It appears from an article that appeared in the 4 August 1932 Elizabethville Echo that there was a serious attempt to establish a women’s baseball league in Loyalton, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania in 1932. The article reported on the results of the first game between two teams, the Loyalton Red Ribboners and the Loyalton Blue Ribboners. Each team consisted of 8 to 9 women – and 1 man who served as catcher. The box score as well as a description of the game was also included. No other articles were found describing this league, and thus this noble attempt apparently passed into history with only one game. And, no photographs of this game have been seen, or of the teams in their pajama uniforms. Fortunately, we have this single article, which includes a box score!
____________________________
LOYALTON PAJAMA GIRLS PLAY INTERESTING GAME
Loyalton, Pennsylvania –The Blue and Red Ribbon “Pajama Girls” played a very interesting baseball game on the local diamond last Thursday.
The spectators were very liberal with their applause as the girls in gay colored pajamas put forth every effort to beat their opponents. Both teams were highly congratulated for their splendid work and were encouraged to continue.
The game resulted in a 24-20 win for the Blue Ribbon team.
Prizes donated by R. R. Aboff were awarded to the following: Mrs. Annie Harper, first run; Mrs. Florence Troutman, home run; Annie Bonawitz, three base hit and most stolen bases; Mrs. Sara Miller, first one-base hit and first two-base hit. Pat Warren also donated each member of the winning team a cake of soap which the girls found very useful after the game.
___________________________
A summary of the box score follows:
Players & Positions for the Loyalton Red Ribboners: Myrl Hoover, pitcher & 1st base; Margaret Johns, 2nd base & 1st base; Paul Troutman, catcher; Mary Bonawitz, shortstop; Annie Bonawitz, 1st base & pitcher; Faye Hoover, center field, Dora Lettich, left field; Helen Kissinger; right field; Jennie Romberger, 3rd base; and Melva Sitlinger, right field.
Players & Positions for the Loyalton Blue Ribboners: Pauline Markel, 1st base; Annie Harper, right field; Sara Miller, shortstop & pitcher; Florence Troutman, pitcher & shortstop;Arlene Troutman, 2nd base; Mable Byerly, center field; Pauline Bain, left field; Amy Bechtel, 3rd base; and Fritz Harner, catcher.
Errors were charged as follows: Margaret Johns, 4; Jennie Romberger, 1; Pauline Markel, 1; Florence Troutman, 1; Amy Bechtel, 1; and Fritz Harner, 1.
Score by innings:
Red……………. 0 5 1 0 7 0 3 0 4 —- 20
Blue…………… 5 3 2 5 5 2 1 1 x — 24
Some Hitting Stats:
Home Runs: Paul Troutman; Florence Troutman.
3-base Hit: Annie Bonawitz.
2-base Hits: Jennie Romberger; Florence Troutman, 2; Fritz Harner.
Stolen Bases: Jennie Romberger; Mable Byerly, 2; Arlene Troutman.
_____________________________
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.