Reference URL
Oral history interview with Joyce (Hill) Westerman / interviewed by Clement C. GrawOzburn
Date published: 2003-08-20

 
 
 




Metadata
Duration 01:00:34.000
Abstract Joyce Westerman was interviewed by Clement C. GrawOzburn on August 20, 2003, for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League oral history collection. Joyce entered the league in 1945 as a softball pitcher and shortstop for the Nash Company team in Kenosha. However, she was converted into a catcher, and she became a full-time worker in that department for the Redwings. Joyce eventually landed with Racine and became a force behind the plate and at the plate with her ability to hit the long ball. Joyce played until 1952. Joyce continued to work for the Nash Company during the off-season. She had a hobby of collecting clippings from her games and putting them in scrapbooks. When the 1992 film A League of Their Own was filmed at Cooperstown, she was one of the women who appeared for the last segment of the movie. Joyce continues to live in Kenosha where she raised her family. Joyce Westerman's career in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League included: Grand Rapids Chicks (1945), Fort Wayne Daisies (1946), Peoria Redwings (1947, 1948, 1950, 1951), Racine Belles (1948, 1949), South Bend Blue Sox (1946, 1952). Westerman discusses the following topics: Parents Cecil and Lillian, father’s employment at Nash Motors (est. 1916, Kenosha, Wisconsin), mother stay-at-home parent, raised in Kenosha,Wisconsin, lost family home during Great Depression (1929-1939), childhood during Great Depression (1929-1939)—Family moved to grandmother’s home during high school years, younger brother’s death during 1928-1929 Influenza Epidemic, lack of medications during 1920s-1930s, middle child in family of eight children, labeled “tomboy,” helped father with chores—Beginning of interviewee’s interest in sports, family was not interested in sports, played catch for first time with uncle, noticed differences between women that lived in country and in cities, aunt thought interviewee would not make good housewife—Acquired baseball skills at school, played on cousin’s team when she was young, not many opportunities for girls in competitive sports ca. 1930s-1940s, played on softball team created by Nash Motors (est. 1916, Kenosha, Wisconsin)—Parents’ changing attitudes about interviewee playing baseball ca. 1940s-1950s, local community perceptions of women playing baseball, remembers being occasionally embarrassed about being a “tomboy”— Kenosha, Wisconsin had one of four original teams in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (Kenosha Comets, 1943-1951), invited to play in game with Kenosha Comets after player injuries, quality of players in AAGPBL ca. 1943-1944—Tryouts in Kenosha and Racine, Wisconsin, ca. 1943-1944, selected for 1945 tryouts at Wrigley Field (est. 1914, Chicago, Illinois), quit job at Nash Motors (est. 1916, Kenosha, Wisconsin) working on airplane engines to play for Grand Rapids Chicks (team in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, AAGPBL, 1945-1954)—Difficulties finding a job ca. 1942-1943, competing with men from southern states for factory jobs, working at Nash Motors (est. 1916, Kenosha, Wisconsin), compares salaries for factory work at Nash Motors with playing baseball in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954)—Feelings about trying out for catcher position with All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), tryouts held at Wrigley Field (est. 1914, Chicago, Illinois)—Memories of charm school required by All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), uniforms and feminine dress code, code of conduct—Community members and host cities’ treatment of women playing in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954)— Played exhibition games at women’s prisons, remembers being on the radio but not many appearances for sponsors, describes typical image of women in All-American Girls Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), described some women as petite and some as tomboys, confidence level of AAGPBL players—Living arrangements while playing professional baseball, living in private homes, played for Grand Rapids Chicks, South Bend Blue Socks and Peoria Red Wings in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), reflects on lasting relationships with families she lodged with during years playing in AAGPBL—League rules about curfews in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), not many restaurants open late, behavior of other AAGPBL players, personal attitudes towards risky behavior, team chaperone’s role, experiences with AAGPBL team managers—Pre-game rituals and practice routines in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), spring training—Memories of travel conditions for All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), train travel worse than bus travel, buses convenient for carrying luggage, activities on bus while traveling, singing and card games—Busy schedule in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), balancing practice, make-up games, free time, and scheduled games—Experiences as rookie player in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), embarrassing events and injuries, record for most stolen bases against her in a game—Reasons for leaving All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), low attendance, salary problems, marriage to husband Raymond Westerman (1925-2005)—Changes after World War Two (1939-1945) that led to decline of All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954)—Personal reactions to 1988 induction into National Baseball Hall of Fame (Cooperstown, New York), player reunions for All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), story about negotiating vacation time to attend 1982 AAGPBL reunion in Chicago, Illinois, 3-inning baseball game played at AAGPBL reunions—Pioneering role of All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), prospects for professional women’s baseball ca. 2003—Long term effects of playing in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), confidence-building and communication skills, daughters and granddaughters as “ball players.”
IntervieweeWesterman, Joyce Hill
InterviewerGrawOzburn, Clement C.
OwnerUniversity of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Type of resource sound recording
Genre sound
Genre authority marcgt
Publisher name University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Oral History Program
Date published 2003-08-20
Date captured 2023-05-25
Language eng
Subject topicWesterman, Joyce, 1925- -- Interviews Authority: LCSH
Subject topicAll-American Girls Professional Baseball League -- History Authority: LCSH
Subject topicRacine Belles (Baseball team) -- History Authority: LCSH
Subject topicOral history Authority: LCSH
Subject topicBaseball for women -- United States -- History -- 20th century Authority: LCSH
Subject topicWomen baseball players -- United States -- Biography Authority: LCSH
Subject topicBaseball -- History Authority: LCSH
Subject topicFort Wayne Daisies (Baseball team) -- History. Authority: LCSH
Subject topicGrand Rapids Chicks (Baseball team) -- History Authority: LCSH
Subject topicPeoria Redwings (Baseball team) -- History. Authority: LCSH
Subject topicSouth Bend Blue Sox (Baseball team) -- History Authority: LCSH
Source noteThis interview is part of the UW-La Crosse Oral History Program’s All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) Collection.
Source noteThe interviewee played in the AAGPBL for eight seasons: with the Grand Rapids Chicks (1945), Fort Wayne Daisies (1946), South Bend Blue Sox (1946, 1952), Peoria Redwings (1947-1948, 1950-1951), and Racine Belles (1948-1949).
Content00:00:54—Parents Cecil and Lillian, father’s employment at Nash Motors (est. 1916, Kenosha, Wisconsin), mother stay-at-home parent, raised in Kenosha,Wisconsin, lost family home during Great Depression (1929-1939), childhood during Great Depression (1929-1939) | 00:02:40—Family moved to grandmother’s home during high school years, younger brother’s death during 1928-1929 Influenza Epidemic, lack of medications during 1920s-1930s, middle child in family of eight children, labeled “tomboy,” helped father with chores | 00:04:25—Beginning of interviewee’s interest in sports, family was not interested in sports, played catch for first time with uncle, noticed differences between women that lived in country and in cities, aunt thought interviewee would not make good housewife | 00:06:35—Acquired baseball skills at school, played on cousin’s team when she was young, not many opportunities for girls in competitive sports ca. 1930s-1940s, played on softball team created by Nash Motors (est. 1916, Kenosha, Wisconsin) | 00:08:00—Parents’ changing attitudes about interviewee playing baseball ca. 1940s-1950s, local community perceptions of women playing baseball, remembers being occasionally embarrassed about being a “tomboy” | 00:10:30—Kenosha, Wisconsin had one of four original teams in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (Kenosha Comets, 1943-1951), invited to play in game with Kenosha Comets after player injuries, quality of players in AAGPBL ca. 1943-1944 | 00:11:46—Tryouts in Kenosha and Racine, Wisconsin, ca. 1943-1944, selected for 1945 tryouts at Wrigley Field (est. 1914, Chicago, Illinois), quit job at Nash Motors (est. 1916, Kenosha, Wisconsin) working on airplane engines to play for Grand Rapids Chicks (team in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, AAGPBL, 1945-1954) | 00:12:40—Difficulties finding a job ca. 1942-1943, competing with men from southern states for factory jobs, working at Nash Motors (est. 1916, Kenosha, Wisconsin), compares salaries for factory work at Nash Motors with playing baseball in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954) | 00:14:35—Feelings about trying out for catcher position with All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), tryouts held at Wrigley Field (est. 1914, Chicago, Illinois) | 00:15:45—Memories of charm school required by All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), uniforms and feminine dress code, code of conduct | 00:19:00—Community members and host cities’ treatment of women playing in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954) | 00:20:10—Played exhibition games at women’s prisons, remembers being on the radio but not many appearances for sponsors, describes typical image of women in All-American Girls Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), described some women as petite and some as tomboys, confidence level of AAGPBL players | 00:23:25—Living arrangements while playing professional baseball, living in private homes, played for Grand Rapids Chicks, South Bend Blue Socks and Peoria Red Wings in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), reflects on lasting relationships with families she lodged with during years playing in AAGPBL | 00:27:31—League rules about curfews in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), not many restaurants open late, behavior of other AAGPBL players, | personal attitudes towards risky behavior, team chaperone’s role, experiences with AAGPBL team managers | 00:32:20—Pre-game rituals and practice routines in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), spring training | 00:33:45—Memories of travel conditions for All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), train travel worse than bus travel, buses convenient for carrying luggage, activities on bus while traveling, singing and card games | 00:37:41—Busy schedule in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), balancing practice, make-up games, free time, and scheduled games | 00:38:45—Experiences as rookie player in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), embarrassing events and injuries, record for most stolen bases against her in a game | 00:43:00—Reasons for leaving All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), low attendance, salary problems, marriage to husband Raymond Westerman (1925-2005) | 00:45:20—Changes after World War Two (1939-1945) that led to decline of All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954) | 00:47:50—Personal reactions to 1988 induction into National Baseball Hall of Fame (Cooperstown, New York), player reunions for All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), story about negotiating vacation time to attend 1982 AAGPBL reunion in Chicago, Illinois, 3-inning baseball game played at AAGPBL reunions | 00:52:00—Pioneering role of All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), prospects for professional women’s baseball ca. 2003 | 00:56:20—Long term effects of playing in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), confidence-building and communication skills, daughters and granddaughters as “ball players”
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Collection UWL Oral History Program Collection / All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) Collection
ID db52c5e1-644f-4d39-abba-c9d26049e87a/wlacu000/00000018/00000310
Doi18-0310
Related itemsOral history interview with Joyce (Hill) Westerman / interviewed by Clement C. GrawOzburn (index)


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