AAGPBL Interview - Lorraine Fisher

Lorraine Fisher played both the outfield and pitched. 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 always played softball with a team in Detroit that included Connie Wisnewski, Jo Kabick and a good shortstop. I can't remember her name but she went to Chicago to play semi-professional softball.

2) Describe your signing.

The first year I entered we trained in Cuba. I was offered the minimum salary of $65 (a week) but bargained my way up to $75. When I left I was $95. And on the road they gave us $5 a day for meal money. We would play poker for a while and then hit the sack. We only ate breakfast because we slept and then ate after the game

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

I played centerfield under Max Carey. I think he was a manager in the big leagues [editor's note: Carey was 146-161 as manager of Brooklyn in 1932&1933]. Anyway, I always had and still have kind of skinny legs. They gave me big leg socks and my garters were so tight it cut my blood off! The next year I was traded to Grand Rapids and played under Johnny Rawlings. Johhny liked me in Cuba, he liked the way I ran after the ball. In '48-49 I played part-time center and part-time pitcher. I wasn't real good as I walked a lot of batters. I was the third pitcher and even walking so many batters I ended winning more than I lost.

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

1. The Championship 2. The Money

5) What was the worst thing about playing ball?

The overnight ride from Grand Rapids to Peoria - 12 hours.

6) What was the highlight of your career?

When I was traded to Grand Rapids and played both positions.

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

Connie Wisnewski, Doris Satterfield and Cookie Doyle.

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?)

Yes, yes.

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

Charlie Gehringer and Max Carey.

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

Baseball today isn't as exciting as yesteryear. The ball players today don't show any emotion. It seems it's more like a job.

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?)

Women should play in the Major Leagues and at least get paid a little.

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