NWHP member Barbara Guerin organized a “Salute to Women in Sports” event. Bringing together the Aces Ball Park, who partnered with NWHP, and All-American Baseball League historian Mary Fidler, who came to Reno to talk about the Legendary All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPL). “Lefty” Lesko, one of the members who actually played in the league was be in attendance as part of the event. The event included a lecture, brunch and ticket to watch the Aces baseball game.
2018 is the 75th anniversary of the AAGPL, as well as, the 10th anniversary of the Aces Ball Park. This is the League that was given its historical recognition when Tom Hanks, Gena Davis and Madonna starred in the 1992 movie, A League of Their Own.
By the fall of 1942, many professional male baseball players were being inducted into the Armed Forces to fight in WWII. The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, (1943-1954) was formed by some of the men’s franchise baseball team owners, to fill that popular American Midwest pastime void. Ultimately the league gave over 600 women athletes the opportunity to play professional baseball. It represents a unique time in American baseball history.
Many types of women’s baseball leagues, from junior-aged girls to community women to college baseball, spring from this historical baseball league.