Athletes

Jean Havlish was with the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) during its final seasons (1952-1954). After three tryouts with three different teams, Havlish spent the most time with the Fort Wayne Daisies (1952), where she played shortstop. The best thing about her experience with the AAGPBL was the level of competition, she recalled. Playing with the AAGPBL enabled Havlish to play with and against the best women baseball players in the world and get paid to do it. Havlish encourages female athletes to strive at what they love, explaining, "If there’s no place to go to be a professional at what you do, then do it as long as you can where you are and then accept whatever happens after that." She credits the movie "A League of Their Own" for the whole new adventure that has shown up for those women who played in the AAGPBL. Rewarding fan letters have brought back to life all of their experiences as professional baseball players. Havlish said, "It has been an exciting journey, and it continues!" After baseball, Havlish went on to a pro bowling career and earned a membership in bowling Hall of Fame. (9/08)