time Player of the Year and a five time All-Star, she won a batting crown and a home runHome run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
title, ranked in several offensive and pitching categories, and hurled a perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
and a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
, being considered by fanatics, readers, and baseball enthusiasts, among the best players in the 12-year history of the AAGPBL.
Early life
A native of Knoxville, TennesseeKnoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
, Doris was the only daughter of Robert and Pauline Sams. She grew up in a home where baseball was considered of vital importance. Her grandfather was a semi-professional hurler who taught her how to pitch, while her father was a semi-professional center fielder
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 taught her how to catch and field. Athletically inclined, she started playing sports at an early age with the assistance of her brothers Paul and Robert Jr. She started playing softball with older girls in 1938 when she was 11, helping her softball team win the state championship in seven of the next eight years, and representing Tennessee in a national tournament in 1941. In addition to softball, Sams had already achieved local notoriety. At age nine she won the Southern Appalachian Marbles Tournament, which made her the first girl to qualify for the National Marbles Championship in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. She later played for the Nelson's Cafe club, until the Pepsi Cola Company
Pepsi
Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...
bought it. She stayed with the Pepsi Cola team until 1946, winning three championships with them before starting her career in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.
AAGPBL career
At age 19, Sams entered the AAGPBL in 1946 with the expansion Muskegon LassiesMuskegon Lassies
The Muskegon Lassies were one of the expansion teams of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in , representing Muskegon, Michigan. The team played their home games at Marsh Field....
. She had an auspicious debut, hitting a .276 batting 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 :...
with 15 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
scored and nine runs driven home
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in 42 games. As an underhand pitcher, she posted a 8-9 record with a 3.78 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 25 pitching appeances, while her average was seventh best in the league for players with 100 or more at-bat (she went 29-for-106). Muskegon, with Buzz Boyle
Buzz Boyle
Ralph Francis Boyle , was an outfielder in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Boston Braves and Brooklyn Dodgers . Listed at 5' 11", 170 lb., Boyle batted and threw left handed...
at the helm, placed sixth in the eight-team league with a 46-66 record.
The first AAGPBL spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
outside the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
was held in 1947 in Havana, Cuba, as part of a plan to create an International League of Girls Baseball. Sams was one of two hundred players to attend the new training camp, in a Lassies team now managed
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
by legendary Bill Wambsganss
Bill Wambsganss
William Adolf Wambsganss was a second baseman in Major League Baseball. From 1914 through 1926, Wambsganss played for the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, and Philadelphia Athletics...
. The team included talented players as shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
Dorothy Stolze
Dorothy Stolze
Dorothy Stolze [Dottie] was a second basewoman who played from through for four different teams of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
and pitchers Amy Applegren and Nancy Warren
Nancy Warren (baseball)
Nancy Warren was a pitcher and infielder who played from through for six different teams of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 5", 130 lb., she batted and threw right handed...
, between others. The All-Americans stayed at the Seville-Biltmore Hotel, and they played their games at the Gran Stadium
Estadio Latinoamericano
The Estadio Latinoamericano is a stadium in Havana, Cuba. It is primarily used for baseball. Gran Stadium, a spacious pitchers' park with prevailing winds blowing in and boasting a playing surface and lighting system of major-league quality, was built in 1946 as the top baseball park in Latin...
. On the other hand, all the teams were filmed for Fox News
Movietone News
Movietone News is a newsreel that ran from 1928 to 1963 in the United States, and from 1929 to 1979 in the United Kingdom.-History:It is known in the U.S. as Fox Movietone News, produced cinema, sound newsreels from 1928 to 1963 in the U.S., from 1929 to 1979 in the UK , and from 1929 to 1975 in...
going down the steps at the University of Havana
University of Havana
The University of Havana or UH is a university located in the Vedado district of Havana, Cuba. Founded in 1728, the University of Havana is the oldest university in Cuba, and one of the first to be founded in the Americas...
. That season the league made the transition from underhand to full side-arm pitching.
Sams exploded in her sophomore season, to become one of the leading all-around players in the circuit. She finished with a .280 average, the third-highest among regulars, and collected nine doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, five triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 41 RBI and 31 runs in 107 games. She also pitched 19 games, going 11-4 with a low 0.93 ERA and a significant .733 winning percentage
Winning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
, allowing 26 runs (15 earned) while striking out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
34 and walking
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
28. She was second only to Mildred Earp
Mildred Earp
Mildred Earp [Mid or Millie] is a former female pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 6", 135 lb., she batted and threw right handed....
of the Grand Rapids Chicks
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....
, who posted a 20-8 record (.714) and a 0.68 ERA in 35 games. In addttion, Sams ended 7th in total bases
Total bases
In baseball statistics, total bases refers to the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i.e., the sum of his hits weighted by 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run.Only bases attained from hits count toward this total....
(116), tied for 9th in hits (97), and tied for 7th in RBI. But her great highlight came on August 18, 1947, when she collected her eleventh victory by pitching a perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
, defeating the strong Fort Wayne Daisies
Fort Wayne Daisies
The Fort Wayne Daisies were a women's professional baseball team that played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
, 2–0. Sams earned the Player of the Year Award
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Player of the Year Award
Starting on its third year of operation, the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League honored with the Player of the Year Award the top performer in the circuit that year. The AAGPBL folded at the end of the 1954 season. This is the list of winners.-Winners:...
and made her first 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 ....
as an outfielder and pitcher that year, becoming the only player in AAGPBL history to be so honored. Muskegon went on to win the regular season title with a 69-43 record, but failed to 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:...
in the first round.
In 1948 the AAGPBL expanded to a historical peak of ten teams divided into Eastern and Western Divisions, and made the switch from side-arm to overhand pitching. On July 12, Sams opened the year by hurling a 3–0 no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
against the Springfield Sallies
Springfield Sallies
The Springfield Sallies were a women's professional baseball team who joined the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in the season. The team represented Springfield, Illinois, and played their games at Lanphier Ball Park....
, one of the league’s two new clubs, along with the Chicago Colleens
Chicago Colleens
The Chicago Colleens were a women's professional baseball team who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The team represented Chicago, Illinois and played their home games at Shewbridge Field....
. One evening later, she helped beat the Sallies 6–5, going 3-for-4, including a two-run homer, a single and an RBI triple. Then, the next day she pitched a one-hitter, 3–1 victory against South Bend, and contributed with two hits and one RBI. But Sams never really made the adjustment to the new style pitching, finishing with a 18-10 mark and a 1.54 ERA. Nevertheless, she enjoyed a productive season as a hitter, collecting a .257 average (9th in the league) after going 105-for-409. She also scored 105 runs, slugged six doubles, seven triples and three home runs, recording career-best numbers with 59 RBI and 117 games played. Thanks in part to her timely hitting, Muskegon finished second in the Eastern Division with a record of 66-57 and advanced to the playoffs, only to be beaten by the Fort Wayne Daisies
Fort Wayne Daisies
The Fort Wayne Daisies were a women's professional baseball team that played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
in the first round. Unfortunately, Sams was overlooked for the All-Star Team, being surpassed by Kenosha Comets
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 later moved to Simmons Field.The Kenosha Comets were one...
center fielder and Player of the Year Audrey Wagner
Audrey Wagner
Genevieve Wagner [Audrey] was an outfielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 7", 145 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.-Brief profile:...
, who won the batting title with a .312 average, and belted four homers with 70 runs and 56 RBI. Wagner was the only girl to hit over .300 in that season, ending 23 points ahead of runner-up Connie Wisniewski
Connie Wisniewski
Constance Wisniewski was a starting pitcher and outfielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
. The other two All-Star outfielders were Racine's 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:...
(LF), who averaged .243 with two home runs and 51 RBI, and Grand Rapids' Wisniewski (RF), who hit .289 with seven homers and 66 RBI.
As hurlers addapted to the new pitching style, batting averages declined even more during the 1949 season. Sams won the batting crown with a .279 mark, as she repeated as Player of the Year to become the first player in the league to twice win player of the year honors. She won the batting title race by a single point over Wisniewski and led the circuit with 114 hits (one more hit than Wisniewski), but was not among the leaders in any other offensive category. As a pitcher, Sams had a 15-10 mark with a 1.58 ERA and finished 8th in ERA, tied for 7th in wins and tied for 8th in shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s. On July 14 of that season, she hurled a one-hitter, 3–1 victory against South Bend and helped herself with two hits and one RBI. Then, on August 19 she defeated again South Bend on a three-hit shutout, 2–0, while hitting a single with a run scored. All pitchers were led by Jean Faut
Jean Faut
Jean Anna Faut [Winsch/Eastman] is a former female starting pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 4", 137 lb., she batted and threw right handed....
of the South Bend Blue Sox
South Bend Blue Sox
The South Bend Blue Sox were a women's professional baseball team who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
, who went 24-8 with 120 strikeouts a 1.58 ERA, and Lois Florreich
Lois Florreich
Kathleen Lois Florreich [Flash] was a pitcher and utility who played from through for three different teams of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 5", 140 lb., Florreich batted and threw right-handed...
of the Rockford Peaches
Rockford Peaches
The Rockford Peaches were a team in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League playing out of Rockford, Illinois for the entire existence of the league from 1943 to 1954....
, who posted a 22-7 record with 210 strikeouts (a league high) and a minuscule 0.67 ERA, to set an all-time season record for lowest ERA in the league's history. Sams made the All-Star Team for a second time while Muskegon, managed by Carson Bigbee
Carson Bigbee
Carson Lee "Skeeter" Bigbee was an American outfielder in Major League Baseball who played his entire career with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was born in Lebanon, Oregon, and attended the University of Oregon....
, had a fifth-best record of 46-66 and advanced to the playoffs. The Belles took the first round from Kenosha but were swept in the semi-finals by South Bend.
The AAGPBL used a livelier ball in 1950. As a result, offensive levels augmented significantly in all cases with more hits, scoring more runs and hitting four times as many home runs as they did in previous seasons. That year, Sams began a string of four consecutive seasons with a batting average over .300. She finished 5th in the batting race with a .301 average, was 3rd in slugging (.419), and tied for 5th in home runs (4). It was the last season she pitched on a regular basis, going 12-13 with a 2.60 ERA, as she made her third All-Star Team. During the midseason, poor attendance in Muskegon
Muskegon, Michigan
Muskegon is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 38,401. The city is the county seat of Muskegon County...
forced the movement of the struggling Lassies to Kalamazoo, Michigan
Kalamazoo, Michigan
The area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
. The change of scenery did not help, as the now Kalamazoo Lassies
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 the Catholic Athletic Association Field, now the...
finished in the cellar with the worst record of the league (36-73-2). Bonnie Baker
Bonnie Baker
Mary Geraldine Baker, née George was an all-star catcher in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1943 to 1952.-Career:...
, who catched
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
for South Bend early in the season, joined the Kalamazoo team as player-manager in a short stint for her, because the following year the league passed a rule banning female managers.
In 1951, Sams allowed 13 hits and 11 runs in her final three innings of work on the mound, though her offensive production remained consistent. She ranked 6th in average (.306) and 9th in total bases (135), tying for 4th in doubles (16) and for 8th in hits (109). She added two homers, 40 runs and 33 RBI in 97 games, and also earned a fourth selection to the All-Star Team. The Lassies posted a measly record of 34-75 and finished in 7th place (out of 8th in the league).
Sams enjoyed a career-season in 1952, when she led the circuit with 12 home runs and finished third in average (.314) in 109 games. She also was second in hits (128), doubles (25) and total bases (195), and ended third in RBI (57) in her last year as an All-Star Team, while Kalamazoo finished 5th of six teams with a 49-60 record. During a double-header sweep of Grand Rapids in June, she homered in both games, including a two-run blast in a four-hit, 3–0 shutout by Ruth Williams
Ruth Williams
Ruth Williams [Heverly] was a pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 4", 139 lb., she batted and threw right handed....
in game one, and a solo homer in a seven-hit, 2–1 victory of Gloria Cordes
Gloria Cordes
Gloria Cordes [Elliott] is a former starting pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
in the nightcap. With her 12 dingers
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
, Sams broke the league’s all-time home run record of 10 set in 1943 by Racine’s Eleanor Dapkus
Eleanor Dapkus
Eleanor Dapkus [Wolf] was a center fielder and pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 6", 160 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.-Women in baseball:...
. That mark would be eclipsed in 1954 by Fort Wayne's Joanne Weaver
Joanne Weaver
Joanne Weaver [″Joltin' Jo″] was a right fielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
, when she hit 29 home runs during what turned out to be the league’s final season.
In 1953 Sams played her last season in the AAGPBL. She appeared in 46 games and hit .312 (54-for-173), including 23 runs, seven extrabases and 22 RBI.
In an eight-year career, Sams was a .290 hitter in 271 games and posted a 64-47 record with a 2.16 ERA as a pitcher.
Batting statistics
| GP Games played Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,... | AB At bat In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance... | R Run (baseball) In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured... | H Hit (baseball) In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice.... | 2B Double (baseball) In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice.... | 3B Triple (baseball) In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice.... | HR Home run In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process... | RBI Run batted in Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI... | TB Total bases In baseball statistics, total bases refers to the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i.e., the sum of his hits weighted by 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run.Only bases attained from hits count toward this total.... | BA 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 :... | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 271 | 2485 | 290 | 720 | 82 | 23 | 22 | 286 | 914 | .290 | .368 |
Life after baseball
Following her baseball career, Sams returned home and accepted a good job offer as computer operator for the Knoxville Utility Board, where she worked for 25 years. She retired in 1979, partly to take care of her seriously ill mother.Sams, who never married, was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 1970 and the Knoxville Hall of Fame in 1982. She also is part of the AAGPBL permanent display at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum at Cooperstown, New York
Cooperstown, 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...
, opened in 1988, which is dedicated to the entire league rather than any individual player. At , she is still living in her homeland of Knoxville.
AAGPBL perfect games
| Pitcher(s) | Season | Team | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annabelle Lee Annabelle Lee Annabelle Lee Harmon was a female pitcher who played from through with four different teams of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 2", 120 lb, Lee was a switch-hitter and threw left-handed... |
Minneapolis Millerettes Minneapolis Millerettes The Minneapolis Millerettes were an expansion All-American Girls Professional Baseball League team that played for one season in 1944. They played their home games in Nicollet Park, home of the men's minor league team the Minneapolis Millers... |
Kenosha Comets 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 later moved to Simmons Field.The Kenosha Comets were one... |
|
| Carolyn Morris Carolyn Morris Carolyn E. Morris was a female pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 7", 157 lb., Morris batted and threw right handed... |
Rockford Peaches Rockford Peaches The Rockford Peaches were a team in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League playing out of Rockford, Illinois for the entire existence of the league from 1943 to 1954.... |
Fort Wayne Daisies Fort Wayne Daisies The Fort Wayne Daisies were a women's professional baseball team that played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League... |
|
| Doris Sams | Muskegon Lassies Muskegon Lassies The Muskegon Lassies were one of the expansion teams of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in , representing Muskegon, Michigan. The team played their home games at Marsh Field.... |
Fort Wayne Daisies Fort Wayne Daisies The Fort Wayne Daisies were a women's professional baseball team that played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League... |
|
| Jean Faut Jean Faut Jean Anna Faut [Winsch/Eastman] is a former female starting pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 4", 137 lb., she batted and threw right handed.... |
South Bend Blue Sox South Bend Blue Sox The South Bend Blue Sox were a women's professional baseball team who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League... |
Rockford Peaches Rockford Peaches The Rockford Peaches were a team in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League playing out of Rockford, Illinois for the entire existence of the league from 1943 to 1954.... |
|
| Jean Faut Jean Faut Jean Anna Faut [Winsch/Eastman] is a former female starting pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 4", 137 lb., she batted and threw right handed.... |
South Bend Blue Sox South Bend Blue Sox The South Bend Blue Sox were a women's professional baseball team who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League... |
Kalamazoo Lassies 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 the Catholic Athletic Association Field, now the... |