| Kenosha Comets | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||
| Minor league affiliations | |||||
| League | All-American Girls Professional Baseball League | ||||
| Team data | |||||
| Name | Shamrocks[1] | ||||
| Colors | Green, white | ||||
| Ballpark | Lake Front Stadium (1943–1947) Simmons Field (1948–1951) | ||||
Owner/ Operator | AAGPBL | ||||
TheKenosha Comets were a women's professional baseball team based inKenosha, Wisconsin that played from1943 through1951 in theAll-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). The team played their home games atKenosha's Lake Front Stadium, but later moved toSimmons Field.
The Kenosha Comets were one of the first four teams in the AAGPBL. Unofficially nicknamed the "Shamrocks" by out of town newspapers owing to their green uniforms, a contest to name the team was won by Mrs. Hazel Templeton who chose The Comets which the team officially adopted on June 4.[2][1] In 1943, the Comets posted the third-best record of the league at 56–52, but had won the second-half title (33–21) and earned a ticket to the playoffs; they were swept in three games by theRacine Belles.
Kenosha again placed third in 1944 (62–54) and made the playoffs, thanks to a first-half title (36–23). The Comets took a 3–2 lead over theMilwaukee Chicks in the best-of-seven series, but lost the decisive Game 7. Kenosha faded after that, placing last in 1945 (41–69), seventh of eight teams in 1946 (42–70), and last in 1947 (43–69).
The Comets rebounded in 1948, placing fifth (61–64) in the five–team Western Division and advancing to the playoffs, but were defeated by Racine in the first round, three games to zero. In 1949, Kenosha finished fourth (58–55) in the eight–team league, and lost to theMuskegon Lassies in two games during the first round of post–season action.
Their most productive season came in 1950, when they finished second with a 64–46 record, three games behind Racine, only to lose for the fifth straight appearance in the first round, this time to theRockford Peaches in four games.
In 1951, Kenosha placed sixth (36–71) in the eight-team league, out of contention. The team folded at the end of the season.
In its nine years of history, the Kenosha Comets had in their rosters notable players aspitcherHelen Nicol and sluggerAudrey Wagner, as well asLois Florreich,Katie Horstman,Elizabeth Mahon,Dorothy Schroeder, andFern Shollenberger.
| *Josh Billings | 1943 1944 |
| *Marty McManus | 1944 |
| *Eddie Stumpf | 1945 |
| *Press Cruthers | 1946 |
| *Ralph Shinners | 1947 |
| *Chet Grant | 1948 |
| *Johnny Gottselig | 1949 1950 1951 |
| *Ernestine Petras | 1950 |
