AAGPBL Interview - Evelyn Wawryshyn

Evelyn Wawryshyn was one of the Canadians who played in the AAGPBL. She shared some of her memories with us.

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

Seemed like I always has a ball in my hands. My brother took me along always and if a team was short a player he'd let me play short-fielder (they used 10 players instead of 9). Later when I moved to the city I played with a senior girls softball team called the Canadian Ukrainian Athletic Club.

2) Describe your signing.

It was at one of the Canadian Ukrainian Athletic Club games that an All-American Girls Professional Baseball League scout approached me with an offer. I signed at the Wrigley Building in Chicago in 1946. They paid all expenses there and housing until I had a team - I think it was only an overnight. I stayed in one of Chicago's hotels.

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

I played second base for the Kenosha Comets, Muskegon Lassies, Springfield Sallies, and Ft. Wayne Daisies.

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

The adventure - spring training took us to faraway places like Cuba and Florida. The association of daily baseball playing. Friends made and kept.

5) What was the worst thing about playing ball?

The pressure of continually striving for the best of performances - competition was keen - maybe the fear of not being able to perform.

6) What was the highlight of your career?

The highlight of my career was being chosen on the first All-Star team.

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

All players. The teammates on all the four teams that I was playing on gave me a chance to know so many of the players and as you know they tried to keep the teams even.

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?)

The fans were all enthusiastic and accepting and attendance didn't falter until the men (soldiers) came back from the wars - gas rationing was over - television became popular - and the big leagues started again with many of their bona fide players back.

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

I don't recollect having much contact with big league players. Everyone heard of Ruth, DiMaggio, Musial, Ted Williams, Yogi Berra, Lou Gehrig, Mantle. Some of our managers were former big leaguers. Max Carey, Bill Wamby - two I can recall. I had the good fortune to play for both.

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

No - only the World Series.

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?)

Sure, why not. No, not with the men.

12) How do you feel about the Silver Bullets?

I really don't know enough about the Bullets to comment.

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

I married in 1952. That was my reason for leaving the League. I have two children from the marriage. My husband died due to a bad heart and I married again in 1960. Four children from this marriage. So this has been my career for many years. Worked for the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba in the in the aquatic division until retirement. Now a grandmother to eleven. Great-grandmother to two. So this plus love of occasional golf outings keep me more than busy.

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

Maybe it's a dream now that young girls know it's a possibility. Myself I loved playing ball by myself and the side of a house. I never dreamed when I played ball in the '40s. You played because of the love of the sport. Being asked to play for money was unbelievable. But I'm so glad that destiny made all this happen - right place at the right time?

Always a warm "thank you" to the American fans for accepting ballplayers not only from the US but Canada and Cuba. I thus have formed many American friendships.

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