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Abstract
| Annastasia Batikis was interviewed by Clement C. GrawOzburn on August 19, 2003, for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League oral history collection. Annastasia "Stash" Batikis was a center fielder with the Racine Belles of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League for a single season in 1945. Batikis appeared in five games that season and ended her career at the end of the season to attend college at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. She then went on to study at Northwestern University and became a teacher for the next 35 years. In 1988, Annastasia became part of Women in Baseball, a permanent display based at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. In 2002, Annastasia Batikis was added to Milwaukees Walls of Honor, which salutes Wisconsin's baseball history greats. She is also in the Hall of Fame at her old college University of Wisconsin-La Crosse for being a pioneer for women in professional baseball. In addition, she was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Washington Park Hall High School in 1987, joining her brother John, who was inducted in 1976. Batikis discusses the following topics: Parents emigrated to U.S. from Greece, father’s arrival and service in U.S. Army during World War One (1914-1918), father brought mother to U.S. after World War One, settled in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, description of family, youngest sibling, family moved to Racine, Wisconsin during childhood—High school interest in sports, played softball in 3rd grade, Girls Athletic Association (GAA), intramural sports, basketball, volleyball, softball, field hockey, Racine Recreation Department sponsored sporting events, joining local business and organization teams, girls’ basketball ca. 1940s, girls’ volleyball ca. 1940s, compares women’s sports, ca. 1940s and 2003—All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954) created during junior year in high school, amazed at skill of players in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League—Try-outs for Racine Belles at Horlick Field, Racine, Wisconsin, 1945, two out of fifty-five made team, players selected were interviewee and Joyce (Hill) Westerman (Grand Rapids Chicks, Fort Wayne Daisies, South Bend Blue Sox, Peoria Redwings, Racine Belles catcher, 1925-2021)—Spring training at Wrigley Field (est. 1914, Chicago, Illinois), personal reactions about involvement with All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), father’s reaction, brothers in military, comparatively limited options for women’s careers and travel ca. mid 1940s, leaving home—Participation in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), seeing name on list of selected players after try-outs, 1945, film “A League of Their Own” (1992), playing for her hometown’s team Racine Belles, Margaret “Marnie” (Danhauser) Brown (Racine Belles infield and first base, 1921-1987)—Pre-season games at army bases, entertaining service men, travel by train or bus, traveling, comradery and friendships among Racine Belles players, ca. 1945—Played center field, rookie salary of $50 dollars per week, living situation for players in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), community support for team, Racine, Wisconsin, involvement in community, attendance at games, ca. 1945—Playing schedule, played every day and twice on Sundays, practice in morning, playing in afternoon, entering locker room for first time, pranks, ca. 1945—Chaperons served as team doctors, lack of safety, uniforms, ca. 1945—Young boys’ reactions to playing with girls, childhood, community reaction, heckling from crowd, ca. 1930s-1940s—Playing center field, paid less when other women joined All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), did not like to play in Kenosha, Wisconsin—Experience with charm schools, etiquette training at Wrigley Field (est. 1914, Chicago, Illinois), make-up and appearance for All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), opinion on behavioral rules and uniforms, love of baseball—Changes after end of World War Two (1939-1945), end of rationing, emergence of television, men returning home after military service, attendance dropped after war’s end, only played in league one year (1945) —Descriptions of Racine Belles managers Charles Stis (1884-1979), Leo Murphy (1889-1960), John “Johnny” Gottselig (1909-1986), real-life behavior of managers as opposed to depiction in film “A League of Their Own” (1992)—Description of chaperone, acted as team doctor, injuries on team, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954)—Practices, calisthenics, batting practice, throwing practice, running bases, strategy, Charles Stis (Racine Belles manager, 1884-1979) behavior, motivation, mentoring, Sophie “Flint Flash, Tina Cobb” Kurys (Kenosha Comets, Racine Belles, Battle Creek Belle second base, outfield, pitcher, 1925-2013), behavior as rookie, ages of players, Irene “Choo-Choo” Hickson (Racine Belles and Kenosha Comets catcher, 1915-1995)—Community support and involvement, Racine, Wisconsin Fourth of July Parade, local business endorsement of players, Margaret “Marnie” (Danhauser) Brown (Racine Belles infield and first base, 1921-1987), endorsed by Western Printing in Racine, Wisconsin, ca. 1945—Gender roles, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), breaking gender norms, trying to fit with expectations—Memorable moments in game, bunting ball at bad time, additional equipment during colder games, ca. 1945—Living in city with All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), inspiration to play, equipment needed to try out for league—Spring training photographs of players taken by Life Magazine (1920-2007), June 1945, interviewee photographed while at bat—Thoughts on ending of All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), gas rationing, television, return of men from World War Two (1939-1945), financial backers left, Racine Belles moved to Battle Creek, Michigan in 1950, team dissolved in 1952—Reason for playing only one year in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), 1945, wanted to go back to school, enrolled at La Crosse State Teachers College (now University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, est. 1909), taught health and physical education for 35 years—Effects on life after playing in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), life lessons—National Baseball Hall of Fame induction, Nov. 5, 1988, reconnecting with players, seeing name on plaques, proud to earn same recognition as other baseball legends, experiences going to National Baseball Hall of Fame—Thoughts on All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954) legacy, film “A League of Their Own” (1992), talking to youth organizations—Predictions ca. 2003, future female baseball teams, Metro Milwaukee Fast-Pitch League (MMFL, est. 1991), teams in other parts of U.S., future of women in sports. |
| Content | 00:00:00—Parents emigrated to U.S. from Greece, father’s arrival and service in U.S. Army during World War One (1914-1918), father brought mother to U.S. after World War One, settled in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, description of family, youngest sibling, family moved to Racine, Wisconsin during childhood |
00:02:29—High school interest in sports, played softball in 3rd grade, Girls Athletic Association (GAA), intramural sports, basketball, volleyball, softball, field hockey, Racine Recreation Department sponsored sporting events, joining local business and organization teams, girls’ basketball ca. 1940s, girls’ volleyball ca. 1940s, compares women’s sports, ca. 1940s and 2003 |
00:06:00—All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954) created during junior year in high school, amazed at skill of players in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League |
00:06:43—Try-outs for Racine Belles at Horlick Field, Racine, Wisconsin, 1945, two out of fifty-five made team, players selected were interviewee and Joyce (Hill) Westerman (Grand Rapids Chicks, Fort Wayne Daisies, South Bend Blue Sox, Peoria Redwings, Racine Belles catcher, 1925-2021) |
00:07:27—Spring training at Wrigley Field (est. 1914, Chicago, Illinois), personal reactions about involvement with All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), father’s reaction, brothers in military, comparatively limited options for women’s careers and travel ca. mid 1940s, leaving home |
00:09:47—Participation in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), seeing name on list of selected players after try-outs, 1945, film “A League of Their Own” (1992), playing for her hometown’s team Racine Belles, Margaret “Marnie” (Danhauser) Brown (Racine Belles infield and first base, 1921-1987) |
00:10:51—Pre-season games at army bases, entertaining service men, travel by train or bus, traveling, comradery and friendships among Racine Belles players, ca. 1945 |
00:11:59—Played center field, rookie salary of $50 dollars per week, living situation for players in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), community support for team, Racine, Wisconsin, involvement in community, attendance at games, ca. 1945 |
00:14:55—Playing schedule, played every day and twice on Sundays, practice in morning, playing in afternoon, entering locker room for first time, pranks, ca. 1945 |
00:16:43—Chaperones served as team doctors, lack of safety, uniforms, ca. 1945 |
00:17:51—Young boys’ reactions to playing with girls, childhood, community reaction, heckling from crowd, ca. 1930s-1940s |
00:20:51—Playing center field, paid less when other women joined All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), did not like to play in Kenosha, Wisconsin |
00:22:11—Experience with charm schools, etiquette training at Wrigley Field (est. 1914, Chicago, Illinois), make-up and appearance for All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), opinion on behavioral rules and uniforms, love of baseball |
00:26:44—Changes after end of World War Two (1939-1945), end of rationing, emergence of television, men returning home after military service, attendance dropped after war’s end, only played in league one year (1945) |
00:28:12—Descriptions of Racine Belles managers Charles Stis (1884-1979), Leo Murphy (1889-1960), John “Johnny” Gottselig (1909-1986), real-life behavior of managers as opposed to depiction in film “A League of Their Own” (1992) |
00:29:23—Description of chaperone, acted as team doctor, injuries on team, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954) |
00:30:03—Practices, calisthenics, batting practice, throwing practice, running bases, strategy, Charles Stis (Racine Belles manager, 1884-1979) behavior, motivation, mentoring, Sophie “Flint Flash, Tina Cobb” Kurys (Kenosha Comets, Racine Belles, Battle Creek Belle second base, outfield, pitcher, 1925-2013), behavior as rookie, ages of players, Irene “Choo-Choo” Hickson (Racine Belles and Kenosha Comets catcher, 1915-1995) |
00:34:02—Community support and involvement, Racine, Wisconsin Fourth of July Parade, local business endorsement of players, Margaret “Marnie” (Danhauser) Brown (Racine Belles infield and first base, 1921-1987), endorsed by Western Printing in Racine, Wisconsin, ca. 1945 |
00:36:04—Gender roles, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), breaking gender norms, trying to fit with expectations |
00:39:11—Memorable moments in game, bunting ball at bad time, additional equipment during colder games, ca. 1945 |
00:41:14—Living in city with All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), inspiration to play, equipment needed to try out for league |
00:43:41—Spring training photographs of players taken by Life Magazine (1920-2007), June 1945, interviewee photographed while at bat |
00:44:56—Thoughts on ending of All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), gas rationing, television, return of men from World War Two (1939-1945), financial backers left, Racine Belles moved to Battle Creek, Michigan in 1950, team dissolved in 1952 |
00:46:29—Reason for playing only one year in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), 1945, wanted to go back to school, enrolled at La Crosse State Teachers College (now University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, est. 1909), taught health and physical education for 35 years |
00:47:12—Effects on life after playing in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), life lessons |
00:48:38— National Baseball Hall of Fame induction, Nov. 5, 1988, reconnecting with players, seeing name on plaques, proud to earn same recognition as other baseball legends, experiences going to National Baseball Hall of Fame |
00:51:39—Thoughts on All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954) legacy, film “A League of Their Own” (1992), talking to youth organizations |
00:53:52—Predictions ca. 2003, future female baseball teams, Metro Milwaukee Fast-Pitch League (MMFL, est. 1991), teams in other parts of U.S., future of women in sports |
