Lois Florreich
Encyclopedia
Kathleen Lois Florreich [Flash] (April 29, 1927 - September 11, 1991) 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. She was born in Webster Groves, Missouri
.
, twice led the league in strikeout
s, added single-season titles in complete game
s and innings pitched
, three times won 20 or more games, and also tied an all-time record for most stolen base
s in a single game. In its 12 years of history, the AAGPBL evolved through many stages, including shifting from underhand to sidearm to overhand pitching, but Florreich easily made the transition in each one of the changes.
, would eventually shift gears and become the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, and was dissolved at the end of the 1954 season. About 500 girls attended the initial call. Of these, only 280 were invited to the final try-outs at Wrigley Field
in Chicago, where 60 of them were chosen to become the first women to ever play professional baseball. The 60 players were placed on the rosters of four fifteen-player teams based in Rockford
of Illinois
, South Bend
of Indiana
, and Racine
and Kenosha
of Wisconsin
. Lois Florreich survived the final cut to become one of the original players signed by the league. She was also one of 13 players hailed from Missouri who made the league in its 12 years of existence.
, playing for them two and a half years before joining the Kenosha Comets
(1945-'46) and Rockford Peaches
(1947-'50). Although originally a center fielder
with South Bend, she switched to third base
with Kenosha in 1945 and became a part-time pitcher in 1946, joining a pitching staff bolstered by Helen Nicol
.
In her rookie season, Florreich tied for third place with four home run
s and was among the top 10 hitters in doubles
(nine, 5th), stolen base
s (57, 6th), runs batted in (43, 8th) and total bases
(114, 10th). In 1944, she hit just a .178 batting average
but stole 113 bases, including seven in a single game to tie an all-time record. She finished seventh in stolen bases and tied for fourth in triples
(six). Considering the AAGPBL was using underhand pitching and a softball with a 12-inch circumference, her numbers were quite respectable.
During the 1945 midseason, South Bend sent Florreich, who was batting .223, along with Dorothy Schroeder
(.179) to Kenosha in exchange for Pauline Pirok
, who was leading the league with 20 RBI, and Phyllis Koehn
(2nd, 18 RBI). In her first four seasons, Florreich hit a .205 average. While playing at third base for Kenosha in 1946, she only hit .234, but the team counted on her not for her bat but for her fielding and as a pitching prospect. She went 9-16 with a 2.40 ERA in 1946, and improved to 13-19 and a 1.68 ERA in 1947 after being traded to the Rockford Peaches. She was also one of two hundred players to attend the first AAGPBL spring training outside the United States
, which was held in 1947 in Cuba
at the Gran Stadium de La Habana
.
In 1948, once Florreich threw exclusively overhand, she became one of the most dominant pitchers of the league. She went 22-10 with a 1.18 ERA and a .687 winning percentage
, finishing tied for third in ERA, fourth in wins, and second with 231 strikeouts, being surpassed only by Joanne Winter
(256), who also tied for first in victories (25) with Alice Haylett
. Florreich made the All-Star Team for the initial time, while the Peaches, with Bill Allington
at the helm, won their third Championship Title in six years.
Florreich entered the baseball record books in 1949, by leading all pitchers with a 0.67 ERA to set an AAGPBL all-time, single-season mark. She surpassed Rockford teammate Helen Nicol
, who posted a 0.98 ERA, and Jean Faut
of South Bend who ended with 1.10. For the second consecutive year Florreich won 20 games, going 22-7 with nine shutout
s. She also led the circuit with 210 strikeouts, 26 complete game
s, 269 innings
and a .759 winning percentage
. In addition, she finished second in wins and shutouts behind Faut, who collected 24 and 12, respectively. Florreich garnered her second All-Star selection while the Peaches clinched their second title in a row.
In 1950, Florreich turned in another stellar performance during her final year of play. She made her third straight All-Star appearance, again won 20 games (20-8), recorded a 1.18 ERA, and led the league with 171 strikeouts – 53 more than second place Faut. Her ERA was 0.06 behind leader Faut, and finished second in complete games (28) and third in wins. Florreich also set a personal mark with 22 strikeouts in a nine-inning game. She was injured for the Championship Series against the Fort Wayne Daisies
, but the Peaches still won in seven games to become the most successful team in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League history, winning four titles in 12 seasons, including three in a row.
In an eight-year career, Florreich posted a 86-60 record with a 1.40 ERA and 774 strikeouts in 1304 innings of work. She hit a .192 career average with 139 RBI and 251 stolen bases in 504 games.
, until 1968. She also operated a mobile home park in northern Idaho
and a RV park
and resort
in Spokane, Washington
before retiring. A woman who loved to travel, fish, and be outdoor, Florreich lived the rest of her life in the Sea of Cortez
area in Mexico
, where she died at the age of 64.
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...
and utility
Utility player
In sport, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently, a sort of jack of all trades. Sports in which the term is often used include association football , baseball, rugby, rugby league, water polo and softball....
who played from through for three different teams of 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' 5", 140 lb., Florreich batted and threw right-handed. She was born in Webster Groves, Missouri
Webster Groves, Missouri
Webster Groves is an inner-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 22,995 at the 2010 census. The city is named after New England politician Daniel Webster....
.
Overview profile
By the time she pitched her final game in 1950, Lois Florreich had been selected three times as an All-Star in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. A member of three championship teams, she set an all-time season record for lowest earned run averageEarned 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...
, twice led the league in 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, added single-season titles in 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 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...
, three times won 20 or more games, and also tied an all-time record for most stolen base
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...
s in a single game. In its 12 years of history, the AAGPBL evolved through many stages, including shifting from underhand to sidearm to overhand pitching, but Florreich easily made the transition in each one of the changes.
A brief history
By 1943 a new All-American Girls Softball League was formed, playing a hybrid form of softball and baseball that never really became baseball until overhand pitching began in 1948. The league, which started largely to provide entertainment for baseball fans whose beloved heroes had gone off to World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, would eventually shift gears and become the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, and was dissolved at the end of the 1954 season. About 500 girls attended the initial call. Of these, only 280 were invited to the final try-outs at Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
in Chicago, where 60 of them were chosen to become the first women to ever play professional baseball. The 60 players were placed on the rosters of four fifteen-player teams based in Rockford
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
of 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,...
, South Bend
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
of Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, and Racine
Racine, Wisconsin
Racine is a city in and the county seat of Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city had a population of 82,196...
and Kenosha
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,...
of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. Lois Florreich survived the final cut to become one of the original players signed by the league. She was also one of 13 players hailed from Missouri who made the league in its 12 years of existence.
AAGPBL career
Florreich entered the AAGPBL in 1943 with the South Bend Blue SoxSouth 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...
, playing for them two and a half years before joining 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...
(1945-'46) and 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-'50). Although originally a 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...
with South Bend, she switched to third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
with Kenosha in 1945 and became a part-time pitcher in 1946, joining a pitching staff bolstered by 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...
.
In her rookie season, Florreich tied for third place with four home run
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...
s and was among the top 10 hitters in 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....
(nine, 5th), stolen base
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...
s (57, 6th), runs batted in (43, 8th) and 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....
(114, 10th). In 1944, she hit just a .178 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 :...
but stole 113 bases, including seven in a single game to tie an all-time record. She finished seventh in stolen bases and tied for fourth in 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....
(six). Considering the AAGPBL was using underhand pitching and a softball with a 12-inch circumference, her numbers were quite respectable.
During the 1945 midseason, South Bend sent Florreich, who was batting .223, along with 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...
(.179) to Kenosha in exchange for Pauline Pirok
Pauline Pirok
Pauline 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....
, who was leading the league with 20 RBI, and Phyllis Koehn
Phyllis Koehn
Phyllis 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...
(2nd, 18 RBI). In her first four seasons, Florreich hit a .205 average. While playing at third base for Kenosha in 1946, she only hit .234, but the team counted on her not for her bat but for her fielding and as a pitching prospect. She went 9-16 with a 2.40 ERA in 1946, and improved to 13-19 and a 1.68 ERA in 1947 after being traded to the Rockford Peaches. She was also one of two hundred players to attend the first AAGPBL spring training outside the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, which was held in 1947 in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
at the Gran Stadium de La Habana
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...
.
In 1948, once Florreich threw exclusively overhand, she became one of the most dominant pitchers of the league. She went 22-10 with a 1.18 ERA and a .687 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...
, finishing tied for third in ERA, fourth in wins, and second with 231 strikeouts, being surpassed only by Joanne Winter
Joanne Winter
Joanne Emily Winter [Jo] was a 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 profile:...
(256), who also tied for first in victories (25) with Alice Haylett
Alice Haylett
Alice Haylett [Al or Sis] was a female pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 6", 155 lb., she batted and threw right-handed....
. Florreich made the All-Star Team for the initial time, while the Peaches, with Bill Allington
Bill Allington
William Baird Allington was an American Minor league baseball player and manager. Listed at 5' 9" , 160 lb., Allington batted and threw right-handed. He was born in St. Clair County, Michigan....
at the helm, won their third Championship Title in six years.
Florreich entered the baseball record books in 1949, by leading all pitchers with a 0.67 ERA to set an AAGPBL all-time, single-season mark. She surpassed Rockford teammate 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...
, who posted a 0.98 ERA, and 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 South Bend who ended with 1.10. For the second consecutive year Florreich won 20 games, going 22-7 with nine 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. She also led the circuit with 210 strikeouts, 26 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, 269 innings
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...
and a .759 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...
. In addition, she finished second in wins and shutouts behind Faut, who collected 24 and 12, respectively. Florreich garnered her second All-Star selection while the Peaches clinched their second title in a row.
In 1950, Florreich turned in another stellar performance during her final year of play. She made her third straight All-Star appearance, again won 20 games (20-8), recorded a 1.18 ERA, and led the league with 171 strikeouts – 53 more than second place Faut. Her ERA was 0.06 behind leader Faut, and finished second in complete games (28) and third in wins. Florreich also set a personal mark with 22 strikeouts in a nine-inning game. She was injured for the Championship Series against 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...
, but the Peaches still won in seven games to become the most successful team in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League history, winning four titles in 12 seasons, including three in a row.
In an eight-year career, Florreich posted a 86-60 record with a 1.40 ERA and 774 strikeouts in 1304 innings of work. She hit a .192 career average with 139 RBI and 251 stolen bases in 504 games.
Life after baseball
Florreich, who never married, owned and operated the Sonic Wire Company in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, until 1968. She also operated a mobile home park in northern Idaho
Idaho Panhandle
The Idaho Panhandle is the northern region of the U.S. State of Idaho that encompasses the ten northernmost counties of Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce, Shoshone. Residents of the panhandle refer to the region as North Idaho...
and a RV park
RV park
A recreational vehicle park or caravan park is a place where people with recreational vehicles can stay overnight, or longer, in alloted spaces known as "pitches"...
and resort
Resort
A resort is a place used for relaxation or recreation, attracting visitors for holidays or vacations. Resorts are places, towns or sometimes commercial establishment operated by a single company....
in Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
before retiring. A woman who loved to travel, fish, and be outdoor, Florreich lived the rest of her life in the Sea of Cortez
Gulf of California
The Gulf of California is a body of water that separates the Baja California Peninsula from the Mexican mainland...
area in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, where she died at the age of 64.
Facts
- The 0.67 ERA, AAGPBL season-record set by Lois Florreich in 269.0 innings in 1949, is also the lowest single-season ERA in American professional baseball history. She is followed by:
- Tim KeefeTim KeefeTimothy John "Tim" Keefe , nicknamed "Smiling Tim" and "Sir Timothy", was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He was one of the most dominating pitchers of the 19th century and posted impressive statistics in one category or another for almost every season he pitched...
of the Troy Trojans, 0.86, 105.0 innings, National LeagueNational LeagueThe National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
, - Dutch LeonardDutch Leonard (left-handed pitcher)Hubert Benjamin "Dutch" Leonard, was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who had an 11-year career from 1913–1921, 1924-1925. He played for the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers, and holds the major league modern-era record for the lowest single-season ERA of all time — 0.96...
of the Boston Red SoxBoston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, 0.96, 224⅔ innings, American LeagueAmerican LeagueThe American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
, - Bob GibsonBob GibsonRobert "Bob" Gibson is a retired American professional baseball player. Nicknamed "Hoot" and "Gibby", he was a right-handed pitcher who played his entire 17-year Major League Baseball career with St. Louis Cardinals...
of the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, 1.12, 304⅔ innings, National LeagueNational LeagueThe National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
,
- Tim Keefe
- Florreich was nicknamed Flash because her strong fastballFastballThe fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
and her basestealingStolen baseIn baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
ability.
- The AAGPBL folded in 1954, but there is now a permanent display at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum at Cooperstown, New YorkCooperstown, New YorkCooperstown 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...
since November 5, that honors those who were part of this unique experience. Florreich and the rest of the girls finally received the recognition they deserved, when the entire AAGPBL is now enshrined in the Hall rather than any individual player.
- A League of Their OwnA League of Their OwnA 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...
is a 1992 film about the first season of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. While the film does not use real names, filmmaker Penny MarshallPenny MarshallPenny 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...
seemed to be aiming for realism, as her film includes fake newsreel footage and pseudo-documentary present day scenes at the beginning and end of the fictitiousFictionFiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
story. A League of Their Own itself was inspired by the 1987 documentary of the same title, written and produced by Kelly Candaele, one of the five sons of Helen CallaghanHelen CallaghanHelen Callaghan Candaele St. Aubin was a left-handed center fielder who appeared in five seasons in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League , playing under the name Helen Callaghan.As a rookie with the Minneapolis Millerettes Callaghan hit a .287 average in 111...
, who in 1945 won the AAGPBL batting championship with a .299 average. Florreich, like many of her colleagues, was relatively unknown until the Marshall's film was exhibited for the first time.