Helen Nicol
Encyclopedia
Helen Nicol is a Canadian
former baseball pitcher
who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
(AAGPBL). Listed at 5' 3", 120 lb., Nicol batted and threw right-handed. She sometimes credited as Helen Fox or Nickie Fox.
The 1992 film A League of Their Own
, directed by filmmaker Penny Marshall
, revitalized interest in feminine baseball and helped memorialize a neglected chapter of sports history: the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which gave over 600 women athletes the opportunity to play professional baseball and to play it at a level never before attained. Nicol was just one of them.
A native of Ardley, Alberta
, Canada
, Nicol has been catalogued by many as one of the greatest pitcher in AAGPBL history. She holds several all-time pitching records, including appearances
(313), wins (163), consecutive wins (13), strikeout
s (1,076), batters faced
(7,537), and innings pitched
(2,382). In addition, she posted a 13-7 record with a 1.83 earned run average
in postseason games.
Nicol entered the AAGPBL in 1943 with the Kenosha Comets
, playing for them through the 1947 midseason before joining the Rockford Peaches
(1947–1952). She enjoyed a solid first season, leading the league with 31 wins, a 1.81 ERA, 220 strikeouts, eight shutout
s and 348 innings of work, including the aforementioned string of (13) wins in a row. Though she failed in the playoffs, after going 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA against the eventual champion Racine Belles
. After the end of the season, she was selected for the All-Star Team and was honored as Pitcher of the Year.
In her sophomore 1944 season, Nicol went 17-11 and led again the league with a 0.93 ERA. She went 2-3 with a 1.09 ERA while facing the Milwaukee Chicks
in the playoffs, but lost three of four pitching matchups with Connie Wisniewski
, including the crucial Game 6, 2–1, a 13 inning-duel won by Wisniewski. For the second consecutive year, she was named Pitcher of the Year.
In 1945, Nicol married and played under the name Helen Fox. She had another stellar season though the Comets finished in last place. She earned 24 of the 41 wins of her team, finishing fourth in ERA (1.34) and second in strikeouts (220) and innings (357). The next season, and for the first time, she fell under .500 of winning percentage
(15-17) and missed the top 10 in wins.
In 1947, according to new regulations, the AAGPBL pitchers were forced to switch from underhand to sidearm, and both the bases and the mound were pushed back. Many underhand pitchers could not make it to the sidearm pitching, including Fox. She divided her playing time between Kenosha and Rockford, and posted a combined 6-16 with a 2.62 ERA. Nevertheless, in 1948 she stayed patient and made the necessary adjustments to pitch sidearm and overhand, as was required in that season. She rebounded with a 17-13 mark and a 2.61 ERA. After that, she won all four playoff games she pitched, including the pennant clinching victory, 4–2, over the Fort Wayne Daisies
.
Fox rediscovered her previous form in 1949, going 13-8 with seven shutouts and a second-best 0.98 ERA, behind Lois Florreich
(0.67) and over Jean Faut
(1.10). She was 2-0 in the playoffs against the South Bend Blue Sox
, to win her second straight championship with the Peaches. In 1950 she went 14-12 with a 1.98, helping her team to reach the playoffs. She finished 4-1, including the decisive Game 7 against the Daisies, 4–3, for her third consecutive championship title.
The 1951 season saw Fox continue to shine with Rockford, as she had a 18-7 record with a 2.57 ERA and 23 complete game
s in 214 innings. In her final 1952 season, she went 8-7 and an ERA of 2.50 to culminate a 10-season brilliant career.
Fox, and other 63 girls that represented Canada in the AAGPBL, gained induction into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
in .
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
former baseball 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:...
(AAGPBL). Listed at 5' 3", 120 lb., Nicol batted and threw right-handed. She sometimes credited as Helen Fox or Nickie Fox.
The 1992 film A League of Their Own
A League of Their Own
A League of Their Own is a 1992 American comedy-drama film that tells a fictionalized account of the real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League . Directed by Penny Marshall, the film stars Geena Davis, Lori Petty, Tom Hanks, Madonna, and Rosie O'Donnell...
, directed by filmmaker Penny Marshall
Penny Marshall
Penny Marshall is an American actress, producer and director.After playing several small roles for television, she was cast as Laverne DeFazio in the sitcom Laverne and Shirley...
, revitalized interest in feminine baseball and helped memorialize a neglected chapter of sports history: the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which gave over 600 women athletes the opportunity to play professional baseball and to play it at a level never before attained. Nicol was just one of them.
A native of Ardley, Alberta
Ardley, Alberta
Ardley is a hamlet in central Alberta, Canada within Red Deer County. It is located west of Highway 21, approximately east of Red Deer.- References :...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Nicol has been catalogued by many as one of the greatest pitcher in AAGPBL history. She holds several all-time pitching records, including appearances
Games pitched
In baseball statistics, games pitched is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher; a player who is announced as the pitcher must face at least one batter, although exceptions are made if the pitcher announced in the starting lineup is injured before facing a batter, perhaps while...
(313), wins (163), consecutive wins (13), strikeout
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....
s (1,076), batters faced
Batters Faced by Pitcher
In baseball statistics, Batters Faced by Pitcher , also known as Total Batters Faced , is the number of batters who made a plate appearance before the pitcher in a game or in a season....
(7,537), and innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
(2,382). In addition, she posted a 13-7 record with a 1.83 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 postseason games.
Nicol entered the AAGPBL in 1943 with the 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...
, playing for them through the 1947 midseason before joining 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....
(1947–1952). She enjoyed a solid first season, leading the league with 31 wins, a 1.81 ERA, 220 strikeouts, eight 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 and 348 innings of work, including the aforementioned string of (13) wins in a row. Though she failed in the playoffs, after going 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA against the eventual champion 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:...
. After the end of the season, she was selected for the All-Star Team and was honored as Pitcher of the Year.
In her sophomore 1944 season, Nicol went 17-11 and led again the league with a 0.93 ERA. She went 2-3 with a 1.09 ERA while facing the Milwaukee Chicks
Milwaukee Chicks
The Milwaukee Chicks were a women's professional baseball team which played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during the season. They were managed by Max Carey, former star player for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Brooklyn Robins and a future Hall of Famer.-History:By 1944 the...
in the playoffs, but lost three of four pitching matchups with Connie Wisniewski
Connie Wisniewski
Constance Wisniewski was a starting pitcher and outfielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
, including the crucial Game 6, 2–1, a 13 inning-duel won by Wisniewski. For the second consecutive year, she was named Pitcher of the Year.
In 1945, Nicol married and played under the name Helen Fox. She had another stellar season though the Comets finished in last place. She earned 24 of the 41 wins of her team, finishing fourth in ERA (1.34) and second in strikeouts (220) and innings (357). The next season, and for the first time, she fell under .500 of 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...
(15-17) and missed the top 10 in wins.
In 1947, according to new regulations, the AAGPBL pitchers were forced to switch from underhand to sidearm, and both the bases and the mound were pushed back. Many underhand pitchers could not make it to the sidearm pitching, including Fox. She divided her playing time between Kenosha and Rockford, and posted a combined 6-16 with a 2.62 ERA. Nevertheless, in 1948 she stayed patient and made the necessary adjustments to pitch sidearm and overhand, as was required in that season. She rebounded with a 17-13 mark and a 2.61 ERA. After that, she won all four playoff games she pitched, including the pennant clinching victory, 4–2, over 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...
.
Fox rediscovered her previous form in 1949, going 13-8 with seven shutouts and a second-best 0.98 ERA, behind 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...
(0.67) and over 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....
(1.10). She was 2-0 in the playoffs against 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...
, to win her second straight championship with the Peaches. In 1950 she went 14-12 with a 1.98, helping her team to reach the playoffs. She finished 4-1, including the decisive Game 7 against the Daisies, 4–3, for her third consecutive championship title.
The 1951 season saw Fox continue to shine with Rockford, as she had a 18-7 record with a 2.57 ERA and 23 complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
s in 214 innings. In her final 1952 season, she went 8-7 and an ERA of 2.50 to culminate a 10-season brilliant career.
Fox, and other 63 girls that represented Canada in the AAGPBL, gained induction into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum is a museum located in St. Marys, Ontario, Canada. The museums commemorates great players, teams, and accomplishments of baseball in Canada.-History:...
in .
Sources
- All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Record Book – W. C. Madden. Publisher: McFarland & Company. Format: Paperback, 294pp. Language: English. ISBN 0786437472 ISBN 9780786437474