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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: 1950 marriage led to retirement from All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), argues AAGPBL received less attention after 1945 because of U.S. cultural changes and men returning from World War Two (1939-1954)—Increase in organized school sports for women after 1950s—Player reunions for All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), 1982 reunion in Chicago, Illinois, 1988 induction ceremony at National Baseball Hall of Fame (est. 1936, Cooperstown, New York), 2001 reunion in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, many reunions in Rockford, Illinois ca. 1983-2003—Film “A League of Their Own” (1992) publicized All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), argues league would otherwise be the best kept secret of World War Two (1939-1945), neighbors did not know she played in AAGPBL until “A League of Their Own” premiered—1988 induction ceremony at National Baseball Hall of Fame (est. 1936, Cooperstown, New York)—1949 rule changes increased scoring, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954) —Pitching routine included extensive stretching to protect arm, first week of spring training, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954)—Field conditions at Horlick Field (est. 1907, Racine, Wisconsin), home field for Racine Belles (1943-1950), and Beyer Stadium (est. ca. 1940s, Rockford, Illinois), home field for Rockford Peaches (1943-1954)—Crowd sizes typically ranged from 1,700 to 4,000 for Rockford Peaches (1943-1954), 10,000 people as largest crowd witnessed for All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954) —Lodging not extravagant, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), manager and chaperone roles included supervision and enforcement of AAGPBL rules—Uniqueness of All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954)—Plaque honoring interviewee at concession stand, Memorial Park, Arcadia, Wisconsin—Coaching women’s softball team and high school summer league, umpiring, Arcadia, Wisconsin, ca. 1960s-1970s—Believes women in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954) played for love of the game and not money, compares AAGPBL player motivations with male baseball players in Major League Baseball (MLB, est. 1859), 1994-1995 MLB strike, made $75.00 per week as AAGPBL player (1948-1950) —Remembers making fifty cents per week on family’s farm, admission to movies cost ten cents, popcorn cost five cents ca. 1940s (?). |
| Content | 00:00:27—1950 marriage led to retirement from All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), argues AAGPBL received less attention after 1945 because of U.S. cultural changes and men returning from World War Two (1939-1954) |
00:02:40—Increase in organized school sports for women after 1950s |
00:04:00—Player reunions for All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), 1982 reunion in Chicago, Illinois, 1988 induction ceremony at National Baseball Hall of Fame (est. 1936, Cooperstown, New York), 2001 reunion in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, many reunions in Rockford, Illinois ca. 1983-2003 |
00:08:13—Film “A League of Their Own” (1992) publicized All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), argues league would otherwise be the best kept secret of World War Two (1939-1945), neighbors did not know she played in AAGPBL until “A League of Their Own” premiered |
00:09:30—1988 induction ceremony at National Baseball Hall of Fame (est. 1936, Cooperstown, New York) |
00:10:45—1949 rule changes increased scoring, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954) |
00:13:30—Pitching routine included extensive stretching to protect arm, first week of spring training, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954) |
00:16:45—Field conditions at Horlick Field (est. 1907, Racine, Wisconsin), home field for Racine Belles (1943-1950), and Beyer Stadium (est. ca. 1940s, Rockford, Illinois), home field for Rockford Peaches (1943-1954) |
00:18:15—Crowd sizes typically ranged from 1,700 to 4,000 for Rockford Peaches (1943-1954), 10,000 people as largest crowd witnessed for All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954) |
00:24:15—Lodging not extravagant, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954), manager and chaperone roles included supervision and enforcement of AAGPBL rules |
00:27:55—Uniqueness of All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954) |
00:28:10—Plaque honoring interviewee at concession stand, Memorial Park, Arcadia, Wisconsin |
00:31:10—Coaching women’s softball team and high school summer league, umpiring, Arcadia, Wisconsin, ca. 1960s-1970s |
00:32:40—Believes women in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL, 1943-1954) played for love of the game and not money, compares AAGPBL player motivations with male baseball players in Major League Baseball (MLB, est. 1859), 1994-1995 MLB strike, made $75.00 per week as AAGPBL player (1948-1950) |
00:34:30—Remembers making fifty cents per week on family’s farm, admission to movies cost ten cents, popcorn cost five cents ca. 1940s (?) |
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