South Bend Blue Sox and All-American Girls Professional Baseball League recognized at Four Winds Field

By: Hayden Gill

Posted: Aug 2, 2024 1:35 PM EDT

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The South Bend Cubs will be honoring the South Bend Blue Sox and All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) this month at Four Winds Field.

Staff members from The History Museum will be dressing in replica Blue Sox uniforms for the game. Fans will be able to see an original Blue Sox ball cap, jacket, and a signed baseball on display.

Many fans might recognize the team from the popular movie 'A League of Their Own' which was released in 1992, and featured the South Bend Blue Sox while telling the story of the AAGPBL.

"The women who played in the AAGPBL were pioneers in sports--yet played for the love of the game," museum officials said. "They crisscrossed the Midwest making history in ball parks. Before AAGPBL’s final season in 1954, a total of 15 teams had formed."

Teams in the AAGPBL included:

The Rockford Peaches
Kenosha Comets
Racine Belles
Milwaukee Chicks
Minneapolis Millerettes
Grand Rapids Chicks
Fort Wayne Daisies
Muskegon Belles
Muskegon Lassies
Peoria Redwings
Chicago Colleens
Springfield Sallies
Battle Creek Belles
Kalamazoo Lassies

According to records, the South Bend Blue Sox competed all 12 seasons the AAGPBL was active, and in the team’s first season over 39,000 fans came to watch the women play ball.

"The History Museum is the national repository of the AAGPBL and holds uniforms, trophies, baseball gloves, photographs, and other memorabilia in its AAGPBL collection," museum officials said. "A permanent exhibit about the South Bend Blue Sox and AAGPBL is on view at the museum."

The game is set for Thursday, Aug. 22 at Four Wind Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. with gates opening at 6 p.m.