AAGPBL Interview - Jo Lenard

Jo Lenard joined the AAGPBL the year after it started and retired the year before the league folded. She is #9 on the career RBI list. Here is our interview with Jo.

1) How did you get interested in playing baseball and where did you play before you turned pro?

I always played with neighborhood boys. I was a tom-boy.

2) Describe your signing.

I lived in Chicago and Phil Wrigley started the interest in our league.

3) What position(s) did you play? Which teams did you play for?

I started as a pitcher and then played left field. Rockford, Kenosha, South Bend and Peoria.

4) What was the best thing about playing pro ball?

Meeting new people, being able to see a lot of different places such as Cuba and Mexico.

5) What was the worst thing about playing ball?

Travel, not much rest between games.

6) What was the highlight of your career?

Stealing bases and hitting triples!

7) Who were the best players you played with or faced? Comments?

There are too many to name, start with Sophie Kurys and Jean Faut.

8) Do you think the fans and press accepted you more as the years wore on? (Describe how it was when you started. Did increased exposure change some minds?)

We were accepted, and the movie "A League of Their Own" brought us to the attention of everyone.

9. Who were your favorite big league ballplayers during the era you played in?

I'm a White Sox and Cardinals fan.

10) Do you follow big league ball now? If so, how do you think it compares with your day?

No, they charge too much. It costs too much for a family to enjoy the sport.

11) Should women have their own pro league, should they play in the majors, or should we have both (a women's league and the chance for the best women players to play in the majors?)

Both, but women should certainly have their own major league.

12) How do you feel about the Silver Bullets?

I was not familiar with them.

13) Briefly describe your life since your pro career ended.

I went into teaching, however, due to an unfortunate accident I am now sight impaired.

14) What advice do you have for young women who want to become pro ballplayers?

Try out at any given opportunity.

Met a lot of nice people, have great memories - would not trade those years for anything. Lots of great fans - both the young and the elderly came to watch us.

Learn More About the AAGPBL!

What do you think of this article?
Leave feedback on our message board.