Dottie Wiltse Collins
Encyclopedia
Dorothy Wiltse Collins [Dottie] (September 23, 1923–August 12, 2008) was an American
pitcher
in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
, which was in existence from 1943–54.
Wiltse Collins, who pitched for the Fort Wayne Daisies
, first played in the AAGPBL in 1944, winning
20 games that year for the Minneapolis Millerettes
. In 1945, she posted a record of 29-10 while leading all pitchers with 293 strikeout
s and a earned run average
of 0.83. In 1945 she hurled two no-hitter
s, both within a 17-day period, and collected 17 shutout
s.
In the summer of 1948, she pitched until she was four months pregnant. She did not play in 1949 to rear her first child, and retired at just 27 years old after playing her final season in 1950 so she could raise a family.
In a six-year career, Wiltse Collins posted a 117-76 record with 1205 strikeouts and a 1.83 ERA. She died of a stroke
in Fort Wayne, Indiana
, at the age of 84.
Collins' story partially inspired the 1992 film A League of Their Own
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
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:...
, which was in existence from 1943–54.
Wiltse Collins, who pitched for 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...
, first played in the AAGPBL in 1944, winning
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
20 games that year for the Minneapolis Millerettes
Minneapolis Millerettes
The Minneapolis Millerettes were an expansion All-American Girls Professional Baseball League team that played for one season in 1944. They played their home games in Nicollet Park, home of the men's minor league team the Minneapolis Millers...
. In 1945, she posted a record of 29-10 while leading all pitchers with 293 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 and a 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...
of 0.83. In 1945 she hurled two 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"...
s, both within a 17-day period, and collected 17 shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s.
In the summer of 1948, she pitched until she was four months pregnant. She did not play in 1949 to rear her first child, and retired at just 27 years old after playing her final season in 1950 so she could raise a family.
In a six-year career, Wiltse Collins posted a 117-76 record with 1205 strikeouts and a 1.83 ERA. She died of a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
, at the age of 84.
Collins' story partially inspired the 1992 film A League of Their Own
A League of Their Own
A League of Their Own is a 1992 American comedy-drama film that tells a fictionalized account of the real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League . Directed by Penny Marshall, the film stars Geena Davis, Lori Petty, Tom Hanks, Madonna, and Rosie O'Donnell...
.