Helen Walulik facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Helen Walulik |
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| All-American Girls Professional Baseball League | |||
| Outfield / Pitcher / Second base | |||
| Born: May 3, 1929 Plainfield, New Jersey |
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| Died: March 6, 2012 (aged 82) Rochester, Massachusetts |
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Helen Walulik (May 3, 1929 – March 6, 2012) was a talented baseball player. She played as a pitcher, outfielder, and infielder. Helen was part of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She was known for being a very flexible player. Helen played for three different teams over two seasons. She also spent a year playing with development teams.
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Early Life and Love for Sports
Helen Walulik was born in Plainfield, New Jersey. She was one of seven children. Her parents, Michael and Veronica Walulik, were immigrants from Poland.
Helen loved sports from a young age. She went to Plainfield High School. There, she played basketball and softball for three years. Her amazing skills earned her the title of "Best Female Athlete" in her graduating class of 1947.
After high school, Helen continued to play sports. She played basketball and softball for local teams. These included the Plainfield Bobby Sockers and the Perth Amboy Cardinalettes.
Playing in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
Helen Walulik joined the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in 1948. Her teammates called her "Hensky." She started with the Muskegon Lassies. Later that season, she moved to the Fort Wayne Daisies.
Helen helped the Fort Wayne Daisies reach the playoffs in 1948. She pitched well, with a 2–6 record. She also had a good earned run average (ERA) of 3.07. A special moment for her was hitting her only career home run. It was an inside-the-park hit against the Kenosha Comets.
During the off-season, Helen worked to earn money. Her baseball salary was not enough for the whole year.
Developing Her Skills
In 1949, Helen joined the Chicago Colleens. This team helped new players get more experience. It was a chance for her to improve her professional skills.
Helen played her last season in the league in 1950. She joined the Kalamazoo Lassies midway through that year.
Life After Baseball
After her baseball career, Helen continued to play sports. She played basketball for the New York Covergirls in the 1950s.
In 1953, Helen married Edmund J. Kiely. They had three children: Karen, Jill, and Robert. She also worked for 22 years as a quality assurance technician. She retired in 1992. Helen was a grandmother of five. She also volunteered at the Rochester Senior Center in Rochester, Massachusetts.
Honoring Women in Baseball
In 1988, Helen Walulik received a special honor. She became part of "Women in Baseball." This is a permanent display at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. The display celebrates all the women who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.
In 2005, Helen moved from Lebanon Township, New Jersey to Rochester, Massachusetts. She passed away on March 6, 2012, in Rochester, at the age of 82.
Career Highlights
Helen Walulik was a versatile player. She could pitch, play in the outfield, or play second base. When she wasn't playing in the outfield, she often pitched as a spot starter or a long reliever.
Her career statistics show her contributions:
- She played in 67 games.
- She had 20 hits and 1 home run.
- As a pitcher, she won 3 games and pitched 148 innings.
- She had a fielding percentage of .911.
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