Barbara Liebrich
Encyclopedia
Barbara E. Liebrich [Bobbie] (September 30, 1922 - July 18, 2006) was an infielder
, manager
and chaperone in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
during the and seasons. She batted and threw right-handed.
The diligent and dedicated Barbara Liebrich gave seven years of good service in the All-American Girls Professional League through different facets. Liebrich did not get much playing time, but she became a manager of one of the traveling teams and also served as a chaperone.
, Liebrich was the second girl of four children into the family of George and Lillian (Leicht) Liebrich. As a child, she grew up in a baseball household as his father was a semi-professional pitcher
for many years, although she began playing softball
with the Hudson Motor Car Company
team after high school graduation in 1940, appearing in national tournaments in Detroit in 1941 and 1943.
and the Kenosha Comets
, but did not get much playing time, batting a .250 average in three games as a replacement at second base.
Liebrich became a chaperone for the expansion Springfield Sallies
in 1948. The team, managed by Carson Bigbee
, finished in last place with a 41-84 record, 35 and a half games behind the Racine Belles
in the Western Division. In 1949, the Sallies joined the Chicago Colleens
as touring player development teams, while Leibrich replaced Bigbee as the team's manager.
From 1951 through 1954 Liebrich worked as a chaperone for the Kalamazoo Lassies
. In 1954, she was selected chaperone for the All-Star team and also was a member of the champion Lassies, managed by Mitch Skupien
, during what turned out to be the league's final season.
, which was unveiled to honor the entire All-American Girls Professional Baseball League rather than individual baseball personalities.
Liebrich was a long time resident of Port Charlotte, Florida
, where she died at the age of 83.
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
, manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
and chaperone in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was a women's professional baseball league founded by Philip K. Wrigley which existed from 1943 to 1954. During the league's history, over 600 women played ball.-History:...
during the and seasons. She batted and threw right-handed.
The diligent and dedicated Barbara Liebrich gave seven years of good service in the All-American Girls Professional League through different facets. Liebrich did not get much playing time, but she became a manager of one of the traveling teams and also served as a chaperone.
Early life
Born in Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, Liebrich was the second girl of four children into the family of George and Lillian (Leicht) Liebrich. As a child, she grew up in a baseball household as his father was a semi-professional pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for many years, although she began playing softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
with the Hudson Motor Car Company
Hudson Motor Car Company
The Hudson Motor Car Company made Hudson and other brand automobiles in Detroit, Michigan, from 1909 to 1954. In 1954, Hudson merged with Nash-Kelvinator Corporation to form American Motors. The Hudson name was continued through the 1957 model year, after which it was dropped.- Company strategy...
team after high school graduation in 1940, appearing in national tournaments in Detroit in 1941 and 1943.
AAGPBL career
A late bloomer, Liebrich did not start playing professionally until she joined the AAGPBL as a rookie 25-year-old in 1948. She spent the year with the Rockford PeachesRockford Peaches
The Rockford Peaches were a team in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League playing out of Rockford, Illinois for the entire existence of the league from 1943 to 1954....
and the Kenosha Comets
Kenosha Comets
Based in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the Kenosha Comets were a women's professional baseball team that played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The team played their home games at Kenosha's Lake Front Stadium, but later moved to Simmons Field.The Kenosha Comets were one...
, but did not get much playing time, batting a .250 average in three games as a replacement at second base.
Liebrich became a chaperone for the expansion Springfield Sallies
Springfield Sallies
The Springfield Sallies were a women's professional baseball team who joined the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in the season. The team represented Springfield, Illinois, and played their games at Lanphier Ball Park....
in 1948. The team, managed by Carson Bigbee
Carson Bigbee
Carson Lee "Skeeter" Bigbee was an American outfielder in Major League Baseball who played his entire career with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was born in Lebanon, Oregon, and attended the University of Oregon....
, finished in last place with a 41-84 record, 35 and a half games behind the Racine Belles
Racine Belles
The Racine Belles were one of the original teams of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League playing from through out of Racine, Wisconsin. The team played its home games at Horlick Field.-History:...
in the Western Division. In 1949, the Sallies joined the Chicago Colleens
Chicago Colleens
The Chicago Colleens were a women's professional baseball team who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The team represented Chicago, Illinois and played their home games at Shewbridge Field....
as touring player development teams, while Leibrich replaced Bigbee as the team's manager.
From 1951 through 1954 Liebrich worked as a chaperone for the Kalamazoo Lassies
Kalamazoo Lassies
The Kalamazoo Lassies were a team who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The team represented Kalamazoo, Michigan. Home games were initially played at Lindstrom Field, but later games were played at the Catholic Athletic Association Field, now the...
. In 1954, she was selected chaperone for the All-Star team and also was a member of the champion Lassies, managed by Mitch Skupien
Mitch Skupien
Mitch Skupien was a manager and executive in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.Very little is known about this man who worked hard for the AAGPBL during the final five years of its existence. Previously, Skupien had managed the Rayson Sporting Goods, a Chicago baseball team, and...
, during what turned out to be the league's final season.
Life after baseball
Following her baseball career, Liebrich became the chief accountant for a large manufacturing firm. Since 1988 she is part of Women in Baseball, a permanent display based at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New YorkCooperstown, New York
Cooperstown is a village in Otsego County, New York, USA. It is located in the Town of Otsego. The population was estimated to be 1,852 at the 2010 census.The Village of Cooperstown is the county seat of Otsego County, New York...
, which was unveiled to honor the entire All-American Girls Professional Baseball League rather than individual baseball personalities.
Liebrich was a long time resident of Port Charlotte, Florida
Port Charlotte, Florida
Port Charlotte is a census-designated place in Charlotte County, Florida, United States. The population was 46,451 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Punta Gorda Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, where she died at the age of 83.