Alma Ziegler facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alma Ziegler
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
Second base / Pitcher
Born: (1918-01-09)January 9, 1918 Chicago, Illinois
Died: May 30, 2005(2005-05-30) (aged 87) Los Osos, California
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
1944
Last appearance
1954
Teams
Milwaukee Chicks (1944) Grand Rapids Chicks (1945–'54)
Career highlights and awards
Player of the Year Award (1950) Four-time All-Star Team (1950, 1952–1954) Pitcher of the Year (1950) Three championship teams (1944, 1947, 1953) Eleven playoffs appearances (1944–1954) Single-season leader in fielding percentage (1947-'48) walks received (1948) winning percentage (1950) earned run average (1951) Official team's captain and interim manager

Alma Ziegler (born January 9, 1918 – died May 30, 2005) was a talented baseball player. She played as an infielder (someone who plays in the infield, like at second base) and a pitcher (who throws the ball to the batter). Alma played from 1944 to 1954 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). She was 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighed 125 pounds. She batted and threw with her right hand.

Alma Ziegler was known as one of the best all-around players in the early years of the AAGPBL. She was enthusiastic and knew a lot about baseball. Alma was excellent at second base, where her amazing plays impressed many fans. Later, she also became a top overhand pitcher.

She was part of three championship teams and was chosen for three All-Star teams. She played for 11 years in the league. In one amazing season, she won both the Player of the Year and Pitching Champion awards. Alma was a disciplined hitter and a fast base runner. She stole 387 stolen bases in her career. As a pitcher, she had a great record of 42 wins and 21 losses, with a low 1.32 earned run average (ERA).

Early Life and Baseball Beginnings

Alma Ziegler was born in Chicago, Illinois. When she was very young, she started playing baseball there. In 1933, her family moved to Los Angeles, California. This was because of the Great Depression, a time when many people lost their jobs and money. Her father, Frank, found new work in California. Her mother, Mae, was a housewife. Alma also had an older brother named Frank.

In California, girls were not usually allowed to play sports in school, except for tennis. Alma was disappointed by this. However, there were many girls' athletic clubs in Los Angeles. She joined several softball, basketball, and speedball teams. In the late 1930s, she joined the Goodrich Silvertown, a famous softball team. In 1939, she helped her team win another Southern California Championship.

Playing Career in the AAGPBL

Joining the Milwaukee Chicks

In 1944, the AAGPBL added two new teams: the Milwaukee Chicks and the Minneapolis Millerettes. Alma Ziegler tried out for the league. A scout named Bill Allington helped arrange the tryouts. Alma was one of six girls from Los Angeles who traveled to Peru, Indiana, for the tryout. All six girls passed and got contracts to play in the league. Alma joined the Milwaukee Chicks.

In 1944, Alma played second base for the Milwaukee Chicks. This team was well-balanced and managed by Max Carey. Alma hit .191 in 115 games. She scored 51 runs and had 25 runs batted in (RBI). She was known as a flashy defender who made amazing plays often. The Chicks were a strong team, leading the league in runs scored and stolen bases.

The Chicks had the best overall record that year (70 wins, 45 losses). They went on to win the Championship Title, beating the Kenosha Comets in the playoffs. Even though they won, the Chicks did not have much local financial support. They couldn't compete with the men's baseball team in Milwaukee. They even had to play all their championship games in Kenosha. Because of this lack of support, the Chicks moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, before the 1945 season.

Becoming a Grand Rapids Chick

From 1945 to 1954, Alma Ziegler played for the Grand Rapids Chicks. Her teammates first called her Gabby, but fans in Grand Rapids soon called her Ziggy. Her leadership was clear, and other players found her style inspiring. This led to her being named captain of the team. In 1945, the Chicks finished third but lost in the first round of the playoffs. In 1946, they finished second but lost again in the first round. Grand Rapids fans even held an event called A Night for Ziggy to honor her.

In 1947, the AAGPBL had an exciting spring training trip to Cuba. The league flew 150 young women from eight teams to Havana. They trained and played exhibition games, cheered on by over 75,000 fans. The Chicks, now managed by Johnny Rawlings, finished second. They made it back to the playoffs and won the championship title! Alma was described as the spark plug of the team in their 1947 yearbook.

In 1948, Alma had some of her best career numbers. She played 126 games, scored 61 runs, and had 77 hits. She also led all second basemen in fielding percentage (meaning she made very few errors). She led the league in walks (62). As a pitcher, she had a 9-6 record. Her team won their division, but they lost in the playoff semifinals.

Alma played very well in 1949, winning the fielding title for the second year in a row. The Chicks finished third and made it to the semifinals. Alma's leadership was once again praised by her teammates.

Player of the Year and Pitching Star

Her most successful season was in 1950. That year, she had an amazing pitching record of 19 wins and 7 losses. She had a low 1.38 ERA, leading all pitchers in winning percentage. She even pitched 43 straight shutout innings (meaning no runs were scored against her). She finished second in ERA in the league. The Chicks finished fourth and made the playoffs. For her outstanding play, Alma was named the AAGPBL Player of the Year and was chosen for the All-Star Team.

In 1951, Alma continued her excellent pitching. She finished with a 14-8 record and led the league with a 1.26 ERA. She also hit .191 and had a career-high 35 RBI in 115 games. She even served as the interim manager for the Chicks late in the season. Her team had the second-best overall record and made the playoffs.

For the next two years, Alma dealt with some injuries. In 1952, she played fewer games (85) and earned her second All-Star spot. The Chicks finished fourth and lost in the first round of the playoffs.

Winning Another AAGPBL Title

The Chicks won the AAGPBL title in 1953! Alma, who moved to shortstop, hit .168 in 96 games and made the All-Star Team again. Grand Rapids finished second in the regular season. They faced Rockford in the first round of the playoffs.

In Game 1, Rockford won 9-2. In Game 2, Grand Rapids pitcher Earlene Risinger pitched a 2-0 shutout. Alma Ziegler hit an RBI single to give her team the lead. In Game 3, Grand Rapids won 4-3 and moved on to the Championship Series.

In the final series, Grand Rapids swept the Kalamazoo Lassies, winning both games (5-2 and 4-1). In Game 1, Alma Ziegler helped by hitting a sacrifice fly to drive in a run. This put Grand Rapids ahead 3-2. The Chicks went on to win the game.

Later Career and League's End

Alma and the Chicks returned in 1954 for what would be the league's final season. She raised her batting average to .200. For the fourth time, she was chosen for the All-Star Team at second base. The Chicks finished third and made the playoffs. However, a disagreement happened before their first playoff game. The Fort Wayne team voted not to play, so the Chicks had to forfeit. The Kalamazoo Lassies ended up winning the last AAGPBL Championship Series.

The Milwaukee Chicks and later the Grand Rapids Chicks made the playoffs every year they existed. Alma Ziegler was the only player to be on the team for all eleven years of its history.

Personal Life

After her baseball career, Alma Ziegler returned to California. She worked as a court reporter. Alma never married. She had two nieces and two great-nieces. After retiring, she became a passionate golfer. She was very dedicated to her family and her cats. She also helped elderly people by actively participating in the Meals on Wheels program.

Alma Ziegler lived for a long time in Los Osos, California, where she passed away at the age of 87.

Statistics

Batting

Pitching

Fielding

See Also