Pekin Lettes
Encyclopedia
The Pekin Lettes is a fast-pitch softball team in Pekin, Illinois
, and is the oldest member-sanctioned Amateur Softball Association
team in the United States.
. They became the Caterpillar Dieselettes in 1933, the Sunnyland Lettes in 1956, and the Pekin Lettes in 1959. In the late 1950's and early 1960's the Lettes average attendance-per-season was over 100,000, with thousands of spectators attending each game. The 1963 season averaged over 5,000 fans per game, setting a national ASA attendance record of 122,000 for 21 home games. In 2005, the Pekin Lettes team was inducted into the ASA Hall of Fame.
Pekin, Illinois
Pekin is a the county seat of Tazewell County in the U.S. state of Illinois. Located on the Illinois River, Pekin is also the largest city of Tazewell County, and a key part of the Peoria metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, its population is 34,094. A small portion of the city limits extends...
, and is the oldest member-sanctioned Amateur Softball Association
Amateur Softball Association
The Amateur Softball Association is a volunteer, non-profit organization based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It was founded in 1933 with a tournament held in Chicago that was organized by Leo Fischer and Michael J. Pauley. The following year the 1934 National Recreation Congress recognized the ASA. ...
team in the United States.
History
The Lettes were started in 1930 and were then called the "Caterpillar Girls" because the team was sponsored by and composed of women from Caterpillar Tractor Company in nearby East PeoriaEast Peoria, Illinois
East Peoria is a city in Tazewell County, Illinois, United States. The population was 23,402 at the 2010 census. East Peoria is part of the Peoria, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area, located across the Illinois River from downtown Peoria. It is home to many Caterpillar Inc. facilities...
. They became the Caterpillar Dieselettes in 1933, the Sunnyland Lettes in 1956, and the Pekin Lettes in 1959. In the late 1950's and early 1960's the Lettes average attendance-per-season was over 100,000, with thousands of spectators attending each game. The 1963 season averaged over 5,000 fans per game, setting a national ASA attendance record of 122,000 for 21 home games. In 2005, the Pekin Lettes team was inducted into the ASA Hall of Fame.
Field
The Lettes play home games at Pekin's Mineral Springs Park. The Pekin Park District renamed "Diamond 1", the historic playing field of the Lettes, "Lettes Field" in 2002.Records
- Illinois State Championships: 1940, 1942-1955, 1957, 1969, 1977-79, 1991
- ASA National Tournament: 1959 (7th place), 1960 (4th place), 1961 (4th place), 1965 (3rd place), 1966 (7th place), 1970 (5th place), 1971 (7th place)
Legends
ASA Women's Fastpitch First Team All-Americans prior to 1990- Gloria Bonelli (1950)
- Marie Wadlow (1950)
- Carolyn (Hart) Thome (1950-1952, 1959)
- Shirley Coney (1950, 1951)
- Sunne Bea Thomas (1960)
- Lorene RamseyLorene RamseyLorene Ramsey, a pioneer in women's sports, is one of the most successful college coaches of all time. In 1968, Ramsey joined the staff of Illinois Central College, a community college in East Peoria, Illinois. There, before the passing of Title IX, she started the women's athletic program...
(1960, 1965) - Ann Mullins (1965, 1970)
- Kelly Waldrup (1986)
- Wendy Smith (1986)
- Leanne Bonifas (1987)
- Linda Wells (1988)
- Margie Wright (1988)