Year Inducted – 1994

In 1943 Phil Wrigley of the Chicago Cubs and Branch Rickey of the Brooklyn Dodgers founded the “All-American Girls Baseball League,” playing under the baseball rules and style. The League and Jane’s teams have been recognized and honored by the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. The League played 120 games a year from 1943 until 1954. Jane pitched for the Racine Wisconsin Belles and the Peoria Illinois Redwings. Her pitching ability ranked her among the League leaders. Later she became a relief pitcher and was the League’s best, being nick-named “The Fireman” after the Yankees famous reliever, Johnny Murphey. In 1992 a movie, “A League of Their Own” was released relating to their place in baseball history. Jane was a special guest at the premiere showing. In 1993 a television series was made using women’s baseball as the theme. The League started with 4 teams, having players from all over the United States, Canada and Cuba competing for jobs. The 18 year old Jane won a roster spot at the Wrigley Field Try-Outs with the Racine Wisconsin Belles. She pitched a 1 hit game (an 8th inning scratch single) and had a 2.82 earned run average during the 1944 season. Jane learned the game playing at Harrington Field in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.