| Beverly Armstrong | |
|---|---|
| All-American Girls Professional Baseball League | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: September 27, 1934 Maywood, New Jersey |
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| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| Teams | |
Beverly Armstrong [Steuert] (born September 27, 1934) is a former female pitcher who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She batted and threw right-handed. Sometimes she is credited as Bev Steuert.[1]
A native of Maywood, New Jersey,[2] Armstrong began to play at age 10 in the backyard from her father, a semi-professional baseball player who taught her how to pitch and knew all about the baseball game. She later developed a strong fastball and a decent curve.[3]
While the Korean War raged thousands of miles away, Armstrong and her teammates packed minor league ballparks and lifted war-weary spirits through the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Armstrong found that out firsthand when she and some of her high school teammates organized their own team. The manager of one of the teams they played offered her a spot on the Garfield Flashettes of New Jersey. She accepted and soon learned that he was a scout for the AAGPBL. After that Armstrong attended a try out, which was a success, and was a signed a contract. For her labor, she earned $200 a week with room and board taken care of by the team, because the girls stayed with families during the regular season.[3]
Armstrong entered the league in 1952 with the Rockford Peaches, pitching for them in that season while she was still in high school. She posted a 4-1 record in six starts and three relief appearances. Managed by Bill Allington, the Peaches featured top-notch players as Eleanor Callow, Rose Gacioch, Carol Habben, Alice Pollitt and Ruth Richard. The team advanced to the playoffs, only to lost in the first round to the Fort Wayne Daisies.[4][5]
Unfortunately, in 1953 Armstrong injured an ankle midway through her second season. Due to the AAGPBL folded in 1954, before she had a chance to really play, Armstrong went on to play basketball and softball. She later married and raised three children.[3][6]
In November 1988, Armstrong along with the rest of the AAGPBL received their long overdue recognition when the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York dedicated a permanent display to the entire league rather than any individual player. She currently lives in Kernersville, North Carolina.[7]
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