Louise Arnold (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Louise Veronica Arnold [Lou] (May 11, 1923 - May 27, 2010) was a female pitcher
who played during four seasons for the South Bend Blue Sox
of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
. Listed at 5' 5", 145 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.
The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was a circuit that began to operate in 1943. Since the only organized ball for women in the United States
was softball
, the league officials created a game which included both fast-pitch
softball and baseball
. Compared to softball, the crucial differences were that nine (not ten) players were used, and runners could lead off, slide and steal bases
. In its twelve years of history the AAGPBL evolved through many stages. These differences varied from the beginning of the league, progressively extending the length of the base paths and pitching distance and decreasing the size of the ball
until the final year of play in 1954. For the first five years the circuit used a fastpitch underhand motion, shifted to sidearm
in 1947, and never really became baseball until overhand pitching began in 1948.
A native of Pawtucket, Rhode Island
, Arnold was the youngest of 13 children into the family of George and Mary Ann (née
McCormick) Arnold, of English
and Irish
ancestry. She was a top all-around athlete in high school, and an AAGPBL scout
signed her thinking that she had athletic abilities, endurance and fitness necessary to play baseball. Arnold attended to a league tryout in 1948. She had no baseball position, but the league was desperate for overhand pitchers, so she seemed like a good pitching prospect.
Arnold entered the league in 1948 with the South Bend Blue Sox, playing for them two years. Out in 1950 for undisclosed reasons, she returned in 1951 to South Bend for two more years. Her most productive season came in 1951, when she posted a 10-2 record for a league-high .833 winning percentage
. She also hurled a no-hitter
, tossed 32 consecutive scoreless
innings, and completed
nine of her twelve starts
. In addition, Arnold was a member of two Blue Sox clubs to win consecutive titles in 1951 and 1952.
Following her baseball career, Arnold lived in South Bend, Indiana
for the rest of her life. She took a job at Bendix Corporation
, where she worked on the brake line for thirty years.
Arnold, who never married, had seven brothers and five sisters, as well many nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews. As the youngest of thirteen children, she selected number 13 for her AAGPBL uniform. After retirement in 1982, she focused much of her time and energy visiting friends and family and traveling to reunions of the AAGPBL Players Association. At the annual reunions, she always joined the chorus of former players voicing Victory Song, the official theme of the AAGPBL co-written by Pepper Paire
and Nalda Bird
, which was popularized in the 1992 film A League of Their Own
. Besides this, Arnold spent countless hours responding to request for autographs and corresponding with young athletes interested in hearing of her days in the AAGPBL. As a devoted fan of University of Notre Dame
women's basketball, her season ticket location, just behind the Irish bench, gave her plenty of opportunities to offer Muffet McGraw
coaching tips and lend words of encouragement to the young girls.
Arnold was inducted into the South Bend Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005. She is also part of the AAGPBL permanent display at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum at Cooperstown, New York
, opened in , which is dedicated to the entire league rather than any individual player. She died in South Bend, sixteen days after her 87th birthday.
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 during four seasons for 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...
of 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:...
. Listed at 5' 5", 145 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.
The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was a circuit that began to operate in 1943. Since the only organized ball for women in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
was 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...
, the league officials created a game which included both fast-pitch
Fastpitch softball
Fast-pitch softball is a form of softball played commonly by women and men, though coed fast-pitch leagues also exist. The International Softball Federation is the international governing body of softball...
softball and baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. Compared to softball, the crucial differences were that nine (not ten) players were used, and runners could lead off, slide and steal bases
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
. In its twelve years of history the AAGPBL evolved through many stages. These differences varied from the beginning of the league, progressively extending the length of the base paths and pitching distance and decreasing the size of the ball
Baseball (object)
A baseball is a ball used primarily in the sport of the same name, baseball. The ball features a rubber or cork center, wrapped in yarn and covered in leather. It is in circumference . The yarn or string used to wrap the baseball can be up to one mile in length...
until the final year of play in 1954. For the first five years the circuit used a fastpitch underhand motion, shifted to sidearm
Sidearm
In baseball, sidearm describes balls thrown along a low, approximately horizontal axis rather than a high, mostly vertical axis ....
in 1947, and never really became baseball until overhand pitching began in 1948.
A native of Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Pawtucket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 71,148 at the 2010 census. It is the fourth largest city in the state.-History:...
, Arnold was the youngest of 13 children into the family of George and Mary Ann (née
Married and maiden names
A married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....
McCormick) Arnold, of English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
and Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
ancestry. She was a top all-around athlete in high school, and an AAGPBL scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
signed her thinking that she had athletic abilities, endurance and fitness necessary to play baseball. Arnold attended to a league tryout in 1948. She had no baseball position, but the league was desperate for overhand pitchers, so she seemed like a good pitching prospect.
Arnold entered the league in 1948 with the South Bend Blue Sox, playing for them two years. Out in 1950 for undisclosed reasons, she returned in 1951 to South Bend for two more years. Her most productive season came in 1951, when she posted a 10-2 record for a league-high .833 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...
. She also hurled 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"...
, tossed 32 consecutive scoreless
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....
innings, and completed
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...
nine of her twelve starts
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
. In addition, Arnold was a member of two Blue Sox clubs to win consecutive titles in 1951 and 1952.
Following her baseball career, Arnold lived in South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
for the rest of her life. She took a job at Bendix Corporation
Bendix Corporation
The Bendix Corporation was an American manufacturing and engineering company which during various times in its 60 year existence made brake systems, aeronautical hydraulics, avionics, aircraft and automobile fuel control systems, radios, televisions and computers, and which licensed its name for...
, where she worked on the brake line for thirty years.
Arnold, who never married, had seven brothers and five sisters, as well many nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews. As the youngest of thirteen children, she selected number 13 for her AAGPBL uniform. After retirement in 1982, she focused much of her time and energy visiting friends and family and traveling to reunions of the AAGPBL Players Association. At the annual reunions, she always joined the chorus of former players voicing Victory Song, the official theme of the AAGPBL co-written by Pepper Paire
Pepper Paire
Lavonne Paire Davis [″Pepper″] is a former catcher and infielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 4", 138 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.-Overview profile:...
and Nalda Bird
Nalda Bird
Nalda Marie Bird [Phillips] was a starting pitcher and outfielder who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during the season. Listed at 5' 1", 115 lb., Bird batted right-handed and threw left-handed. She was affectively nicknamed ״Birdie״...
, which was popularized in 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...
. Besides this, Arnold spent countless hours responding to request for autographs and corresponding with young athletes interested in hearing of her days in the AAGPBL. As a devoted fan of University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
women's basketball, her season ticket location, just behind the Irish bench, gave her plenty of opportunities to offer Muffet McGraw
Muffet McGraw
-External links:...
coaching tips and lend words of encouragement to the young girls.
Arnold was inducted into the South Bend Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005. She is also part of the AAGPBL permanent display at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum at Cooperstown, New York
Cooperstown, 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...
, opened in , which is dedicated to the entire league rather than any individual player. She died in South Bend, sixteen days after her 87th birthday.