Last surviving member of real 'League of Their Own' team dies at 101
The monumental shifts in gender and race equality often had interesting ignitors throughout the years. One of the first shifts in the empowerment of women was the ability for them to work the same jobs that men did. “Homemaking” wasn’t an option for women, it was expected, and no other career path was even considered.
World War II set the stage for a shift in that mentality.
With WWII pulling millions of men from the States to the far corners of the world, the factory jobs they occupied needed to be filled by someone! The solution? Allow women to work in factories and places previously occupied by men!
Rosie the Riveter was the icon that represented this change.
We have all seen the bandana clad, flexing woman that signified an era. This change in the workforce caused more than a career switch for women. One of the other things to change was entertainment.
America’s pastime had nobody to play!
Without any men to play the game, baseball didn’t have anything to show during the war. Philip K. Wrigley, the owner of the Cubs, decided to send out a message to his GM’s and look for a solution. The answer? An All-American Girls Professional Ball League.
Four teams were developed across the country.
The most notable one, the Rockford Peaches, had their own film remake in 1992 called A League of Their Own. This small step was monumental in women in sports! In 1945, the four teams turned into a full-blown league of their own just for women.
On May 6th, Mary Pratt passed away at 101-years-old.
Mary Pratt was a part of this shift in gender equality. She was the last remaining member of the original four teams in the league.
As a pitcher for the Rockford Peaches, she was an icon for the empowerment of women during World War II.
After her time spent in the league, she graduated from Boston University and led a teaching career for over forty years. Never one to forget her roots, however, she was a referee for basketball, softball, hockey, and lacrosse!
After over sixty years, her name is remembered and her impact not forgotten.
The beauty of her story and the others involved is a reminder of those who came before. It is on the shoulders of our ancestors that we stand today!
After her death, the AAGPBL Twitter accounted honored her in a post.
The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League posted in honor of the incredible woman and her time spent in the sport.
We are terribly sad to report that former Rockford Peaches and Kenosha Comets pitcher, Mary Pratt passed away on May 6th. She was 101 years old. Mary was the last known original Peaches player that played on the 1943 team. Her stories, her energy will be missed for a long time.
The beauty of history comes from the people that made it.
People like Mary lived such incredible lives that we can look back on.
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We are terribly sad to report that former Rockford Peaches and Kenosha Comets pitcher, Mary Pratt passed away on May 6th. She was 101 years old. Mary was the last known original Peaches player that played on the 1943 team. Her stories, her energy will be missed for a long time. pic.twitter.com/dKFlbbBzf8
— AAGPBL Official (@AAGPBL) May 8, 2020