All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
Joanne Weaver was one of the greatest hitters in the history of the AAGPBL. She made her debut in 1951 as the third basewoman for the Fort Wayne Daisies, the team that employed her older sisters. Jo hit .276 in 53 games.
The next year Weaver was moved to the outfield where she won three straight batting titles, was named to three straight All-Star teams and led the Daisies to three straight first-place finishes. In '52, she batted .344 to beat sister Betty by 13 points; Betty had claimed the prior two batting championships. Joanne did not finish in the top 5 in any other stat.
In 1953 Weaver batted .346, besting teammate Delores Brumfield by 14 points. Weaver finished second to sister Betty in total bases (187), was third in RBI (76), runs (79) and steals (70) and second in hits (142, 2 behind her big sis).
Her biggest year was yet to come - in '54 she hit .429 with 29 homers. She topped the next player by 52 points in batting average, was the only .400 hitter in league history, set an AAGPBL record with 29 homers and 254 total bases, was second with 87 RBI, 16 doubles and 4 triples and led in steals (79), runs (109) and hits (143).
That season Eleanor Callow became the only other 20-20 player in league history. The impressive overall year won her Player of the Year honors, which Betty had won for the Weaver clan two years prior. Jo's .359 career average was best in AAGPBL history.
Weaver died at age 64 of Lou Gehrig's Disease. Her sister Betty Foss also died of ALS two years prior. Another older sister, Jean Weaver, player in the league as well.
In 1944, Annabelle Lee (the aunt of Bill Lee) pitched the first perfect game in the history of the AAGPBL.
Doris "Sammye" Sams was an outfielder and pitcher in the AAGPBL. She made her debut as a pitcher with the expansion Muskegon Lassies in 1946.
Sophie Kurys, nicknamed "Tina Cobb" or "The Flint Flash", was an outstanding player for the Racine Belles of the AAGPBL, playing 9 seasons in the league from 1943-1952.
Mary Nesbitt was a star in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League as both a pitcher and at first base.
Joltin’ Jo Joanne Weaver was one of the greatest hitters in the history of the AAGPBL.
Betty Foss hit .342 in five seasons for the Fort Wayne Daisies; her career average is second in AAGPBL history to her sister Joanne.
In 1949, Lois Florreich became Rockford's ace and she put up a great 22-7, 0.67 season. She set the AAGPBL all-time record for lowest ERA.
Connie Wisniewski holds the AAGPBL record for best winning percentage (.690) by a pitcher. She began her career with the expansion Milwaukee Chicks in 1944.
Anna May Hutchison played for the Racine Belles and is the AAGPBL all-times league leader in appearances playing from 1944-1949. She helped lead the belles to a championship in 1946.
Dorothy Schroeder had the longest career in the AAGPBL. The only player to appear in all 12 years the league existed.
Marshall struggled at the plate in 1947. She went 51-for-362 for a .141 average, striking out 79 times to set an all-time single-season record.
Marshall struggled at the plate in 1947. She went 51-for-362 for a .141 average, striking out 79 times to set an all-time single-season record.