Peoria Redwings

Peoria Redwings
Peoria Redwings
1946–1951; Peoria, Illinois ;
Minor league affiliations
Previous leagues	All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
Team data
Colors	Red, white, black;
Previous parks	Peoria Stadium
Owner(s)/; Operator(s)	AAGPBL

The Peoria Redwings was a women's professional baseball team who joined the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in the 1946 season and remained in the league through 1951. The team represented Peoria, Illinois, playing home games at Peoria Stadium.

History

The Redwings made an unsteady start in their inaugural season, going 33–79 to finish last 41 games out of first place in the Western Division. The team improved in 1947 with a 54–57 record, good to finish in fifth place in the eight–team league.

Their most productive season came in 1948, when they finished 71–55 for third place in the division and fourth overall, gaining a playoff spot. In the playoffs, the Redwings were swept by the Racine Belles in three straight games.

Peoria fell to 36–43 and last place in 1949, and next–to–last in 1950 after ending 44–63–2. They went 48–56–2 in 1951, their last season, having finished over .500 once in six years of existence.

Some players of note included pitchers Doris Barr, Dorothy Mueller and Mary Nesbitt; infielders Margaret Callaghan, Betty McKenna and Dorothy Stolze; outfielders Eleanor Callow and Thelma Eisen, and OF/P Mary Reynolds. Eventually, Eisen and Reynolds served as player/managers for the team.

All-time roster

1946 Peoria Redwings: Front row, L-R: Dorothy Ferguson, Terry Donahue, Rita Meyer, Betty Tucker, Mary Wood, Annabelle Lee. Second row, L-R: Irene Ines (chaperone), Mary Moriarity, Kay Blumetta, Jean Cione, Thelma Eisen, Florence Buccor, Bill Rodgers (manager). Back row, L-R: Donna Stageman, Norma Metrolis, Mary Reynolds, Frances Sloan, Mary Rountree, Pauline Crawley.

Bold denotes members of the inaugural roster

Managers

* Bill Rodgers	1946 [first half]
* Thelma Eisen	1946 [second half]
* Johnny Gottselig	1947 [first half]
* Leo Schrall	1947 [second half] 1948 1949
* Leo Murphy	1950 [first half]
* Mary Reynolds	1950 [second half]
* Johnny Rawlings	1951

References

All-American Girls Professional Baseball League official website – Peoria Redwings seasons
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Record Book – W. C. Madden. Publisher: McFarland & Company, 2000. Format: Hardcover, 294pp. Language: English. ISBN 0-7864-0597-X

Peoria Redwings
1946–1951 Peoria, Illinois

Minor league affiliations
Previous leagues	All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
Team data
Colors	Red, white, black
Previous parks	Peoria Stadium
Owner(s)/ Operator(s)	AAGPBL