Kenosha Comets
Encyclopedia
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 of the first four teams in the AAGPBL. In 1943, the Comets posted the third-best record of the league at 56-52, but had won the second-half title (33-21) and earn a ticket to the playoffs, they were swept in three games by the Racine Belles
.
Kenosha again placed third in 1944 (62-54) and made the playoffs, thanks to a first-half title (36-23). The Comets took a 3-2 lead over the Milwaukee Chicks
in the best-of-seven series, but lost the decisive Game 7. Kenosha faded after that, ending last in 1945 (41-69), seventh of eight teams in 1946 (42-70), and last in 1947 (43-69).
The Comets rebounded in 1948, ending fifth (61-64) in the five-team Western Division and advancing to the playoffs, but were defeated by Racine in the first round, three to zero games. In 1949 Kenosha finished fourth (58–55) in the eight-team league, but lost to the Muskegon Lassies
in two games during the first round of post-season action.
Their most productive season came in 1950, when they finished second with a 64-46 record, three games behind Racine, only to lost for the fifth straight appearance in the first round, this time to the Rockford Peaches
in four games.
In 1951, Kenosha ended sixth (36-71) in the eight-team league, out of contention. The team folded at the end of the season.
In its nine years of history, the Kenosha Comets had in their rosters notable players as pitcher
Helen Nicol
and slugger Audrey Wagner
, as well as Lois Florreich
, Katie Horstman
, Elizabeth Mahon
, Dorothy Schroeder
and Fern Shollenberger
.
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Kenosha is a city and the county seat of Kenosha County in the State of Wisconsin in United States. With a population of 99,218 as of May 2011, Kenosha is the fourth-largest city in Wisconsin. Kenosha is also the fourth-largest city on the western shore of Lake Michigan, following Chicago,...
, the Kenosha Comets were a women's professional baseball team that 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:...
. The team played their home games at Kenosha's Lake Front Stadium, but later moved to Simmons Field
Simmons Field
Simmons Field is a baseball stadium in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The field is most notable for its use as the home field of the Kenosha Comets of theAll-American Girls Professional Baseball League .-History:...
.
The Kenosha Comets were one of the first four teams in the AAGPBL. In 1943, the Comets posted the third-best record of the league at 56-52, but had won the second-half title (33-21) and earn a ticket to the playoffs, they were swept in three games by 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:...
.
Kenosha again placed third in 1944 (62-54) and made the playoffs, thanks to a first-half title (36-23). The Comets took a 3-2 lead over 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 best-of-seven series, but lost the decisive Game 7. Kenosha faded after that, ending last in 1945 (41-69), seventh of eight teams in 1946 (42-70), and last in 1947 (43-69).
The Comets rebounded in 1948, ending fifth (61-64) in the five-team Western Division and advancing to the playoffs, but were defeated by Racine in the first round, three to zero games. In 1949 Kenosha finished fourth (58–55) in the eight-team league, but lost to the 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....
in two games during the first round of post-season action.
Their most productive season came in 1950, when they finished second with a 64-46 record, three games behind Racine, only to lost for the fifth straight appearance in the first round, this time to 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....
in four games.
In 1951, Kenosha ended sixth (36-71) in the eight-team league, out of contention. The team folded at the end of the season.
In its nine years of history, the Kenosha Comets had in their rosters notable players as 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...
Helen Nicol
Helen Nicol
Helen Nicol is a Canadian former baseball pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League . Listed at 5' 3", 120 lb., Nicol batted and threw right-handed...
and slugger 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:...
, as well as 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...
, Katie Horstman
Katie Horstman
Catherine Horstman [″Horsey″] is a former female utility who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
, Elizabeth Mahon
Elizabeth Mahon
Elizabeth B. Mahon [″Lib″] was a female outfielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 7", 135 lb., Mahon batted and threw right-handed. She was born in Greenville, South Carolina.-Early life:Lib Mahon was one of six children of David...
, Dorothy Schroeder
Dorothy Schroeder
Dorothy Schroeder [″Dottie″] was a shortstop who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 7", 150 lb., Schroeder batted and threw right-handed...
and Fern Shollenberger
Fern Shollenberger
Fern Shollenberger [Shelly] was a third basewoman who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 4", 125 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.-Brief profile:...
.
All-time roster
- Velma AbbottVelma AbbottFlora Velma Abbott was an utility infielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 2", 110 lb., she batted and threw right handed....
- Janet Anderson
- Joyce Barnes
- Catherine Bennett
- Muriel BevisMuriel BevisMuriel Bevis [″Breezy″] was a female outfielder and pitcher who played in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during the season. Bevis batted and threw left-handed. She was born in Corona, Queens, New York City....
- Ethel Boyce
- Delores Brumfield
- Jean Buckley
- Mary Butcher
- Mary Carey
- Virginia Carrigy
- Ysora Castillo
- Jean CioneJean CioneJean S. Cione [″Cy″] 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:...
- Lucille Colacito
- Clara Cook
- Mildred Deegan
- Geraldine Edwards
- Elizabeth FabacElizabeth FabacElizabeth Fabac [Bretting] was an infielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 3", 115 lb., she batted and threw right handed....
- Helen FilarskiHelen FilarskiHelen Filarski [Steffes] is a former infielder and outfielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 2", 125 lb., she batted and threw right handed....
- Lois FlorreichLois FlorreichKathleen 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...
- Rose Folder
- Hermine Franks
- Gertrude Ganote
- Rose Glacer
- Bethany Goldsmith
- July Gutz
- Johanna HagemanJohanna HagemanJohanna Hageman [Hargraves] was a first base player and chaperone in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League between the and seasons...
- Ann HarnettAnn HarnettAnn 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...
- Elise HarneyElise HarneyElise Harney [″Lee″] was a female pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She batted and threw right-handed....
- Kay Heim
- Irene HicksonIrene HicksonIrene Hickson was a catcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 2", 116 lb., she batted and threw right-handed....
- Alice HohlmayerAlice HohlmayerAlice Hohlmayer [Naughton] is a former first basewoman and pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
- Joan Holderness
- Katie HorstmanKatie HorstmanCatherine Horstman [″Horsey″] is a former female utility who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
- Dorothy Hunter
- Shirley JamesonShirley JamesonShirley 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...
- Janet Jamieson
- Christine Jewett
- Marilyn Jones
- Josephine KabickJosephine KabickJosephine Kabick [Jo] was a female pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 7", 142 lb., Kabick batted and threw right-handed...
- Marie Kazmierczak
- Theresa KobuszewskiTheresa KobuszewskiTheresa Kobuszewski [Koby or Tracy] was a pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League....
- Phyllis KoehnPhyllis KoehnPhyllis C. Koehn [″Sugar″] was a pitcher and utility who played from through for six different teams of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 5", 120 lb., Koehn batted and threw right-handed. She was born in Madison, Wisconsin.By the fall of 1942, World War II...
- Irene Kotowicz
- Josephine LenardJosephine LenardVeronica Josephine Lenard [″Bubblegum″] was a center fielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 4", 130 lb., she batted and threw right-handed....
- Mary Lou Lester
- Barbara LiebrichBarbara LiebrichBarbara E. Liebrich [Bobbie] was an infielder, manager and chaperone in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during the and seasons. She batted and threw right-handed....
- Jean LovellJean LovellJean Lovell [″Grumpy″] was a female catcher and pitcher who played for three different teams of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League between the and seasons. Lovell batted and threw right-handed...
- Ethel McCreary
- Elizabeth MahonElizabeth MahonElizabeth B. Mahon [″Lib″] was a female outfielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 7", 135 lb., Mahon batted and threw right-handed. She was born in Greenville, South Carolina.-Early life:Lib Mahon was one of six children of David...
- Jean Malanowski
- Jacqueline Mattson
- Anna MeyerAnna MeyerAnna L. Meyer [Pee Wee] is a former female shortstop who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during the season. She batted and threw right-handed.-Career:...
- Darlene Mickelsen
- Dorothy NaumDorothy NaumDorothy Mary Naum [Parker] was a catcher, infielder and pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 4", 112 lb., she batted and threw right handed....
- Merna Nearing
- Helen NicolHelen NicolHelen Nicol is a Canadian former baseball pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League . Listed at 5' 3", 120 lb., Nicol batted and threw right-handed...
- Helen Nordquist
- Anna Mae O'Dowd
- Janice O'Hara
- Barbara Parks
- Ernestine PetrasErnestine PetrasErnestine Petras [״Tenny״] is a former infielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 5", 125 lb., Petras batted and threw right handed...
- Marjorie Pieper
- Pauline PirokPauline PirokPauline Pirok [pier-ock] is a former infielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 2", 132 lb., Pirok batted and threw right-handed. She earned the nickname Pinky Pirok....
- Mary PrattMary Pratt (baseball)Mary Pratt is a former pitcher who played from 1943 through 1947 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She batted and threw left-handed.-Early life:...
- Magdalen RedmanMagdalen RedmanMagdalen Redman [״Mamie״] is a former catcher and utility infielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
- Martha RommelaereMartha RommelaereMartha Rommelaere, Mrs. Manning was a Canadian outfielder who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during the season...
- Barbara Rotvig
- Blanche Schachter
- Dorothy SchroederDorothy SchroederDorothy Schroeder [″Dottie″] was a shortstop who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 7", 150 lb., Schroeder batted and threw right-handed...
- Dorothy Shinen
- Fern ShollenbergerFern ShollenbergerFern Shollenberger [Shelly] was a third basewoman who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 4", 125 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.-Brief profile:...
- Helen SmithHelen Smith (baseball)Helen Smith [Gig] is a former utility infielder who played briefly in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She batted and threw right-handed.Smith was born and grew up in Richmond, Virginia...
- Jean SmithJean Smith (baseball)Jean Marie Smith was an outfielder and relief pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 6", 128...
- Ruby StephensRuby StephensRuby Lee Stephens [Stevie] was a pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
- Jeanette Stocker
- Eunice TaylorEunice TaylorEunice Taylor [Tuffy] was an American female catcher who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League .Taylor was born in Racine, Wisconsin on February 12, 1934...
- Yolande Teillet
- Marge VillaMarge VillaMargaret Villa [Cryan] is a former utility player who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 2", 115 lb., Villa batted and threw right handed...
- Audrey WagnerAudrey WagnerGenevieve 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:...
- Evelyn WawryshynEvelyn WawryshynEvelyn Wawryshyn [Litwin/Moroz] is a former Canadian second basewoman who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 3", 130 lb., Wawryshyn batted and threw right-handed...
- Helen Westerman
- Marion Wohlwender
- Lois YoungenLois YoungenLois Joy Youngen is a former catcher and outfielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 4", 137 lb., she batted and threw right handed...
Managers
| * 1943 | Josh Billings |
| * 1944 | Marty McManus Marty McManus Martin Joseph "Marty" McManus was a Major League Baseball infielder who played principally as a second baseman and third baseman .-St. Louis Browns: 1920-1926:... |
| * 1945 | Eddie Stumpf Eddie Stumpf Edward Stumpf was an American player, manager and executive in Minor league baseball.Stumpf began his professional baseball career as a catcher in the American Association, playing from 1916 through 1919 for the Milwaukee Brewers and Columbus Senators... |
| * 1946 | Press Cruthers Press Cruthers Charles Preston Cruthers was a second baseman in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Philadelphia Athletics. Listed at 5' 9", 152 lb., Cruthers batted and threw right handed. He was born in Marshallton, Delaware.Cruthers played briefly for the Athletics in part of two seasons... |
| * 1947 | Ralph Shinners Ralph Shinners Ralph Peter Shinners was a centerfielder in Major League Baseball who played from 1922 through 1925 for the New York Giants and St. Louis Cardinals... |
| * 1948 | Chet Grant Chet Grant Donald Chester Grant was an American football player, coach and sportswriter.... |
| * 1949 * 1950 |
Johnny Gottselig Johnny Gottselig John Gottselig was a professional ice hockey left winger who played 17 seasons for the Chicago Black Hawks of the National Hockey League between 1928 and 1946. He was the second player born in the Russian Empire to play in the NHL, as well as the first European-born head coach in the league's... |
| * 1951 | Source not available |
- Sources: 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. ISBN 0786437472