Connie Wisniewski facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Connie Wisniewski
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
Pitcher / Outfielder
Born: (1922-02-18)February 18, 1922 Detroit, Michigan
Died: May 4, 1995(1995-05-04) (aged 73) Seminole, Florida
Batted: Left Threw: Right
debut
1944
Last appearance
1952
Teams
Milwaukee Chicks (1944) Grand Rapids Chicks (1945–'49, 1951–'52)
Career highlights and awards
Player of the Year Award (1945) Four-time All-Star Team As pitcher (1946) As outfielder (1948-'49, 1951) Two Championship Teams (1944, 1947) Eight playoff appearances (1944-'49, 1951-'52) All-time single-season record in wins (1946) for innings pitched (1945) All-time postseason record for the most wins (1944) Two-time single season leader in earned run average (1945-'46) Single-season leader in wins (1946) home runs (1948) total bases (1948)

Constance "Connie" Wisniewski (born February 18, 1922 – died May 4, 1995) was an amazing baseball player. She was a starting pitcher and an outfielder. Connie played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) from 1944 to 1952. She was 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighed 147 pounds. Connie batted left-handed and threw right-handed. Many people think she was one of the best players in the league's history.

Connie Wisniewski: A Baseball Star

Connie Wisniewski is often called the best underhand pitcher in the AAGPBL. She was very consistent in her playing. In 1946, she finished all 40 of her games as a pitcher. She was also chosen for the All-Star Team four times.

Pitching Records and Achievements

Connie won about 26 games in each of her first four seasons. She even won more than 30 games in two of those years! Her career record was 107 wins and 48 losses. This made her one of only seven pitchers to win 100 or more games in the AAGPBL. She also holds the league record for the best winning percentage (.690). Plus, she set a record for the most innings pitched in a single season (391).

Switching to Outfield and Batting Prowess

In 1948, Connie changed from pitching to playing in the outfield. She quickly became a top hitter. That year, she led the league in total bases and home runs. She was also second in runs batted in and third in batting average. Overall, she ranks fifth in the AAGPBL for career batting average, hitting .290. Connie was a very sought-after player. She earned $250 a week and even had a chauffeur to games! Most players in the league made much less, between $55 and $125.

Early Life and Baseball Journey

Connie Wisniewski grew up in Detroit, Michigan. She was one of six children. When she was eleven, she started playing softball in her hometown. She went to high school in Detroit and got very good at baseball.

Starting Out in Softball

In the late 1930s, Connie played against the best semi-professional softball players in Detroit. She helped the Hudson Motors team win the city championship. At first, she played as an infielder. But in 1941, she became a pitcher. She quickly learned how to pitch well, using good form and speed. She developed many different pitches. Her pitches were tricky and hard for hitters to guess.

Joining the AAGPBL

By age nineteen, Connie was pitching for the Detroit Keller Girls. This team became famous during World War II. Connie became well-known in softball circles. She had a very fast fastball that she threw with a windmill-like underhand motion. A scout for the AAGPBL saw her pitch and immediately wanted her for the league. She was invited to try out and then joined the Milwaukee Chicks. This was a new team led by former big league player Max Carey.

Connie's AAGPBL Career Highlights

Connie Wisniewski had an amazing career in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She played for the Milwaukee Chicks and the Grand Rapids Chicks.

1944 Season: Championship Win

In 1944, Connie joined the Milwaukee Chicks. This team had many talented players. The Chicks were great at scoring runs and stealing bases. In her first year, Connie had a record of 23 wins and 10 losses. Her earned run average (ERA) was 2.23, which was very good.

The Chicks had the best record in the league (70-45). They went on to win the Championship Title! They beat the Kenosha Comets in the playoffs. Connie was incredible in the championship series. She won 4 games and lost only 1. Her ERA was an amazing 0.40. She pitched five complete games, including two shutouts. Connie set an all-time playoff record with four wins. Even though they won, the Chicks moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan before the 1945 season. This was because they didn't have enough local support in Milwaukee.

1945 Season: The "Polish Rifle" and MVP

First player to win the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Player of the Year Award.

In 1945, Connie became known as the Polish Rifle because of her strong pitching. She was also called the Iron Woman for her toughness on the mound. She had an even better season, helping the new Grand Rapids Chicks reach the playoffs. Connie set league records for innings pitched (391) and ERA (0.81). She led the league with 32 wins and 11 losses in 46 games. Her 32 victories were a new single-season record.

When she wasn't pitching, Connie played and helped with her bat. She hit a .289 average with 70 runs and 66 RBI. For her amazing performance, she was named the AAGPBL Player of the Year.

1946 Season: More Records and All-Star

Connie was honored in 1946 after being named Player of the Year. She continued to shine with a 33-9 record and a 0.96 ERA. She pitched 48 games and was selected for the All-Star Team. She was also named Pitcher of the Year. Connie led the league in complete games (40), winning percentage (.786), and lowest ERA. She broke her own record for wins, sharing the league lead with 33 single-season victories. This record was never broken. The Grand Rapids Chicks finished second. They won their first playoff series but lost the final round.

1947 Season: Adjusting to New Rules

In 1947, the AAGPBL made a new rule: pitchers had to switch from underhand to sidearm pitching. This was hard for underhand pitchers like Connie. She worked hard to adjust and had a 16-14 record with a 2.15 ERA. She also started playing more often in right field. Her manager wanted to use her strong throwing arm and her hitting skills. She hit a .291 average, which was third best in the league. The Chicks won the Championship Title that year! Connie had a 2-1 record in the playoffs and led her team with a .405 batting average.

1948 Season: A Star Outfielder

The AAGPBL changed the pitching rule again in 1948, requiring strictly overhand pitching. Connie thought she might have to leave baseball. But her manager suggested she switch to the outfield full-time. Connie agreed. She pitched only eight games that year, with a 3-4 record.

As an outfielder, she became a top hitter. She hit .289 and led the league with seven home runs. She also had a .385 on-base percentage and a .392 slugging percentage. Connie was second in runs batted in and doubles. She was third in total bases and fourth in hits. She was selected for her second All-Star Team, this time as an outfielder. It was one of the best individual seasons in AAGPBL history.

1949 Season: Continued Success

Four-time All-Star Team as pitcher and outfielder.

Connie continued to be a great hitter in 1949. She hit a strong .278 average. She had 113 hits, 64 runs, and 32 RBI. She was second in hits, runs, and total bases. She was also selected for the All-Star Team again.

Connie wanted to pitch again, so she joined the rival National Girls Baseball League in 1950. This league used underhand pitching. She won 30 games there. But she missed the AAGPBL and returned to the Grand Rapids Chicks for the 1951 season.

1951 Season: Back with the Chicks

In 1951, Connie rejoined the Grand Rapids Chicks and still played very well. She hit a .326 average and had a .401 on-base percentage. She finished third in the batting race. She was also second in hits and triples, and third in total bases. For the fourth and final time in her career, she was named to the All-Star Team.

1952 Season: Retirement

Connie played her last AAGPBL season in 1952. She decided to retire at the end of the year because injuries were affecting her play. She hit .267 and had 35 stolen bases. She made her last playoff appearance with the Chicks.

The AAGPBL stopped playing in 1954. Many people didn't know much about the league until the 1992 film A League of Their Own came out. This movie helped bring attention to the real AAGPBL players.

Life After Baseball

Connie Wisniewski is honored at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. There is a permanent display there dedicated to the entire AAGPBL. Many fans and baseball experts consider Connie one of the best players in the league's 12-year history. She was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 1994. She passed away in her home in Seminole, Florida, in 1995, at the age of 73.

Statistics

Pitching

Batting

Images for kids

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  Connie Wisniewski's baseball card.