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Abstract
| Louise Sauer was interviewed by Clement C. GrawOzburn on March 30, 2003, for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League oral history collection. In her three year career, Louise "Lou" Sauer was a member of two champion teams and was on the All-Star team two times. Louise was born in Whitehall, WI. While helping out on a nearby team, a manager suggested her name to the AAGPBL and she was invited to try out. Louise was signed with the Racine Belles part way through the 1948 season. She started the 1949 season with the Rockford Peaches and was part of the pitching rotation. As a rookie she made $55.00 per week plus a $5.00 a day food allowance. The next year, after signing with the Rockford Peaches for another season, her salary went up to $70.00 per week, plus bonuses for shutouts. Louise retired from baseball for personal reasons after the 1950 season. She married Burt Sauer from Arcadia, WI, in 1950 and became a housewife. Louise coached softball in her hometown of Arcadia. In 1988, Louise Erickson Sauer was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Mrs. Sauer has visited Cooperstown to walk through the displays and re-visit the three years of her life she will never forget. Sauer discuses the following topics: Childhood in Whitehall, Wisconsin, maternal and paternal grandparents farmers, oldest of six siblings, father and uncles played baseball in Whitehall and Arcadia, Wisconsin—No organized sports at high school in Arcadia, Wisconsin, story about being recommended for All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943–1954), city baseball team manager in Whitehall, Wisconsin sent letter to AAGPBL ca. 1948, had never heard of AAGPBL before receiving letter from them—Story about joining Racine Belles (1943-1950, team in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League)—Story about male coaches wanting interviewee to try out for men’s high school baseball team in Arcadia, Wisconsin, ca. 1945-1946—Tryouts for All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954) at Shewbridge Field, Chicago, Illinois—Recalls parents encouraging her to join All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), made more money playing in AAGPBL than parents did as farmers—Feelings about traveling with All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), limited travel experience, parents did not own car—Housing options for players in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), while in Rockford, Illinois roomed with Jacquelyn “Babe” (Kelley) Savage (1926-1988, AAGPBL player for South Bend Blue Sox, Chicago Colleens, Peoria Redwings, and Rockford Peaches), AAGPBL teams could borrow players from other teams during player illness or injury—Dress code for All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), women could not wear pants or jeans in public, could not have boyish haircuts, makeup required, could not smoke in public, not allowed in bars, allowed two beers post-game, not allowed to fraternize with other teams after games —Describes practice routines implemented by Rockford Peaches Manager Bill Allington (1900-1966) ca. 1949-1950— Dorothy “Dottie” Green, Rockford Peaches chaperone (1948-1953), chaperone and manager job descriptions, $3.50 daily food allowance in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954)—Limited travel experience before joining All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), had never stayed in hotel or traveled by train before joining AAGPBL—Describes fans supporting All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), never heard disparaging remarks about AAGPBL teams ca. 1948-1950—1949 exhibition game at Dwight Correctional Center (1930-2013, Dwight, Illinois), felt anxious walking through correctional center after game—Did not enjoy bus travel while playing for All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), cramped traveling conditions—Control of players’ leisure time in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), as AAGPBL player watched many war movies in the aftermath of World War Two (1939-1945), players prohibited from swimming or bowling, not allowed to get sunburnt when golfing—Husband Burton Sauer (1922-2007) built bowling alley in Arcadia, Wisconsin, ca. 1940s, building materials scarce during and after World War Two (1939-1945)—Married in 1950, children’s births (son in 1956, daughter in 1959)—Bus trips, singing theme song (Victory Song) for All-American Girls Professional League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), song written by Lavonne “Pepper” (Paire) Davis (1924-2013, AAGPBL player for Minneapolis Millerettes, Fort Wayne Daisies, Racine Belles, Grand Rapids Chicks, 1944-1953) and Nalda “Birdie” (Bird) Phillips (1927-2004, AAGPBL player for South Bend Blue Sox, 1954)—Frustrated with uniforms, not safe for players to slide, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954)—Players wore overalls during practice because they were safer than team uniforms, players often alternated positions in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954)—Member of 1950 championship team Rockford Peaches, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (1943-1954) —Favorite games playing for Racine Belles and Rockford Peaches, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (1943-1954)—Remembers pitcher and catcher would receive extra money if there was a shut-out, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (1943-1954). |
| Content | 00:00:42—Childhood in Whitehall, Wisconsin, maternal and paternal grandparents farmers, oldest of six siblings, father and uncles played baseball in Whitehall and Arcadia, Wisconsin |
00:01:58—No organized sports at high school in Arcadia, Wisconsin, story about being recommended for All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943–1954), city baseball team manager in Whitehall, Wisconsin sent letter to AAGPBL ca. 1948, had never heard of AAGPBL before receiving letter from them |
00:02:40—Story about joining Racine Belles (1943-1950, team in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League) |
00:04:00—Story about male coaches wanting interviewee to try out for men’s high school baseball team in Arcadia, Wisconsin, ca. 1945-1946 |
00:05:30—Tryouts for All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954) at Shewbridge Field, Chicago, Illinois |
00:06:40—Recalls parents encouraging her to join All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), made more money playing in AAGPBL than parents did as farmers |
00:07:11—Feelings about traveling with All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), limited travel experience, parents did not own car |
00:09:45—Housing options for players in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), while in Rockford, Illinois roomed with Jacquelyn “Babe” (Kelley) Savage (1926-1988, AAGPBL player for South Bend Blue Sox, Chicago Colleens, Peoria Redwings, and Rockford Peaches), AAGPBL teams could borrow players from other teams during player illness or injury |
00:12:30—Dress code for All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), women could not wear pants or jeans in public, could not have boyish haircuts, makeup required, could not smoke in public, not allowed in bars, allowed two beers post-game, not allowed to fraternize with other teams after games |
00:16:05—Describes practice routines implemented by Rockford Peaches Manager Bill Allington (1900-1966) ca. 1949-1950 |
00:17:50—Dorothy “Dottie” Green, Rockford Peaches chaperone (1948-1953), chaperone and manager job descriptions, $3.50 daily food allowance in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954) |
00:21:15—Limited travel experience before joining All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), had never stayed in hotel or traveled by train before joining AAGPBL |
00:22:30—Describes fans supporting All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), never heard disparaging remarks about AAGPBL teams ca. 1948-1950 |
00:25:35—1949 exhibition game at Dwight Correctional Center (1930-2013, Dwight, Illinois), felt anxious walking through correctional center after game |
00:27:45—Did not enjoy bus travel while playing for All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), cramped traveling conditions |
00:29:00—Control of players’ leisure time in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), as AAGPBL player watched many war movies in the aftermath of World War Two (1939-1945), players prohibited from swimming or bowling, not allowed to get sunburnt when golfing |
00:30:15—Husband Burton Sauer (1922-2007) built bowling alley in Arcadia, Wisconsin, ca. 1940s, building materials scarce during and after World War Two (1939-1945) |
00:32:00—Married in 1950, children’s births (son in 1956, daughter in 1959) |
00:32:50—Bus trips, singing theme song (Victory Song) for All-American Girls Professional League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), song written by Lavonne “Pepper” (Paire) Davis (1924-2013, AAGPBL player for Minneapolis Millerettes, Fort Wayne Daisies, Racine Belles, Grand Rapids Chicks, 1944-1953) and Nalda “Birdie” (Bird) Phillips (1927-2004, AAGPBL player for South Bend Blue Sox, 1954) |
00:34:00—Frustrated with uniforms, not safe for players to slide, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954) |
00:36:50—Players wore overalls during practice because they were safer than team uniforms, players often alternated positions in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954) |
00:41:27—Member of 1950 championship team Rockford Peaches, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (1943-1954) |
00:44:00—Favorite games playing for Racine Belles and Rockford Peaches, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (1943-1954) |
00:47:28—Remembers pitcher and catcher would receive extra money if there was a shut-out, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (1943-1954) |
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