Rockford Peaches, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, Rockford, Illinois

Title

Rockford Peaches, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, Rockford, Illinois

Description

A collection of photographs depicting team members, managers, and chaperones involved with the Rockford Peaches, a team in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, from Rockford, Illinois. Although the AAGPBL, and the involvement of the Peaches in the league, lasted from 1943 to 1954, the majority of the images range from 1944 to 1952.

Date

1943-1958

Collection Items

Five Players Take Five - Class of '43.
The player in the lighter shade uniform in the middle is unknown; the other players are (L to R) Helen "Swede" Sandiford (Nelson), Mildred "Millie" McAuley (Warwick), Betty "Moe" Moczynski, and Irene Sanvitis "Ruhnke Dunk" (Ruhnke). For an additional…

Two Players Take the Field.
Walking side-by-side out to the stadium's field are Marjorie Peters (left) and Olive "Ollie" Little (Bend) on the right.

Helen Sandiford (Nelson).
Born on June 13, 1919 and hailing from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Helen "Swede" Sandiford (Nelson) was a right-hander who played catcher for the Rockford Peaches in 1943. Helen passed away on February 6, 1993.

Amy Irene Applegren.
Born November 16, 1926 in Peoria, IL, Applegren was a right-handed batter but threw left-handed, playing for a few different teams in the league (the Muskegon Lassies from 1946 to '49 and the South Bend Blue Sox in 1953). She played first base and…

Unnamed Player "from Rockford Originally."
An unidentified player stands by the side of a field, possibly Beyer Stadium in Rockford IL. A note written on the back of the photograph in pencil states, "Player from Rockford originally."

Olive "Ollie" Little (Bend).
A Canadian born on May 17, 1917, this right-hander was a pitcher for the Rockford Peaches in 1943 and again from 1945 through '46. Olive passed away on February 2, 1987.

Player Holds Bat and Glove.
A player in uniform is holding a baseball bat and glove by the side of a field. Identified in pencil on the back of the photo as Jo Leonard, there is no such person listed as ever being on the Rockford Peaches.

Rose "Rosie" Gacioch.
Rose "Rosie" Gacioch leans on a baseball bat with her other hand on her hip in this photograph. Born on August 31, 1915 and calling Wheeling, WV home, Rosie was a versatile right-hander who played utility infield, utility outfield, and was a pitcher…

Player Smiles for the Camera.
An unknown player, wearing her uniform and a smile, stands by the side of a field with her hands behind her back.

Player Poses During Practice.
An unidentifed player, in uniform and wearing her glove, smiles for the camera. Another player on the field is visible in the background (right).

Dorothy "Dottie" Green.
Dorothy "Dottie" Green, born April 30, 1921 and hailing from Natick, MA, was a player for the Rockford Peaches and part of their personnel in the form of a chaperone. Dottie was a catcher from 1943 to '47 when she suffered a knee injury that stopped…

Player on a Baseball Field.
This unknown player appears to be on a field; another player is visible in the background to the left.

Player with Coat and Glove.
An unidentified player poses with a coat draped over her arm while holding her baseball glove. She appears to be on a field, with houses and a water tower visible in the background.

Dorothy Key (Ferguson).
Born on February 17, 1923 and hailing from Canada, Dorothy "Dottie" Key (Ferguson) was a right-hander who played second base, third base, and center field for the Rockford Peaches from 1945 through 1954. Dottie passed away on May 8, 2003. …

Player in Batting Stance.
This unknown player holds a bat over her right shoulder with a baseball field visible behind her, possibly Beyer Stadium in Rockford IL.

Dorothy Kamenshek.
Dorothy Kamenshek is depicted in uniform with a baseball field behind her, possibly Beyer Stadium in Rockford IL. This left-hander played first base for the Rockford Peaches from 1943 to '51 and again in 1953.

Carolyn Morris.
A smiling Carolyn Morris stands before a brick building wearing a glove on her left hand and with her right hand on her hip. Nicknamed "India," this right-hander from Phoenix, AZ was born on September 28, 1925 and was a pitcher for the Rockford…

Player Pictured Against a Wall.
This Rockford Peach is pictured in uniform with her baseball glove on and her left leg up against the wall behind her.

A Mix of Team Members from the AAGPBL.
A nighttime photograph on a field depicting the Rockford Peaches and representatives of other teams from the All American Girls Professional Baseball League (the Battle Creek Belles, the Kalamazoo Lassies, the Fort Wayne Daisies, and the Grand Rapids…

Team Picture on the Grass.
The Rockford Peaches are in uniform for this team photograph. Chaperone Dorothy Green is pictured (top row, left) as well as manager Bill Allington (top row, right). The gentleman in a suit (top row, middle) is not identified.

Rockford Peaches 1948.
Fifteen players are depicted, two standing in the top row with their names and years written across their pictures: "Ruth Richard, Peaches 1947-54" and "Alice Deschaine," who is Margaret Alice Deschaine (Pollitt), "Peaches 1947-53." Chaperone Dorothy…

Peaches Team Picture, 1943.
Sixteen players are lined up outside a building for this team photograph. Manager Edward "Eddie" Stumpf (1894-1978) is standing in uniform far right.

Three Peaches Make a Bed.
Pictured in street clothes, Eleanor Callow (top) and Betty Warfel (right) attempt to make a bed while Dorothy Kamenshek lies in it. Callow played for the Rockford Peaches from 1948 to '54; Warfel from 1948 to '49; and Kamenshek from 1943 to '51 and…

Rockford Peaches Team Picture.
Sixteen players are pictured here with manager Bill Allington (middle, first row) and chaperone Dorothy Green (to the left of Allington). On the back of the photograph is a handwritten note: "Greetings and thanks for everything. Wilbur."

Peaches Team Photo.
Eighteen players in uniform on a field are pictured here with manager William "Bill" Allington (bottom left). The exact location and the players' names are not identified.

Peaches Lineup, 1946.
The sixteen players pictured here with manager Bill Allington (left) and chaperone Mildred Deegan (second from right, top row) represent the 1946 Rockford Peaches lineup. The last names are listed on the back of the photograph: (Front Row, L to R)…

A Peach in Action.
This photograph depicts a player fielding a ball. People are visible in the background in front of empty stadium seats. The player's identity and the name of the baseball field are not known.

William "Bill" Allington.
Pictured in uniform standing against a wall is Rockford Peaches manager, William "Bill" Allington (1900-1966). Allington coached the Peaches from 1945 to '46 and again from 1948 to '52.

Five Players Pose Outside a Building.
Five players in uniforms are depicted outside a building. (L to R) Helen Sandiford (Nelson), Mildred McAuley (Warwick), unknown, Betty Moczynski, and Irene Sanvitis (Ruhnke). For an additional view, see photo 2007.57.25.

Helen "Swede" Nelson.
Helen Sandiford (Nelson) is pictured in street clothes sitting on a rail in a stadium that could be Beyer Stadium in Rockford IL. Helen was catcher for the Peaches in 1943. For an additional view, see photo 2007.57.13.

Four Players in Front of House.
As four players in street clothes pose in front of a house, this photograph identifies Amy Irene Applegren on the left, and Rose Gacioch on the right. The two women in the middle are not identified. Applegren played for the Rockford Peaches from 1944…

Helen "Swede" Sandiford (Nelson).
Helen "Swede" Sandiford (Nelson), born June 13, 1919, is pictured in street clothes sitting on the grass of a baseball field, possibly Beyer Stadium in Rockford IL. Helen was catcher for the Peaches in 1943. Her name is written on the back of the…

Three Peaches in a Row.
On the left in this photograph is Irene Sanvitis (Ruhnke), who played for the Rockford Peaches from 1943 to '44 and again in 1947. Helen Sandiford (Nelson), a Peach in 1943, is on the right. The player in the middle is unidentified.

Player in Front of Building.
An unidentified player in uniform stands in front of a building in this photograph.

Four Peaches Crouch on a Field.
Four unidentified players in uniforms and with gloves crouch on a field in this photograph.

Portrait of a Peach.
This professional portrait may be of Mildred McAuley (Warwick), originally from Canada, born October 28, 1922. A right-hander, Mildred played third base for the Rockford Peaches in 1943 and '44. Known as "Millie," she passed away on December 9,…

Allington's All-Americans.
A photograph of William "Bill" Allington's All-Americans in front of a touring car. Allington (1900-1966), a Rockford Peaches' manager, refused to give up on women's professional baseball and formed this team after the AAGPBL ended in 1954, including…

Dorothy Doyle (Harrell).
In uniform and with a bat at her feet, Dorothy "Snookie" Doyle (Harrell) poses for this photograph. Born on February 4, 1924 and calling Los Angeles home, this right-hander played shortstop for the Rockford Peaches from 1944 to '50 and again in 1952.…

Manager Bill Allington with Bat and Ball.
William "Bill" Allington (1900-1966) coached the Rockford Peaches in 1945 and '46 and again from 1948 to '52, winning AAGPBL Championships with the team in 1945, '48, '49, and in 1950. Allington is pictured here grinning while holding a baseball in…

Player Crouching by Field.
An unidentified player in an AAGPBL uniform squats by a playing field.

AAGPBL Player Signing Autograph.
This unidentified player in an AAGPBL uniform is apparently signing an autograph for a fan.

Carolyn Morris in Front of Bleachers.
Carolyn Morris, pictured in baseball cap and sweatshirt, stands in front of empty stadium seats for this photograph. Morris was a pitcher for the Rockford Peaches from 1944 through '46.

Player Signing an Autograph.
This unidentified player appears to be signing an autograph against a wall.

Player at Peaches Picnic.
An unidentified player wearing her glove and jeans with rolled up cuffs poses for this photograph at a Rockford Peaches Picnic. Several other people, presumably fans including women and children, are visible in the background.

Two Fans at Peaches Picnic.
Two unidentified fans pose in this picture taken at a Rockford Peaches Picnic. Several more attendees can be seen standing and sitting in the shade in the background.

Player and Spectators at Peaches Picnic.
An unidentified player poses with her glove at a Rockford Peaches Picnic. Several people, including children, are standing and sitting on the right in the photograph.

Dorothy "Dottie" Green at Peaches Picnic.
Dorothy "Dottie" Green is pictured at a Rockford Peaches Picnic. Green was with the Peaches from 1943 to 1953. As a catcher, Dottie injured her knee in 1947 but continued with the team as a chaperone. Green is wearing her catcher's mitt with several…

Amy Irene "Lefty" Applegren at Peaches Picnic.
Amy Irene "Lefty" Applegren poses at a Rockford Peaches Picnic wearing casual street clothes and her baseball glove. Other people, including children, are visible in the background.

Looking Up to Irene Sanvitis (Ruhnke).
Born March 30, 1920 and hailing from Chicago, Irene Sanvitis "Ruhnke Dunk" (Ruhnke) was a right-hander who played utility outfield, second base, and third base for the Rockford Peaches from 1943 to '44 and again in 1947. This photograph looks up at…

Lois "Flash" Florreich.
Lois "Flash" Florreich, born April 29, 1927, called Webster Grove, Missouri home. The right-hander played utility outfield, third base, and pitched for the Rockford Peaches from 1947 through 1950. Pictured here with her hand on her hip, a young boy…
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