Muskegon Belles
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox Minor League Baseball
| name = Muskegon Belles
| firstseason =
| lastseason =
| allyears = 1953
| city = Muskegon, Michigan
| logo =
| uniformlogo = MuskegonBelles_caplogo.png
| past class level =
| league =
| conference =
| division =
| past league = All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
| nickname =
| owner = AAGPBL
| colors = Black, white
{{color box|black}} {{color box|white}}
| pastparks = Marsh Field
| pastmajorleague =
| classchamps =
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}}
The Muskegon Belles were a women's professional baseball team that played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during the 1953 season. The Belles were based in Muskegon, Michigan.{{cite web |url=http://www.aagpbl.org/index.cfm/pages/league/12/league-history |title= All-American Girls Professional Baseball League History}}
History
The Muskegon Belles played in 1953, with their home games played at Marsh Field. This made Muskegon the only city in AAGPBL history to host multiple teams. Previously, the Muskegon Lassies had played there from {{baseball year|1946}} through {{baseball year|1950}}.[http://www.absolutemichigan.com/dig/michigan/michigan-history-sluggers-in-skirts/ AbsoluteMichigan.com]
The new Belles team was also the third edition of a franchise. One of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League's four charter franchises, the original club was founded in Racine, Wisconsin for the 1943 inaugural. Then the Racine Belles, the team moved to Battle Creek, Michigan in 1951, was renamed the Battle Creek Belles and played for two years, before being replaced by the Muskegon Belles.
The 1953 Belles were the worst in the league. The team finished with a 39–70 record and folded after the end of the season, leaving the AAGPBL with just five teams for its final season in 1954.[http://www.aagpbl.org/index.cfm/teams All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Teams]
All-time roster
File:Muskegon Belles.jpg, Betty McKenna, Noella Leduc, Renae Youngberg, Margaret Russo, Nancy Mudge, Betty Jean Peterson, Ruth Middleton. Back row, L-R: [http://www.aagpbl.org/index.cfm/profiles/kimble-kay/780 Kay Kimble] (chaperone), Chris Ballingall, Phyllis Baker, Kathryn Vonderau, Marilyn Jones, Naomi Meier, Barbara Sowers, Jean Cione, Marjorie Pieper, Joe Cooper (manager).]]
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
- Phyllis Baker
- Chris Ballingall
- Mary Carey
- Jean Cione
- Donna Cook
- Miss Dougal
- Josephine Hasham
- Marilyn Jones
- Joyce Lake
- Noella Leduc
- Alta Little
- Betty McKenna
- Mirtha Marrero
- Naomi Meier
- Ruth Middleton
- Nancy Mudge
- Betty Jean Peterson
- Marjorie Pieper
- Margaret Russo
- Barbara Sowers
- Kathryn Vonderau
- Nancy Warren
- Renae Youngberg
Manager
Chaperones
- Patricia Barringer
- [http://www.aagpbl.org/index.cfm/profiles/kimble-kay/780 Kay Kimble]
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
- All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Record Book – W. C. Madden. Publisher: McFarland & Company. Format: Paperback, 294pp. Language: English. {{ISBN|0-7864-3747-2}}
{{All-American Girls Professional Baseball League}}
Category:All-American Girls Professional Baseball League teams
Category:1953 establishments in Michigan
Category:1953 disestablishments in Michigan
Category:Baseball teams established in 1953
Category:Baseball teams disestablished in 1953