Claire Schillace
| Claire Schillace | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| All-American Girls Professional Baseball League | |||
| Center fielder | |||
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Born: March 29, 1921 Melrose Park, Illinois | |||
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Died: January 17, 1999 (aged 76) Bethesda, Maryland | |||
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| Career statistics | |||
| Batting average | .202 | ||
| Home runs | 2 | ||
| Runs batted in | 112 | ||
| Stolen bases | 153 | ||
| Teams | |||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Claire Joan Schillace (March 29, 1921 – January 17, 1999) was a center fielder who played from 1943 through 1946 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 3", 128 lb., she batted right-handed and threw left-handed.
AAGPBL career
A native of Melrose Park, Illinois, Schillace was attending Northern Illinois University and played softball in a Chicago league, being a member of the Illinois state and Chicago city championship teams. She impressed the AAGPBL scouts with her speedy baserunning and fielding skills. After receiving a tryout invitation, she became one of the first four players signed by the league for its inaugural season, joining Ann Harnett, Shirley Jameson and Edythe Perlick.[2]
Schillace spent four years in the league, all with the Racine Belles. She had an outstanding rookie season, hitting a career-high .251 average, being selected to the All-Star Team, and as member of the 1943 Belles Championship Team. During her career, she posted a .202 average and stole 153 bases.[3]
Following her baseball career, Schillace completed her studies and earned a master's degree in education. After being married, she changed her name to Claire Schillace Donahoe. She and her husband had four children, three boys and a girl. For many years she worked as an educator in Maryland.[4]
Milestones
In November 1988, Claire, along with her former teammates and opponents, received their long overdue recognition, when the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York dedicated a permanent display to the All American Girls Professional Baseball League. In 1999, she joined Charlene Wright as the two first inductees in the National Women's Baseball Hall of Fame.[5]
Claire died in Bethesda, Maryland at the age of 76, following complications from a blood clot.
References
- ↑ National Women's Baseball Hall of Fame inductees
- ↑ Northern Indiana Center for History
- ↑ All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Record Book – W. C. Madden. Publisher: McFarland & Company, 2000. Format: Paperback, 294pp. Language: English. ISBN 0-7864-3747-2
- ↑ Encyclopedia of Women and Baseball - Leslie A. Heaphy, Mel Anthony May. Publisher: McFarland & Company, 2006. Format: Paperback, 438 pp. Language: English. ISBN 0-7864-2100-2
- ↑ Women's Baseball – John M. Kovach. Publisher: Arcadia Publishing SC, 2005. Format: Paperback, 128pp. Language: English. ISBN 0-7385-3380-7