Baseball in Fort Wayne

Posts Tagged ‘Fort Wayne Daisies’

Donovan: The Baseball Engine That Keeps Trying

Since the day the Padres drafted him in 1999, (Todd) Donovan has been an unwitting subject of a riveting novel. Cut a swath through the organization … injury. Repair and regenerate … Triple A … injury. Repair and regenerate … get to the 40-man roster and major league camp … injury. Repair and regenerate … set minor league records … injury.

Just so you know: Donovan’s ailments haven’t been Pavano-esque. He’s crashed into more walls than most NASCAR drivers. The unofficial list: two broken thumbs, two broken fingers, a broken bone in his hand and a torn elbow ligament.

And still … still! He’s at the ballpark an hour before his younger teammates to play a Double-A game.

Speed Burner

Missions manager Terry Kennedy admits he was surprised to see left fielder Luis Durango land on his Opening Day roster. The Panamanian, who played for his home country at the World Baseball Classic, is widely regarded as the fastest player in the San Diego Padres farm system but at 22 is a raw talent.

Prospect’s speed has Pads intrigued

A switch-hitter signed out of Panama for $12,000, Durango has reached base in about 42 percent of his some 1,400 plate appearances since debuting in the Venezuelan summer league five years ago.

“He’s got a chance to be an exciting guy,” said Grady Fuson, the Padres’ director of scouting and development.

Ocala woman enjoys a niche in baseball history

Mava Lee “Tommy” Thomas (Fort Wayne Daisies) went from local softball leagues to the heady world of professional fast pitch baseball, snagging herself a spot in baseball history along the way…

Thomas was determined to play, and her father, who knew league manager Max Carey, arranged an audition.

“He watched me play for about 15 minutes and told my dad I was in. I couldn’t believe I was going to get paid for playing a game I loved,” Thomas recalled.

Finally,  if you’re looking for professional photos of Parkview Field that don’t fit the norm that the umpteen other blogs out there have posted, check out Anna Lynch McClary’s blog.

Okay, so I guess Christmas Eve is not the best time to do a contest! Anywho, I am still giving away this awesome T, so the rules are still the same: 1.) Follow fwbaseball on Twitter, and once you do 2.) send a Direct Message (DM) and you get entered. I’ve had many do the first step, but only a couple have done the second. So, I’m extending the deadline. 6PM EST on Monday, December 29th, I will select a winner.

Original Post is below:

A few days ago, I blogged about the wonderful stuff over at Vintage Blue. I hope you had a chance to peruse their site and perhaps even take advantage of the holiday promo code.

Well, here’s another reason to like the good folks over at Vintage Blue: They’ve provided me with a Fort Wayne Daisies T-shirt to give away . . . any way I see fit (no pun intended). So, here’s the details:

Follow fwbaseball on Twitter. That’s it. Once you’re following me, send me a direct message to enter. Say whatever you want in the message. On Wednesday, 12/24 all entrants will be placed into a drawing for the rad T. I’ll select one at random. I’m even going to pay for the shipping costs.

Obviously, this won’t make it to you in time for Christmas, but I promise to send it out as soon as I can after the holiday.

No Purchase Necessary. Some will enter. One will win. Odds of winning are fully dependant upon the qualified entrants.

Isabel Alvarez kindly sent me some information about the Dottie Collins Honorary Golf Outing the other day. The outing will take place on Friday, August 15th at Brookwood Golf Course and proceeds from the event go to the benefit of the Alzheimer’s Association and is being presented by Regency Place of Fort Wayne and Meadowvale Health and Rehab.

The event brochure and registration form is available here.

Dottie Wiltse Collins

Dottie was born on September 23, 1923 and became a star softball player in the late 30’s. With the men off fighting WWII, Chicago Cubs owner Phillip Wrigley developed the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) to ensure that baseball would continue in the states. Dottie joined the league and became a 20 game winner as a right-handed pitcher in 4 out the 6 seasons she played.

She was marked as one of the league’s premier pitchers with a .608 winning percentage and lifetime 1.83 ERA. Dottie played for Minneapolis for one season and then came to Fort Wayne to play the remainder of her career for the Fort Wayne Daisies.

Dottie also accomplished a lot off the mound as well. Her husband, Harvey, taught her how to golf. She was the Fort Wayne City Champ in 1971 and was runner – up five other times. She helped organize youth golf and bowling leagues at the Elks Country Club. In 1988, she helped organize a reunion in Cooperstown that led to the movie “A League of Their Own”.

In 1999, Dottie was inducted into the Northeast Indiana Baseball Association (NEIBA) Hall of Fame. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease about 5 years ago. Dottie was quoted in the book, Dottie Wiltse Collins: Strikeout Queen of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League as saying her favorite memory of the league was:

“the people we met, including the fans, and the lifelong friendships that were created.”

Alzheimer’s Association

Our Mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Allen County
Amanda DeLong
260.241.6188 phone; 260.486.5866 fax

Wells County
Kali Giggy
260.224.1447 phone; 260.824.4689 fax

UPDATE: Blake Sebring has a nice piece on the outing in the August 8th News-Sentinel.

Delores “Dolly” Brumfield White, a former Fort Wayne Daisies player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) was recently in Kenosha, Wisconsin for a re-dedication ceremony and the Hall of Fame Classic women’s baseball tournament at Simmons Field.

The one-time infielder went on to become a teacher and now lives in Prichard, Alabama. She is currently a director on the AAGPBL Players Association Board of Directors.

KenoshaNews.com did a “Seven Questions” segment with Dolly.

The Bowie Baysox, Class AA Minor League Affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, are hosting a “Women’s Weekend” during their three game homestand this weekend. Tomorrow, the festivities include a tribute to the All-American Girls Professional Baseball Players League. It marks the second year that the Baysox have honored this special group of ladies.

Among those that will be honored is Ruth Hartman (Kramer), a pitcher and infielder who played with the Daisies and took part in the National Baseball Hall of Fame Museum’s 2006 dedication of “Diamond Dreams: Women in Baseball”, an updated version of an exhibit on the history of women in baseball that has been on display in Cooperstown since 1988.

Also being honored are former AAGPBL players; Jean Faut, Gloria Elliott (Cordes), Sarah “Salty” Ferguson, Joanne McComb, Gertrude “Gertie” Benner.

All six former AAGPBL players will be honored in ceremonies prior to the game. Following the National Anthem, all six players will be positioned at meet and greet locations around the stadium concourse level. Players will be available for autographs and photos with fans throughout the game.

St. Marys Evening Leader Staff Writer Kay Louth recently had a nice piece on former Fort Wayne Daisies player, Katie Horstman.

As a rookie, she earned $50 a week. By the time she was finished, she was earning $125 a week. She made more money the first year she played baseball than she did the first year she taught school. It was her baseball salary that paid for her college education.