Dorothy Mueller
Encyclopedia
Dorothy Mueller [Bajda] (December 25, 1925 - June 2, 1985) was a pitcher
who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
between the and seasons. Listed at 5' 11", 160 lb., Mueller batted and threw right handed. She was nicknamed Dottie, Champ or Sportie by her close friends and teammates.
, Dorothy Mueller entered the AAGPBL in 1947 with the Peoria Redwings
, playing for them until the 1948 season before joining the South Bend Blue Sox
(1950-'52) and Grand Rapids Chicks
. A hard-throwing pitcher for fifth-place Peoria, Mueller turned in a rookie record of 21-13 and made the All-Star team in 1947. She improved to a 21-9 mark in 1948, including a no-hitter
, and posted career numbers in strikeout
s (181) and winning percentage
(.700). The Redwings advanced to the playoffs but were swept in three games by the Racine Belles
.
In 1950, Mueller finished with a 18-9 mark in 27 pitching appearances with the Blue Sox, although South Bend finished fifth and missed the playoffs.
By the time the 1951 season rolled around, Mueller was an established pitcher. She went 10-2 in 13 games, teaming up with Jean Faut
(15-7) to give South Bend a strong one-two punch pitching combination in the league. In addition, Muller divided her playing time between pitching and first base, hitting a .236 average with 18 runs
and 30 RBI
in 75 games. South Bend dispossed of the Fort Wayne Daisies
in the first round of the playoffs, two games to one, and later defeated the Rockford Peaches
in the best-of-five-series to clinch the championship title. Considering that Rockford had won nine straight games, including the first two games in the championship series, South Bend came away a surprise winner to clinch the club's first AAGPBL title in the league, by combining deep pitching with an opportune hitting. Faut won four games in the playoffs, including the final contest against Rockford.
The 1952 championship series was a repeat of the previous year with South Bend again facing Rockford. It was the second league championship for South Bend and the second time Faut pitched the deciding game. Mueller, who pitched sparingly and worked as a backup at first base, was traded to the Grand Rapids Chicks
before the 1953 season.
In 1953, Grand Rapids finished in second place with a 62-44 record and advanced to the playoffs. In the best-of-three series, Mueller pitched a complete game
and helped her team advance the final series by outlasting Rockford, 4–3. In the league's championship playoff, Grand Rapids met the third-place Kalamazoo Lassies
(56-50), surprise winners in three games over the pennant-winning Fort Wayne (66-39). Grand Rapids swept Kalamazoo, by scores of 5–2 and 4–3, to capture the league's title. It was the third consecutive championship title for Mueller.
In a six-season career, Mueller posted a 92-63 record with a 1.80 earned run average
in 86 pitching appearances. Her 92 victories ranks her ninth in the AAGPBL all-time list for most wins by a pitcher.
, which was inaugurated in honor of the entire league rather than individual baseball personalities.
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...
who played 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:...
between the and seasons. Listed at 5' 11", 160 lb., Mueller batted and threw right handed. She was nicknamed Dottie, Champ or Sportie by her close friends and teammates.
Career
A native of Cheviot, OhioCheviot, Ohio
Cheviot is a city located in west central Hamilton County, Ohio. The population was 9,015 at the 2000 census.- History :In 1814 a Scottish immigrant named John Craig purchased a half section of of Green Township from Elias Boudinot. He built an inn and tavern on the Harrison Pike. In 1818 Craig...
, Dorothy Mueller entered the AAGPBL in 1947 with the Peoria Redwings
Peoria Redwings
The Peoria Redwings were a women's professional baseball team who joined the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in the season. The team represented Peoria, Illinois....
, playing for them until the 1948 season before joining the South Bend Blue Sox
South Bend Blue Sox
The South Bend Blue Sox were a women's professional baseball team who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
(1950-'52) and Grand Rapids Chicks
Grand Rapids Chicks
The Grand Rapids Chicks were a women's professional baseball team based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1945 to 1954, winning championships in 1947 and 1953....
. A hard-throwing pitcher for fifth-place Peoria, Mueller turned in a rookie record of 21-13 and made the All-Star team in 1947. She improved to a 21-9 mark in 1948, including a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
, and posted career numbers in strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s (181) and winning percentage
Winning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
(.700). The Redwings advanced to the playoffs but were swept in three games by 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 1950, Mueller finished with a 18-9 mark in 27 pitching appearances with the Blue Sox, although South Bend finished fifth and missed the playoffs.
By the time the 1951 season rolled around, Mueller was an established pitcher. She went 10-2 in 13 games, teaming up with Jean Faut
Jean Faut
Jean Anna Faut [Winsch/Eastman] is a former female starting pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 4", 137 lb., she batted and threw right handed....
(15-7) to give South Bend a strong one-two punch pitching combination in the league. In addition, Muller divided her playing time between pitching and first base, hitting a .236 average with 18 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
and 30 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in 75 games. South Bend dispossed of the Fort Wayne Daisies
Fort Wayne Daisies
The Fort Wayne Daisies were a women's professional baseball team that played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
in the first round of the playoffs, two games to one, and later defeated the Rockford Peaches
Rockford 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....
in the best-of-five-series to clinch the championship title. Considering that Rockford had won nine straight games, including the first two games in the championship series, South Bend came away a surprise winner to clinch the club's first AAGPBL title in the league, by combining deep pitching with an opportune hitting. Faut won four games in the playoffs, including the final contest against Rockford.
The 1952 championship series was a repeat of the previous year with South Bend again facing Rockford. It was the second league championship for South Bend and the second time Faut pitched the deciding game. Mueller, who pitched sparingly and worked as a backup at first base, was traded to the Grand Rapids Chicks
Grand Rapids Chicks
The Grand Rapids Chicks were a women's professional baseball team based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1945 to 1954, winning championships in 1947 and 1953....
before the 1953 season.
In 1953, Grand Rapids finished in second place with a 62-44 record and advanced to the playoffs. In the best-of-three series, Mueller pitched a complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
and helped her team advance the final series by outlasting Rockford, 4–3. In the league's championship playoff, Grand Rapids met the third-place 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...
(56-50), surprise winners in three games over the pennant-winning Fort Wayne (66-39). Grand Rapids swept Kalamazoo, by scores of 5–2 and 4–3, to capture the league's title. It was the third consecutive championship title for Mueller.
In a six-season career, Mueller posted a 92-63 record with a 1.80 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 86 pitching appearances. Her 92 victories ranks her ninth in the AAGPBL all-time list for most wins by a pitcher.
Hall of fame
In Mueller became part of the AAGPBL permanent display at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum at 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 inaugurated in honor of the entire league rather than individual baseball personalities.