# 1948 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season

The 1948 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season marked the sixth season of the circuit. The AAGPBL grew to an all-time peak of ten teams in that season, representing Eastern and Western zones, just in the first year the circuit shifted to strictly overhand pitching. Other modifications occurred during 1948. The ball was decreased in size from 11+1⁄2 inches (290 mm) to 10+3⁄8 inches (260 mm), while the base paths were lengthened to 72 feet and the pitching distance increased to 50 feet.
The Chicago Colleens and the Springfield Sallies were added to the previous roster that included the Kenosha Comets, Fort Wayne Daisies, Grand Rapids Chicks, Muskegon Lassies, Peoria Redwings, Racine Belles, Rockford Peaches and South Bend Blue Sox. The Chicago, Fort Wayne, Grand Rapids, Muskegon and South Bend teams were aligned in the East Division, while Kenosha, Peoria, Racine, Rockford and Springfield played in the Western Division. The number of games in the schedule increased from 112 to 126.
For the second consecutive year the AAGPBL spring training camp was held in Havana, Cuba. as part of a plan to create an International League of Girls Baseball. Around two hundred girls made the trip. Among them, players represented 27 different states in the United States and many provinces of Canada, while several Cuban players entered the league as a result of holding spring training there the year before. A total of 21 players had been in the league since its foundation in 1943.
The fact of two divisions resulted in the Shaughnessy system adding another round of playoffs to decide the championship between eight teams. The first round faced the top teams of each division in a best-of-three series, with the first place team playing against the third place team and the second place team against the fourth place team. The winners competed in a best-of-five divisional first round, with the first place team facing the third place team and the second place team against the fourth place team. The sectional champions then advanced to the third round and faced in the best-of-seven Championship Series.
Pitchers continued to dominate the league in that season even though many of them could not adapt to the new pitching style. Grand Rapids' Alice Haylett led all pitchers with a 0.77 earned run average, while 20 averaged at least a 1.99 mark. In addition, Haylett and Racine's Eleanor Dapkus hurled 10 shutouts a piece. The only .300 hitter was Kenosha's Audrey Wagner (.312), who also led the circuit in hits (130) and total bases (186). At the end of the season Wagner was honored with the AAGPBL Player of the Year Award.
The Grand Rapids and Racine teams won their respective division. In the first round, Grand Rapids, Fort Wayne, Racine and Rockford swept South Bend, Muskegon, Peoria and Kenosha, respectively. In the divisional playoffs, Fort Wayne swept Grand Rapids and Rockford did the same with Racine. Then, Rockford jumped out to a three-game lead in the final series and defeated Fort Wayne four games to one. Helen Nicol was credited with four of the 10 playoff wins of Rockford, including two in the finals, while Lois Florreich and Margaret Holgerson took three a piece. In Game 1 of the first round, Florreich pitched the first no-hitter in series history, and Holgerson threw a second no-hitter in Game 3 to set an all-time record for the most playoff no-hitters. Another highlight came in the first round, when South Bend's Jean Faut outdueled Haylett of Grand Rapids, 3–2, in 20 innings, in what would be the longest game in AAGPBL playoff history.
The league drew almost a million fans for the second consecutive season, although the Chicago and Springfield franchises failed to reach the attendance required. Then, the Colleens and the Sallies were turned into player development teams that toured and played exhibition games to recruit and train new players. The tour started in Chicago and ended up in Canada, including stops in Yankee Stadium and Griffith Stadium.

## Teams

1948 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Teams :
| Division | Team | City | Stadium |
| East | Chicago Colleens | Chicago, Illinois | Shewbridge Field |
| East | Fort Wayne Daisies | Fort Wayne, Indiana | Memorial Park |
| East | Grand Rapids Chicks | Grand Rapids, Michigan | South High School Field |
| East | Muskegon Lassies | Muskegon, Michigan | Marsh Field |
| East | South Bend Blue Sox | South Bend, Indiana | Playland Park |
| West | Kenosha Comets | Kenosha, Wisconsin | Simmons Field |
| West | Peoria Redwings | Peoria, Illinois | Peoria Stadium |
| West | Racine Belles | Racine, Wisconsin | Horlick Field |
| West | Rockford Peaches | Rockford, Illinois | Beyer Stadium |
| West | Springfield Sallies | Springfield, Illinois | Jim Fitzpatrick Memorial Stadium |

## Standings
### Eastern Division

| Rank | Team | W | L | W-L% | GB |
| 1 | Grand Rapids Chicks | 77 | 48 | .616 | – |
| 2 | Muskegon Lassies | 67 | 58 | .536 | 10 |
| 3 | South Bend Blue Sox | 57 | 69 | .452 | 20+1⁄2 |
| 4 | Fort Wayne Daisies | 53 | 73 | .421 | 24+1⁄2 |
| 5 | Chicago Colleens | 47 | 77 | .379 | 29+1⁄2 |

### Western Division

| Rank | Team | W | L | W-L% | GB |
| 1 | Racine Belles | 77 | 49 | .616 | – |
| 2 | Rockford Peaches | 75 | 50 | .600 | 1+1⁄2 |
| 3 | Peoria Redwings | 71 | 55 | .563 | 6 |
| 4 | Kenosha Comets | 62 | 64 | .421 | 15 |
| 5 | Springfield Sallies | 41 | 84 | .328 | 35+1⁄2 |

## Postseason

| First round Best of three series | First round Best of three series | First round Best of three series | Second round Best of five series | Second round Best of five series | Second round Best of five series | Third round Best of seven series | Third round Best of seven series | Third round Best of seven series |
| 1 | Grand Rapids Chicks | 3 | | | | | | |
| 3 | South Bend Blue Sox | 0 | | | | | | |
| 3 | South Bend Blue Sox | 0 | 1 | Grand Rapids Chicks | 0 | | | |
| Eastern Division | Eastern Division | Eastern Division | 1 | Grand Rapids Chicks | 0 | | | |
| Eastern Division | Eastern Division | Eastern Division | 4 | Fort Wayne Daisies | 3 | | | |
| 2 | Muskegon Lassies | 0 | 4 | Fort Wayne Daisies | 3 | | | |
| 4 | Fort Wayne Daisies | 3 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Fort Wayne Daisies | 3 | | | | ED | Fort Wayne Daisies | 2 |
| | | | | | | WD | Rockford Peaches | 4 |
| 1 | Racine Belles | 3 | | | | | | | WD | Rockford Peaches | 4 |
| 3 | Peoria Redwings | 0 | | | | | | |
| 3 | Peoria Redwings | 0 | 1 | Racine Belles | 0 | | | |
| Western Division | Western Division | Western Division | 1 | Racine Belles | 0 | | | |
| Western Division | Western Division | Western Division | 2 | Rockford Peaches | 3 | | | |
| 2 | Rockford Peaches | 3 | 2 | Rockford Peaches | 3 | | | |
| 4 | Kenosha Comets | 0 | | | | | | |

## Batting statistics

| Statistic | Player | Record |
| Batting average | Audrey Wagner (KEN) Mary Nesbitt (PEO) Dorothy Kamenshek (ROC) Connie Wisniewski (GR) Betty Wagoner (MUS) Charlene Pryer (MUS) Evelyn Wawryshyn (SPR) Elizabeth Mahon (SB) Doris Sams (MUS) Alva Jo Fischer (MUS) Sophie Kurys (RAC) Dorothy Harrell (ROC) Merle Keagle (GR) | .312 .292 .289 .289 .278 .262 .262 .258 .257 .252 .252 .251 .251 |
| Runs scored | Sophie Kurys (RAC) Faye Dancer (PEO) Dorothy Kamenshek (ROC) Merle Keagle (GR) Dorothy Ferguson (ROC) Josephine Lenard (MUS) Charlene Pryer (MUS) Audrey Wagner (KEN) Connie Wisniewski (GR) Mary Nesbitt (PEO) | 97 89 89 75 73 70 70 70 70 69 |
| Hits | Audrey Wagner (KEN) Dorothy Kamenshek (ROC) Mary Nesbitt (PEO) Connie Wisniewski (GR) Vivian Kellogg (FW) Evelyn Wawryshyn (SPR) Dorothy Stolze (MUS) Sophie Kurys (RAC) Doris Satterfield (GR) | 130 128 128 127 117 114 113 112 111 |
| Doubles | Mary Nesbitt (PEO) Connie Wisniewski (GR) Audrey Wagner (KEN) Elizabeth Mahon (SB) Sophie Kurys (RAC) June Schofield (SPR) Rose Gacioch (ROC) Philomena Gianfrancisco (RAC) Merle Keagle (GR) Edythe Perlick (RAC) | 24 20 16 12 12 12 11 11 11 11 |
| Triples | Eleanor Callow (CHI/ROC) Audrey Wagner (KEN) Mary Nesbitt (PEO) Vivian Kellogg (FW) June Schofield (SPR) Margaret Villa (KEN) Rita Briggs (ROC/CHI) Dorothy Harrell (ROC) Doris Sams (MUS) Doris Tetzlaff (CHI/FW) | 15 14 12 9 9 8 7 7 7 7 |
| Home runs | Connie Wisniewski (GR) Eleanor Callow (CHI/ROC) Faye Dancer (PEO) Eleanor Dapkus (RAC) Philomena Gianfrancisco (RAC) Audrey Wagner (KEN) Christine Jewitt (KEN) Merle Keagle (GR) Sophie Kurys (RAC) Mary Nesbitt (PEO) Doris Sams (MUS) | 7 6 6 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 |
| Runs batted in | Rita Meyer (PEO) Connie Wisniewski (GR) Elizabeth Mahon (SB) Doris Satterfield (GR) Doris Sams (MUS) Dorothy Harrell (ROC) Mary Nesbitt (PEO) Josephine Lenard (MUS) Audrey Wagner (KEN) Eleanor Callow (CHI/ROC) Inez Voyce (GR) | 68 66 65 61 59 58 58 56 56 52 52 |
| Stolen bases | Sophie Kurys (RAC) Faye Dancer (PEO) Dorothy Kamenshek (ROC) Thelma Eisen (FW) Ernestine Petras (GR/CHI) Merle Keagle (GR) Edythe Perlick (RAC) Dorothy Ferguson (ROC) Dorothy Stolze (MUS) Evelyn Wawryshyn (SPR) | 172 102 94 88 86 85 82 73 67 66 |
| Total bases | Audrey Wagner (KEN) Mary Nesbitt (PEO) Connie Wisniewski (GR) Dorothy Kamenshek (ROC) Vivian Kellogg (FW) Sophie Kurys (RAC) Doris Satterfield (GR) Elizabeth Mahon (SB) Doris Sams (MUS) Evelyn Wawryshyn (SPR) | 186 185 172 152 144 143 136 135 134 126 |

## Pitching statistics

| Statistic | Player | Record |
| Wins | Alice Haylett (GR) Joanne Winter (RAC) Eleanor Dapkus (RAC) Lois Florreich (ROC) Dorothy Mueller (PEO) Ruby Stephens (SPR/KEN) Irene Kotowicz (CHI) Elaine Roth (PEO) Doris Sams (MUS) Audrey Haine (PEO) Helen Nicol (ROC) Jean Faut (SB) | 25 25 24 22 21 20 18 18 18 17 17 16 |
| Winning percentage | Alice Haylett (GR) Rose Gacioch (ROC) Eleanor Dapkus (RAC) Nancy Warren (MUS/CHI) Dorothy Mueller (PEO) Marie Kruckel (SB/MUS) Lois Florreich (ROC) Joanne Winter (RAC) Ruby Stephens (SPR/KEN) Doris Sams (MUS) | .833 .737 .727 .706 .700 .692 .688 .676 .645 .643 |
| Earned run average | Alice Haylett (GR) Dorothy Mueller (PEO) Lois Florreich (ROC) Joanne Winter (RAC) Alma Ziegler (GR) Mildred Earp (GR) Jean Faut (SB) Nancy Warren (MUS/CHI) Alva Jo Fischer (MUS) Betsy Jochum (SB) | 0.77 1.11 1.18 1.18 1.21 1.31 1.44 1.45 1.47 1.51 |
| Strikeouts | Joanne Winter (RAC) Lois Florreich (ROC) Irene Kotowicz (CHI) Margaret Holgerson (ROC) Eleanor Dapkus (RAC) Dorothy Mueller (PEO) Mildred Earp (GR) Jean Faut (SB) Amy Applegren (MUS) Bethany Goldsmith (KEN) Doris Sams (MUS) Alice Haylett (GR) Ruby Stephens (SPR/KEN) Betsy Jochum (SB) Dorothy Wiltse (FW) | 248 231 197 194 191 181 166 165 129 117 117 114 114 103 101 |
| Games pitched | Margaret Holgerson (ROC) Irene Kotowicz (CHI) Lois Florreich (ROC) Ruby Stephens (SPR/KEN) Mildred Earp (GR) Lillian Faralla (SB) Jean Faut (SB) Dorothy Wiltse (FW) Betty Tucker (CHI) Erma Bergmann (SPR) Alice Haylett (GR) Dorothy Mueller (PEO) Migdalia Pérez (CHI) Doris Sams (MUS) Bethany Goldsmith (KEN) | 37 37 36 36 34 34 34 34 33 32 32 32 32 32 31 |
| Innings pitched | Irene Kotowicz (CHI) Mildred Earp (GR) Lois Florreich (ROC) Margaret Holgerson (ROC) Alice Haylett (GR) Doris Sams (MUS) Lillian Faralla (SB) Dorothy Mueller (PEO) Dorothy Wiltse Jean Faut (SB) Bethany Goldsmith (KEN) Ruby Stephens (SPR/KEN) Migdalia Pérez (CHI) Betty Tucker (CHI) | 298 282 282 277 269 268 267 267 267 250 245 241 240 238 |