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Abstract
| Ellen Proefrock was interviewed by Clement C. GrawOzburn on January 19, 2004, for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League oral history collection. Ellen's nickname during her time with the league was "Babe". She was a second basewoman who played only briefly during the 1944 season. Ellen grew up in Racine, WI, playing both softball and baseball in high school. During the softball season, she was invited to tryout for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which were held at Wrigly Field in Chicago, IL. Ellen was to be paid $60.00 per week to be a member of the South Bend Blue Sox for the 1944 season, which was a vast sum of money at that time. She only saw action in three games during the 1944 season and was not offered a contract the following season. Ellen returned to Racine and was married in 1947 to William Proefrock. Proefrock discusses the following topics: Father was farmer and carpenter, six siblings, lived five miles outside Racine, Wisconsin ca. 1920s-1930s—Sports central to close-knit family, father created baseball field on family farm ca. 1930s, brother and cousin formed and managed all-women’s team when interviewee was twelve (ca.1934), players on brother and cousin’s team were from rural areas surrounding Racine, Wisconsin, began playing baseball at fourteen ca. 1936—Played on team brother and cousin formed (ca. 1934), won tournament at 1940 Wisconsin State Fair (est. 1851, West Allis, Wisconsin), team subsequently disbanded as members married and had less free time—Recalls spectator support for female athletes ca. 1936-1944, family greatly enjoyed playing baseball ca. 1930s-1940s, did not recall women’s athletics receiving negative feedback—Worked at Western Printing and Lithographing Company (1907-2001, Racine, Wisconsin), 1943, coworker Margaret “Marnie” (Danhauser) Brown (1921-1987) tried out for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), Marnie played for AAGPBL team Racine Belles from 1943-1949, AAGPBL scouts watched interviewee at 1944 city tournament in Racine, Wisconsin, interviewee invited to 1944 tryouts for AAGPBL’s South Bend Blue Sox at Wrigley Field (est. 1914, Chicago, Illinois)—Youngest sibling, mother supportive, father became more accepting once he knew more details about All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), living in South Bend, Indiana during tryouts—Didn’t like wearing uniform skirts issued by All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL 1943-1954), uniforms impractical, teammates had bruises from wearing them, argues men chose AAGPBL uniform to give players feminine appearance, recalls team policy prohibiting players from wearing pants in public—Remembers attending All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL 1943-1954) charm school ca. 1944, students walked with books on head, policies to make students look more feminine—Common for cities to host “moose gatherings” (meetings and dinners with community members) for players in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL 1943-1954), ca. 1944—Practice routines in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL 1943-1954)—Wisconsin teams did not travel far because of gasoline rationing during World War Two (1939-1945), made $1.50 an hour at Western Printing and Lithographing Company (1907-2001, Racine, Wisconsin), made $35 a week playing baseball in 1944 for South Bend Blue Sox, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954)—Lived with Bauer family during 1944 tryouts for South Bend Blue Sox, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954)—Travel experiences, hotels, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL 1943-1954)—Aunt and uncle lived in Chicago, Illinois, traveled often before joining All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954)—Never played baseball again after 1944 release from All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), effect of release on self-confidence—Believed men returning home from World War Two (1939-1945) caused demise of All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954)—Female athletes encouraged at William Horlick High School (est. 1928, Racine, Wisconsin) ca. 1935-1941, graduated high school in 1941—Ca. 1940s husband worked and coached girls’ basketball team for Modine Manufacturing Company (est. 1916, Racine, Wisconsin)—Female athletes common in Wisconsin, several women’s teams in 1940 baseball tournament at Wisconsin State Fair (est. 1851, West Allis, Wisconsin)—Changes in women’s labor, leisure, liberation, during and after World War Two (1939-1945)—Believed World War Two (1939-1945) made possible All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954)—Impressions of women’s liberation and working outside home during and after World War Two (1939-1945)—National Baseball Hall of Fame induction, Nov. 5, 1988, original induction letter used married names of players, later changed to players’ maiden names—Interviewee questioned her own induction in the National Baseball Hall of Fame (est. 1936 Cooperstown, New York), played less than one year in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954)—Immense support from fans of All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL,1943-1954) after film “A League of Their Own” (1992)—Film “A League of Their Own” (1992), positive depiction of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), directed by Penny Marshall (1943-2018). |
| Content | 00:01:26—Father was farmer and carpenter, six siblings, lived five miles outside Racine, Wisconsin ca. 1920s-1930s |
00:03:10—Sports central to close-knit family, father created baseball field on family farm ca.1930s, brother and cousin formed and managed all-women’s team when interviewee was twelve (ca.1934), players on brother and cousin’s team were from rural areas surrounding Racine, Wisconsin, began playing baseball at fourteen (ca. 1936) |
00:06:00—Played on team brother and cousin formed (ca. 1934), won tournament at 1940 Wisconsin State Fair (est. 1851, West Allis, Wisconsin), team subsequently disbanded as members married and had less free time |
00:07:30—Recalls spectator support for female athletes ca. 1936-1944, family greatly enjoyed playing baseball ca. 1930s-1940s, did not recall women’s athletics receiving negative feedback |
00:10:22—Worked at Western Printing and Lithographing Company (1907-2001, Racine, Wisconsin), 1943, coworker Margaret “Marnie” (Danhauser) Brown (1921-1987) tried out for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), Marnie played for AAGPBL team Racine Belles from 1943-1949, AAGPBL scouts watched interviewee at 1944 city tournament in Racine, Wisconsin, interviewee invited to 1944 tryouts for AAGPBL’s South Bend Blue Sox at Wrigley Field (est. 1914, Chicago, Illinois) |
00:12:05—Youngest sibling, mother supportive, father became more accepting once he knew more details about All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), living in South Bend, Indiana during tryouts |
00:14:15—Didn’t like wearing uniform skirts issued by All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL 1943-1954), uniforms impractical, teammates had bruises from wearing them, argues men chose AAGPBL uniform to give players feminine appearance, recalls team policy prohibiting players from wearing pants in public |
00:16:55—Remembers attending All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL 1943-1954) charm school ca. 1944, students walked with books on head, policies to make students look more feminine |
00:18:50—Common for cities to host “moose gatherings” (meetings and dinners with community members) for players in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL 1943-1954), ca. 1944 |
00:20:50—Practice routines in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL 1943-1954) |
00:22:03—Wisconsin teams did not travel far because of gasoline rationing during World War Two (1939-1945), made $1.50 an hour at Western Printing and Lithographing Company (1907-2001, Racine, Wisconsin), made $35 a week playing baseball in 1944 for South Bend Blue Sox, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954) |
00:24:20—Lived with Bauer family during 1944 tryouts for South Bend Blue Sox, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954) |
00:27:43—Travel experiences, hotels, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL 1943-1954) |
00:30:36—Aunt and uncle lived in Chicago, Illinois, traveled often before joining All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954) |
00:31:40—Never played baseball again after 1944 release from All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), effect of release on self-confidence |
00:33:10—Believed men returning home from World War Two (1939-1945) caused demise of All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954) |
00:34:15—Female athletes encouraged at William Horlick High School (est. 1928, Racine, Wisconsin) ca. 1935-1941, graduated high school in 1941 |
00:35:00—Ca. 1940s husband worked and coached girls’ basketball team for Modine Manufacturing Company (est. 1916, Racine, Wisconsin) |
00:35:50—Female athletes common in Wisconsin, several women’s teams in 1940 baseball tournament at Wisconsin State Fair (est. 1851, West Allis, Wisconsin) |
00:39:01—Changes in women’s labor, leisure, liberation, during and after World War Two (1939-1945) |
00:40:55—Believed World War Two (1939-1945) made possible All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954) |
00:43:38—Impressions of women’s liberation and working outside home during and after World War Two (1939-1945) |
00:47:29—National Baseball Hall of Fame induction, Nov. 5, 1988, original induction letter used married names of players, later changed to players’ maiden names |
00:52:50—Interviewee questioned her own induction in the National Baseball Hall of Fame (est. 1936 Cooperstown, New York), played less than one year in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954) |
00:58:55—Immense support from fans of All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954) after film “A League of Their Own” (1992) |
01:00:20—Film “A League of Their Own” (1992), positive depiction of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), directed by Penny Marshall (1943-2018) |
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