Kalamazoo Lassies

In 1950 the AAGPBL was losing money and fans, and the teams and host cities were changing almost every year.

This was a good thing for Kalamazoo as the city was granted the Muskegon Lassies team on a trial basis when the city of Muskegon could no longer support them.

The move took place in the middle of the season and the new Kalamazoo Lassies played their first game, still in their Muskegon uniforms, on 15 June 1950 at Lindstrom Field.

About 1,400 fans attended the game, which was won by the defending league champion Rockford Peaches, 8–2.

The new Lassies posted their first victory the next night, a 10–2 rout of Rockford led by pitcher Doris Sams and player-manager Bonnie Baker.

The Lassies combined for a 36–73 record that year and finished in the cellar. The Lassies ended 1951 with a mark of 33 wins, 75 losses and two ties, but moved up one spot in the final standings.

In 1952, the team finished fifth of six teams with a 49–60 record, their best yet. 

Kalamazoo improved in 1953, ending third at 59-50-2 and reaching the playoffs for the first time.

After dropping the opener to the first-place Fort Wayne Daisies, Kalamazoo won 2–1 and 5–3 as Jean Lovell got a couple big hits.

However, the Lassies lost both games in the finals to the Grand Rapids Chicks.

In the 1954 season, the Lassies posted a 48-49-1 record and finished fourth of five teams, earning the right to go to the playoffs.

In the first round, the team disposed of the South Bend Blue Sox in three games and faced the Fort Wayne Daisies for the Championship Title.