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AAGBL
Q: Can you tell me about the women's baseball league that was formed in 1943 as a result of a shortage of males due to the war effort?
-- Virginia Galt
A: The All-American Girls Baseball League (AAGBL) was the brainstorm of Chicago Cubs' owner Philip K. Wrigley. He intended it to be a softball league in which the teams would play in major-league stadiums while the men were away at war. The league consisted of four teams -- the Rockford Peaches, the South Bend Blue Sox, the Racine Belles, and the Kenosha Comets -- who played a 108-game schedule. It included over 500 female players, and some male managers, such as Jimmie Foxx,Bill Wambsganss, Max Carey, and Dave Bancroft, who had spent time in the major leagues. Total attendance for the first year was 176,000, and the number increased yearly until it reached its peak of over 900,000 fans in 1948. Despite its increasing popularity, the AAGBL was eventually forced to dismantle in 1953 after organizational problems, the rise in popularity of men's baseball after the end of the war, and the social idea that women should return to the home after the men returned to their jobs. In October 1988, the National Baseball Hall of Fame dedicated an exhibit to the AAGBL to honor the first truly successful women's baseball league.
Back to top	-- Christos Plakas

YOUNG GUNS
Q: Who was the youngest player to win 20 games in a season?
-- jimrus79@aol.com
A: At 20 years, 282 days, Dwight Gooden became the youngest player to win 20 games in a season when he won his 20th for the New York Mets on August 25, 1985. Gooden went on to win the pitcher's Triple Crown, leading the NL in wins (24), ERA (1.53), and strikeouts (268), and won the Cy Young Award that season. Before Gooden, Cleveland Indians star Bob Feller had held the record at 20 years, 309 days.
Back to top	-- Christos Plakas

WORLD SERIES FIRSTS
Q: Who was the first player to steal home in the World Series?
-- Verbrod@aol.com
A: The first player to steal home in a World Series game was Bill Dahlen, who did it in the 1905 contest between the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Athletics. He pulled it off in the top of the fifth inning of Game Three, played on October 12, 1905. Dahlen came to bat against Athletics starter Andy Coakley with the bases loaded and the Giants leading 4-0. After reaching on a fielder's choice which plated another run, Dahlen stole second, and moved to third on center fielder Art Devlin's single. With Giant runners on first and third, manager John McGraw decided to try a double steal. It ended up being successful as Devlin stole second and Dahlen stole home on the delay, making the score 7-0. Since then, 12 other players have stolen home during World Series play, with the most recent being Tim McCarver, who did it for the St. Louis Cardinals on October 15, 1964.
Back to top	-- Christos Plakas

EMMETT ASHFORD
Q: Who was the first black umpire in the majors?
-- Jim Farina
A: The first black umpire in the major leagues was Emmett Ashford. He umped his first professional game on April 11, 1966, the season opener between the Washington Senators and the Cleveland Indians. Included in the 44,000+ fans on hand was Vice President Hubert Humphrey.
Back to top	-- Alex Friedman

NEW YORK YANKEES
Q: Can you tell me who was on the field when the New York Yankees won the World Series in 1978?
-- Bill Johnson
A: When the Yankees defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6, the following players were on the field: Thurman Munson c Jim Spencer 1b Brian Doyle 2b Bucky Dent ss Graig Nettles 3b Gary Thomasson lf Paul Blair cf Jay Johnstone rf Goose Gossage p Lou Piniella, Mickey Rivers, Roy White, and Catfish Hunter had started for the Yankees, but were replaced before the last inning. The Yankees won the game 7-2, with Hunter earning the win, and Don Sutton taking the loss for the Dodgers.
Back to top	-- Christos Plakas

RED SOX ROOKIES
Q: Who was the last Red Sox player to win the Rookie of the Year Award?
-- Travis Schoonmaker
A: The last Boston Red Sox player to be named the American League Rookie of the Year was shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, who won the award in 1997. Garciaparra was the sixth player to win the award unanimously, joining Carlton Fisk (1972), Mark McGwire (1987), Sandy Alomar Jr. (1990), Tim Salmon (1993), and Derek Jeter (1996). Garciaparra also became the fifth Red Sox player to win the award, joining Fisk, Fred Lynn (1975), Don Schwall (1972),and Walter Dropo (1950).
Back to top	-- Christos Plakas

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