Minneapolis Millers Game by Game Results: 1941-1950

Minneapolis Millerettes - Compiled by Stew Thornley

1944 - All-American Girls Professional Ball League, 23-36 (first half), 22-36 (second half) - Standings, statistics, and notes follow game-by-game results (the league referred to itself as the All-American Girls Softball League in 1943, the All-American Girls Professional Ball League in 1944, and by 1945 as the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League)

Manager: Claude "Bubber" Jonnard

*Scheduled for seven innings

Date

Opponent

Outcome

Record

Notes

First Half

Sa 5/27

Rockford Peaches

L 4-5

0-1

Losing pitcher-Dorothy Wiltse. Halsey Hall, in the May 28, 1944 Minneapolis Tribune, reported, "A crowd of several hundred left with varying degrees of satisfaction. But the customers generally acclaimed the opening an entertaining game, marveled at the throwing arm of local Shortstop Pepper Paire and the ground-covering, fly-catching genius of Los Angeles' Fay [sic] Dancer in centerfield."

*Su 5/28-1

Rockford

W 7-6

1-1

Winning pitcher-Audrey Haine. Loretta Dwojak singles home Faye Dancer with the winning run with 1 out in the last of the 7th.

Su 5/28-2

Rockford

L 0-2

1-2

LP-Marguerite Jones.

M 5/29

Rockford

W 7-6

2-2

WP-Wiltse. Millerettes score 2 in the last of the 9th on 4 straight walks issued by Irene Appelgren and an infield roller by Dancer.

*Tu 5/30-1

at Kenosha Comets

L 0-6

2-3

LP-Haine.

Tu 5/30-2

at Kenosha

W 16-14

3-3

WP-Jones. Dancer hits a grand slam in a 12-run 4th inning.

W 5/31

at Kenosha

L 2-10

3-4

LP-Dancer. Millerettes outhit Comets 10-2, but Dancer walks 8 and Millerettes make 6 errors.

Th 6/1

at Kenosha

W 1-0

4-4

5-hitter by Wiltse, who strikes out 10. Lorraine Borg has 3 hits.

F 6/2

at Rockford

W 8-2

5-4

WP-Jones.

Sa 6/3

at Rockford

L 10-13

5-5

LP-Dancer.

*Su 6/4-1

at Rockford

W 3-2 (11)

6-5

WP-Haine.

Su 6/4-2

at Rockford

W 2-1

7-5

M 6/5

at South Bend Blue Sox

W 7-5

8-5

WP-Jones.

Tu 6/6

at South Bend, ppd.

W 6/7

at Racine Belles

L 5-11

8-6

LP-Haine. Belles steal 24 bases.

Th 6/8

at Racine

W 4-0

9-6

4-hitter by Wiltse, who strikes out 11.

*F 6/9-1

at South Bend, rain

Millerettes trade Elizabeth Mahon to Kenosha for 15-year-old second-baseman Anna Meyer.

F 6/9-2

at South Bend, rain

Millerettes in second place, 1 game behind South Bend.

*Sa 6/10-1

at South Bend

L 1-4

9-7

LP-Jones.

Sa 6/10-2

at South Bend

W 3-0

10-7

4-hitter by Wiltse.

*Su 6/11-1

at South Bend

W 3-2 (11)

11-7

WP-Wiltse.

Su 6/11-2

at South Bend

L 3-13

11-8

LP-Lee

M 6/12

at Racine

L 0-7

11-9

LP-Jones.

Tu 6/13

at Racine

W 1-0

12-9

3-hitter by Wiltse. Millerettes score in the 9th on a single by Peggy Torrison, two sacrifices' and Dwojak's infield roller.

*W 6/14-1

at Kenosha

L 0-2

12-10

LP-Haine. Mildred Pratt pitches a no-hitter for Kenosha.

W 6/14-2

at Kenosha

L 5-10

12-11

LP-Jones.

F 6/16

Racine

L 2-3 (15)

12-12

WP-Wiltse. Wiltse has no-hitter for first 10-2/3 innings, finishes with 6-hitter and strikes out 10. Millerettes leave 22 runners on base.

Sa 6/17

Racine

W 7-6

13-12

Haine beats Joanne Winter. Sophie Kurys steals 3 bases for Racine to bring her season total to 30 (she finished with 166).

*Su 6/18-1

Racine

W 7-3

14-12

WP-Wiltse.

Su 6/18-2

Racine

L 1-3

14-13

LP-Jones.

M 6/19

South Bend

L 1-7

14-14

LP-Haine. Blue Sox score 7 in the first inning off Haine, who was relieved by Lee, without retiring a batter.

Tu 6/20

South Bend

L 1-7

14-15

LP-Haine. Blue Sox get only 2 hits off Haine and Jones but steal 14 bases.

W 6/21

South Bend

L 7-8

14-16

LP-Wiltse. Blue Sox steal 12 bases.

Th 6/22

Kenosha, rain

*F 6/23-1

Kenosha

L 7-9 (7)

14-17

LP-Wiltse.

F 6/23-2

Kenosha

L 1-5

14-18

LP-Lee. Catcher Lorraine Borg and infielder/outfielder Peggy Torrison leave the Millerettes to return to the Twin Cities softball league.

Sa 6/24

Kenosha

W 14-10

15-18

Lee wins in relief. Viv Kellogg gets 4 hits, including a triple and home run, and drives in 6 runs.

*Su 6/25-1

South Bend

L 1-3

15-19

LP-Jones.

Su 6/25-2

South Bend

L 3-9

15-20

LP-Haine.

M 6/26

South Bend

W 2-1

16-20

WP-Wiltse.

W 6/28

Rockford

W 5-2

17-20

WP-Jones.

Th 6/29

Rockford

L 7-9

17-21

LP-Elizabeth Farrow.

F 6/30

Rockford

L 3-5

17-22

LP-Wiltse.

Sa 7/1

Rockford

L 3-16

17-23

LP-Haine. Peaches steal 18 bases. Catcher Edna Frank throws out only one runner stealing.

*Su 7-2-1

at Milwaukee Chicks

L 0-9

17-24

LP-Lee.

Su 7/2-2

at Milwaukee

L 7-12

17-25

LP-Farrow. Brewers have 15 walks and 12 stolen bases. Doris Tetzlaff hits a grand slam for the Chicks.

M 7/3

at Milwaukee

L 4-8

17-26

LP-Jones.

*Tu 7/4-1

at Milwaukee

L 4-11

17-27

LP-Farrow.

Tu 7/4-2

at Milwaukee

L 6-8

17-28

LP-Haine. Millerettes release Meyer and Frank and sign Catherine Blumetta and Betty Trezza.

Th 7/6

Racine, rain

*F 7/7-1

Racine

L 2-4

17-29

LP-Wiltse.

F 7/7-2

Racine

L 3-6

17-30

LP-Lee. 10th straight loss.

*Sa 7/8-2

Racine

W 5-1

18-30

WP-Haine.

Sa 7/8-2

Racine

W 7-5

19-30

WP-Jones.

*Su 7/9-1

Kenosha

L 1-3

19-31

Jones pitches 1-hitter but loses.

Su 7/9-2

Kenosha

L 3-5

19-32

LP-Lee. Helen Callaghan homers for the Millerettes.

M 7/10

Kenosha

L 0-3

19-33

LP-Wiltse.

Tu 7/11

Milwaukee

L 2-6 (14)

19-34

LP-Haine.

*W 7/12-1

Milwaukee

L 0-1

19-35

LP-Lee, who gives up only 2 hits.

W 7/12-2

Milwaukee

W 12-6

20-35

WP-Wiltse.

Th 7/13

Milwaukee

L 1-8

20-36

LP-Farrow.

F 7/14

Milwaukee

W 7-6

21-36

WP-Haine.

*Su 7/16-1

Milwaukee

W 4-3

22-36

LP-Wiltse.

Su 7/16-2

Milwaukee

W 4-3 (10)

23-36

WP-Lee. Wiltse has a perfect game into the 7th. Kellogg singles home Lillian Jackson with the winning run with 2 out in the last of the 10th.

Second Half

W 7/19

at Milwaukee

L 4-5

0-1

LP-Wiltse.

Th 7/20

at Milwaukee

L 2-3

0-2

Jo Kabick beats Haine.

F 7/21

at Milwaukee

W 9-1

1-2

WP-Lee. Callaghan, the league's leading hitter, goes 3 for 3 with a home run.

Sa 7/22

at Milwaukee

W 5-4

2-2

WP-Wiltse.

League president Ken Sells announces that Millerettes will have to play their remaining games on the road. Other teams complained of having to make trips to Minneapolis, including heavy traveling expenses to play before small crowds. Minneapolis sends infielders Loretta Dwojak to South Bend and Judy Dusanko to Racine and acquires third baseman Margaret Callaghan.

Su 7/23

at Racine

L 5-12

2-3

The Minneapolis newspapers discontinued coverage of the Millerettes after the team went on the road to stay but occasionally had scores listed for the league. The Milwaukee Journal had game stories for the local team, which the paper referred to as the Schnitts (and also referred to the Minneapolis team as the Lakers); the newspaper usually, but not always, included results from other games in the league, although some games are missing. Also, doubleheaders probably had one game scheduled for 7 innings although these are not indicated in the game accounts. The Journal did include standings and team records with most game accounts.

Su 7/23

at Racine

L 2-12

2-4

M 7/24

Tu 7/25

at Racine

L 1-5

W 7/26

Th 7/27

F 7/28

Sa 7/29

at Kenosha

W 18-0

3-7

Annabelle Lee pitches the first perfect game in league history.

Su 7/30-1

at South Bend

L 0-1

3-8

Su 7/30-2

at South Bend

W 9-1

4-8

M 7/31

at South Bend

L 3-9

4-9

W 8/2-1

at South Bend

W 2-1

5-9

W 8/2-2

at South Bend

W 5-3

6-9

Th 8/3

at South Bend

L 1-2

6-10

F 8/4

at Kenosha

L 1-12

6-11

Kenosha, 7-12, moves out of last place and ahead of Minneapolis.

Sa 8/5

Su 8/6-1

at Kenosha

L 3-7

6-13

Su 8/6-2

at Kenosha

W 3-1

7-13

M 8/7

at Rockford

W 6-4

8-13

Tu 8/8-1

Tu 8/8-2

W 8/9

at Rockford

L 0-5

9-15

Th 8/10

at Rockford

L 3-9

9-16

F 8/11

at Kenosha

W 7-1

10-16

Sa 8/12

Su 8/13-1

at Kenosha

L 1-2

10-18

Su 8/13-2

at Kenosha

L 5-6

10-19

M 8/14

at Rockford

W 9-7

11-19

Tu 8/15

at Rockford, rain

W 8/16-1

at Rockford

W 8-2

12-19

W 8/16-2

at Rockford

L 1-2

12-20

Th 8/17

at Racine

L 0-3

12-21

F 8/18-1

at Racine

W 2-1

13-21

F 8/18-2

at Racine

W 6-5

14-21

Sa 8/19

Su 8/20-1

at South Bend

L 0-2

15-22

Su 8/20-2

at South Bend

L 5-6

15-23

M 8/21

Tu 8/22

at South Bend

L 0-1

16-24

W 8/23

at South Bend

L 4-6

16-24

Th 8/24

at South Bend

L 1-3

16-25

F 8/25

Sa 8/26

Su 8/27

at Milwaukee

M 8/28

at Racine

L 1-2

17-28

Tu 8/29

at Racine

L 0-4

17-29

W 8/30

at Racine

L 5-7

17-30

Th 8/31-1

at Milwaukee

L 1-3

17-31

Th 8/31-2

at Milwaukee

L 1-2 (8, 11:00 curfew)

17-32

Game was delayed twice by rain.

M 9/4-1

Milwaukee at Oshkosh

W 4-1

M 9/4-2

Milwaukee at Oshkosh

L 2-5

Tu 9/5

Milwaukee at Oshkosh, rain

First Half

Manager

Kenosha

Marty McManus

South Bend

Bert Niehoff

Milwaukee

Max Carey

Racine

Johnny Gottselig

Rockford

Jack Kloza

Minneapolis

Claude "Bubber" Jonnard

Second Half

Milwaukee

Max Carey

South Bend

Bert Niehoff

Rockford

Jack Kloza

Racine

Johnny Gottselig

Kenosha

Marty McManus

Minneapolis

Claude "Bubber" Jonnard

Milwaukee beat Kenosha 4 games to 3 in the Scholarship Playoffs in a series that took place from Friday, September 8 through Sunday, September 17. All the games were played in Kenosha because Borchert Field in Milwaukee wasn't available (at least in part because the Milwaukee Brewers of the American Association were in the playoffs. Milwaukee won the last two games, 2-1 in 11 innings and 3-0 in the final game, and Connie Wisniewski of Milwaukee pitched a 3-hitter in each game. In the final game, Kenosha made 7 errors, 6 of them by first-baseman Lefty Ganote (who was described as "the league-leading defensive first baseman" in 1944 on the Official Website of the AAGPBL - http://www.aagpbl.org).

Statistics

Player

Games

Batting Average

Home Runs

Runs Batted In

Position

Helen Callaghan

109

.287

Faye Dancer

.274

cf-p

Lavonne "Pepper" Paire

.241

ss-c

Margaret Wisager*

.212

Elizabeth Mahon*

.211

Viv Kellogg

.202

Loretta Dwojak*

.201

Lillian Jackson

.201

Irene Ruhnke*

.193

IF-OF

Audrey Kissel

101

.189

Margaret Callaghan

.182

Ruth Lessing

.177

Judy Dusanko*

.167

2b-3b

Peggy Torrison

.167

IF-OF

Lorraine Borg

.133

Catherine Blumetta*

.110

IF-OF

Edna Frank*

.109

Betty Trezza

.108

Anna Meyer*

.107

infielder

Pitcher

ERA

Dorothy Wiltse

297

1.88

Annabelle Lee

211

2.43

Marguerite Jones

175

3.70

Audrey Haine

230

4.85

Elizabeth Farrow

5.64

*Dwojak’s statistics include games played with South Bend in 1944, Mahon and Meyer’s statistics include games with Kenosha, Wisager's include games with Milwaukee, Ruhnke and Blumetta's include games with Rockford, and Dusanko and Frank's include games with Racine.

Statistics from http://www.aagpbl.org and The All-American Professional Baseball League Record Book by W. C. Madden, McFarland & Co., Inc., 2000.