| Dorothy Kamenshek | |
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| First base | |
| Born:(1925-12-21)December 21, 1925 Norwood, Ohio, US | |
| Died: May 17, 2010(2010-05-17) (aged 84) Palm Desert, California, US | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Dorothy Kamenshek (December 21, 1925 – May 17, 2010), nicknamed "Dottie" and "Kammie", was an AmericanAll-American Girls Professional Baseball League player.[2] She batted and threw left-handed.
A native ofNorwood, Ohio, Kamenshek played outfield for a localsoftball league, and at the age of 17 she was spotted by a scout from the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. After tryouts atWrigley Field inChicago, she joined theRockford Peaches as anoutfielder when the league began in 1943, but was soon playingfirst base. She and short stopSnooky Harrell formed the league's best double-play combination.
Kamenshek played in the AAGPBL for 10 seasons, and was selected as anAll-Star all seven times the league established such a team. In 1946 she was the league's top batter with anaverage of .316 (a single point ahead ofAudrey Wagner), and won the distinction again in 1947 with an average of .306. Shestruck out only 81 times in 3,736at-bat appearances.
Considered one of the bestathletes of her time,southpaw Kamenshek was recruited by a men's team fromFort Lauderdale, Florida. She believed the team only wanted her forpublicity and turned down the offer. FormerNew York YankeeWally Pipp said she was the most accomplished player he had ever seen among men or women.[citation needed]
In the off‑seasons, Kamenshek studiedphysical education andhealth education at theUniversity of Cincinnati. In 1951, back injuries reduced her playing time, and after the 1952 season she retired from the game with a career average of .292.
In 1958, Kamenshek received adegree inphysical therapy fromMarquette University inMilwaukee. She returned to Ohio to serve as a physical therapist inHamilton County and later moved to Los Angeles to perform the same work at the Los Angeles Crippled Children's Services Department. In 1964, she was promoted to supervisor of physical andoccupational therapy for Los Angeles County Children's Services, and later to chief of therapy services, the position she held when she retired in 1980.
After her retirement, Kamenshek was honored byLos Angeles County with the Outstanding Management Award (1980). She is part of the AAGPBL permanent display, opened in 1988 at theBaseball Hall of Fame and Museum atCooperstown, New York.
The 1992 filmA League of Their Own introduced a new generation to the history of women's baseball.Geena Davis played Dottie Hinson, the best ballplayer in the league, a character loosely based on Kamenshek.[3]
In 1999,Sports Illustrated for Women selected Kamenshek as the 100th-greatest female athlete of the 20th century.[4]
She was inducted into the National Women's Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013.[5]
Kamenshek died on May 17, 2010, at the age of 84. She was buried atForest Lawn Cemetery inCathedral City, California. Her spouse and fellow Hall of Fame member,Margaret Wenzell, was buried next to her in 2014.[6]
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