Jackie Mitchell facts for kids

Virne Beatrice "Jackie" Mitchell Gilbert (born August 29, 1913 – died January 7, 1987) was an amazing baseball player. She was one of the first female pitchers in professional baseball history. When she was just 17 years old, she played for the Chattanooga Lookouts. This was a Class AA minor league baseball team. In a special game, she famously struck out two baseball legends: Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig!

Jackie Mitchell's Early Life

Jackie Mitchell was born on August 29, 1913, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Her parents were Virne Wall Mitchell and Dr. Joseph Mitchell. From a very young age, Jackie loved baseball. Her father took her to the baseball diamond and taught her the basics.

Learning to Pitch from a Pro

Jackie's next-door neighbor was Dazzy Vance. He was a famous major league pitcher. Dazzy Vance taught Jackie how to pitch. He even showed her his special "drop ball" pitch. This was a type of breaking ball that made the baseball drop suddenly. Dazzy Vance later became so famous that he was put into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Joining a Professional Team

When Jackie was 17, she started playing for the Engelettes. This was a women's baseball team in Chattanooga. She also went to a baseball training camp in Atlanta, Georgia. Her talent caught the eye of Joe Engel. He owned the Chattanooga Lookouts team. Joe Engel was known for using fun ways to get people to come to games. This was especially important during the Great Depression.

Engel saw Jackie as a great way to attract crowds. So, on March 25, 1931, he signed her to the Lookouts team. She played her first professional game on April 2. This made her only the second woman to play organized baseball. The first was Lizzie Arlington, who pitched in a minor league game back in 1898.

Facing the New York Yankees

The New York Yankees were scheduled to play the Chattanooga Lookouts in a special game. It was supposed to be on April 1, 1931, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. But rain caused the game to be moved to the next day.

The Big Moment

During the first part of the game, the Lookouts' starting pitcher wasn't doing well. So, the manager, Bert Niehoff, brought in 17-year-old Jackie Mitchell. The next two batters for the Yankees were Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. These were two of the greatest baseball players ever!

Jackie threw her first pitch to Babe Ruth. It was a ball. Then, Ruth swung and missed at the next two pitches. Jackie's fourth pitch to Ruth was called a strike. This meant Babe Ruth was out! The crowd cheered loudly for Jackie.

Striking Out Lou Gehrig

Next up was "the Iron Horse," Lou Gehrig. He was another powerful hitter. Jackie threw three pitches, and Gehrig swung and missed at all of them. He was also out! Jackie Mitchell became famous for striking out two of the greatest baseball players in history.

Jackie Mitchell's Later Career

Just a few days after Jackie struck out Ruth and Gehrig, something disappointing happened. Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who was in charge of baseball, said her contract was not valid. He said that baseball was "too strenuous" for women to play.

Playing with the House of David

Even though she couldn't play in the minor leagues anymore, Jackie kept playing baseball professionally. She joined a team called the House of David. This was a men's team famous for their very long hair and beards. Jackie would sometimes even wear a fake beard for fun when traveling with them!

Retirement and the Ban on Women

Jackie retired from baseball in 1937, when she was 23. She became upset because her baseball playing was being treated like a funny side show. Once, she was even asked to pitch while riding a donkey! She refused to play again, even when the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League started in 1943.

Major League Baseball officially banned women from signing contracts on June 21, 1952. This ban lasted a long time. It wasn't until 1992 that a woman, Carey Schueler, was drafted by the Chicago White Sox for the 1993 season.

In 1982, Jackie Mitchell was invited to throw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Chattanooga Lookouts on their opening day. Jackie Mitchell passed away in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, on January 7, 1987. She was buried in Forest Hills Cemetery in Chattanooga.

Jackie Mitchell's Legacy

Jackie Mitchell's life story has inspired others. A musical about her life, called Unbelievable, was created. It was first performed in March 2017.

On May 27, 2017, the Chattanooga Lookouts honored Jackie Mitchell. They gave away special bobblehead dolls of her to the first 1,000 fans at the stadium.

See also

• Dr. Alta Weiss – pitched for teams starting in 1907
• Mamie Johnson – pitched for the Indianapolis Clowns from 1953 to 1955
• Ila Borders – pitched for the St. Paul Saints starting in 1997
• Eri Yoshida – pitched in the Japanese independent league starting in 2009
• Pitch – a 2016 TV show about a woman playing Major League Baseball
• Women in baseball