In the infancy of 1942, America’s future was being compromised and the start of the baseball season looked bleak. In a letter to the Whitehouse, the commissioner of baseball, Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, questioned the future of the new season with America embarking on war. It was ordered by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt that baseball should continue; “I honestly feel that it would be best for the country to keep baseball going.” This letter is known as baseball’s “Green Light” letter.
The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was formed in 1943 as the first women’s professional baseball league.
The National Girls Baseball League emerged as a professional women’s league in 1944. This new league fielded five teams:
· Bloomer Girls
· Blue Birds
· Cardinals
· Chicks
· Kandy Kids
In 1945, the Kandy Kids became the Chicago Queens. That same year, the Music Maids were established, bringing the league to a total of six teams.
In each year the N.G.B.L. operated, attendance grew in tandem and the popularity of the game, as well as the league, swelled as a result.
The officers of the league were:
· Arch Wolf ~ President
· Harold “Red” Grange ~ Commissioner
· Emery Parichy ~ Treasurer
· Edwin T. Kolski ~ Secretary
The Chicago Queens were a powerhouse dynasty in the league, securing four World Series Championships in the ten year history of the N.G.B.L.
The National Girls Baseball League emerged as a professional women’s league in 1944. This new league fielded five teams:
· Bloomer Girls
· Blue Birds
· Cardinals
· Chicks
· Kandy Kids
In 1945, the Kandy Kids became the Chicago Queens. That same year, the Music Maids were established, bringing the league to a total of six teams.
In each year the N.G.B.L. operated, attendance grew in tandem and the popularity of the game, as well as the league, swelled as a result.
The officers of the league were:
· Arch Wolf ~ President
· Harold “Red” Grange ~ Commissioner
· Emery Parichy ~ Treasurer
· Edwin T. Kolski ~ Secretary
The Chicago Queens were a powerhouse dynasty in the league, securing four World Series Championships in the ten year history of the N.G.B.L.
World Series Champions of the N.G.B.L.1944 ~ Kandy Kids (later Chicago Queens)
1945 ~ Music Maids
1946 ~ Chicago Blue Birds
1947 ~ Bloomer Girls
1948 ~ Bloomer Girls
1949 ~ Chicago Blue Birds
1950 ~ Chicago Queens
1951 ~ Chicago Queens
1952 ~ Chicago Queens
1953 ~ Bloomer Girls
1954 ~ Incomplete Season/ League Ends
The A.A.G.P.B.L. was made popular by the movie “A League of Their Own” and gained notoriety as the exclusive women’s baseball league, when in reality the A.A.G.P.B.L. and N.G.B.L. were a shared fabric in this historical era of baseball. So great was the rivalry and shared history of these leagues that they covered each others’ highlights, scores, photos, and write-ups in their separate league magazines.
Eventually, the A.A.G.P.B.L. gave way to the overhand pitch as well as longer bases, and a smaller ball after the 1948 season. Many star players crossed over for larger salaries to the N.G.B.L., which maintained the 12” ball and the underhand pitch. This is the only distinguishing factor between the two leagues. These two leagues, though existing for just a decade, ensured the eternally bright future for the games of baseball and softball alike.
Ann Kmezich played in the National Girls Baseball league from 1949-1954.
Career Highlights
- 1949 Rookie of the Year
- 93 m.p.h. fastball
- Tossed a no-hitter July, 29th 1950
- Hit longest homerun out of Parichy Stadium.
