AAGPBL Interview - Jean Havlish
Jean Havlish was with the AAGPBL during its final seasons - she later went on to a pro bowling career and made their Hall of Fame. She took the time to answer a few of our questions.
1) How did you get interested in playing baseball and where did you play before you turned pro?
I can't remember ever not playing baseball, before organized playground softball for the girls, I played baseball every day with the boys in the neighborhood - we had an opening in a cornfield not far from our neighborhood and we always were playing ball there. Then when I was old enough - about 11 or 12, I was asked to play on the older girls softball team from the Rice & Lawson Playground - from there I eventually heard of the AAGPBL
2) Describe your signing.
After three tryouts with three different teams I spent the most time with the Ft. Wayne Daisies (in 1952). They said I would hear from them in the spring. It was getting pretty late and I thought it was another "bust' - then when I came home from school for lunch there was an Air Mail Special Delivery letter telling me to report for Spring training and the delay was because Kalamazoo (who I had tried out with the previous year but never heard from) tried to claim me as their property. It ended up with Ft. Wayne trading Dottie Schroeder to Kalamazoo for me. Anyway, I went back to school that afternoon as the happiest person on the whole planet. That was 53 years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday.
3) What position(s) did you play? Which teams did you play for?
I played short stop for Ft. Wayne.
4) What was the best thing about playing pro ball?
The very best thing was the level of competition - you were playing with and against the best women baseball players in the world - and for an athlete, competition is what it's all about. The next best thing was that we were getting paid to play a game that we loved.
5) What was the worst thing about playing ball?
Being rained out!
6) What was the highlight of your career?
I only played the last two years of the existence of the League - those two years were my highlight.
7) Who were the best players you played with or faced? Comments?
All of our opponents were "best players" - I only remember a pitcher that was so tough to hit - Jean Faut from South Bend.
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?)
I don't remember fans or press not accepting us - I might be naive, but if there was some resentment, or whatever, to us playing baseball, it didn't matter to me, I was playing baseball and loving it. It seems to me that everyone in the participating cities loved the girls playing baseball too - we played the game well - very well.
9) Who were your favorite big league ballplayers during the era you played in?
Stan Musial.
10) Do you follow big league ball now? If so, how do you think it compares with your day?
I still follow major league baseball but I think the game has changed drastically. It is strictly business now, with the owners AND the players. I think back in our day the players thought more of the game than of their pocketbooks.
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?)
I am a firm believer that women should play in their own league. I don't care how good a woman is, she cannot compete with the men at the same level - this goes for any sport.
12) How do you feel about the Silver Bullets?
At the time that we (Kay McDaniel, Nancy Mudge Cato and myself) were invited to throw out the first balls at their appearance in St. Paul, we were impressed with their abilities, but at that point in time they were playing men's teams with players only of 40 years old or more. It was rather apparent that they could not compete with men of their own age and ability.
13) Briefly describe your life since your pro career ended.
I am fully satisfied with my life - I've had several job changes and I enjoyed another professional sport - bowling. Reached the Bowling Hall of Fame in that sport- so I can only say that God has been good to me.
14) What advice do you have for young women who want to become pro ballplayers?
Strive at what you love, if there's no place to go to be a professional at what you do, then do it as long as you can where you are and then accept whatever happens after that.
15) Any other memories or comments?
With the movie A League of Their Own a whole new adventure has shown up fort those of us who were lucky enough to have played in the AAGPBL. The fan letters have been so rewarding and have brought back to life all of our experiences as professional baseball players. It has been an exciting journey, and it continues!
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