Joanne Weaver facts for kids
Joanne "Joltin' Jo" Weaver (December 19, 1935 – March 19, 2000) was an amazing right fielder who played baseball from 1951 to 1954. She was part of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, a special league for women. Joanne was 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighed 142 pounds. She batted and threw with her right hand.
Quick facts for kids Joanne Weaver |
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| All-American Girls Professional Baseball League | |||
| Right field | |||
| Born: December 19, 1935 Metropolis, Illinois |
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| Died: March 19, 2000 (aged 64) Metropolis, Illinois |
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Contents
Meet Joanne Weaver: A Baseball Star!
Joanne Weaver was one of the best hitters in the history of the AAGPBL. She was the youngest of three sisters who played for the Fort Wayne Daisies. Joanne often hit even better than her famous sister, Betty. She won three batting titles in a row and set many all-time records.
Between 1952 and 1954, Joanne and Betty were top players in almost every hitting category. Joanne was chosen for the All-Star Team three times. In 1954, she was named Player of the Year. That year, she hit an amazing .429 average, which was a record for the league. This .429 average was also the highest batting average by any player in professional American baseball in a single season with at least 300 turns at bat.
Joanne's Early Life and Family
Joanne Weaver grew up in Metropolis, Illinois. Her father, Lloyd Weaver, was a minor league pitcher. Her mother was Elsie Weaver. When Joanne was 11, she started playing softball with her sisters, Betty and Jean.
Their dad tried to get them on a local boys' baseball team, but it was tough. Finally, they joined the Magnavox team in Chicago's industrial league. This was a very good fastpitch softball team where they got to play regularly. In 1950, Betty decided to play for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. A year later, Joanne and Jean joined her on the Fort Wayne Daisies team.
Playing in the AAGPBL
Joanne Weaver started playing for the Daisies in 1951 as a third baseman. She hit for a .276 average in 53 games. She had a smooth, quick swing and was fast on the bases. Her fielding was the only area that needed work. Meanwhile, her sister Betty won batting titles in 1950 and 1951. Betty helped Fort Wayne reach the playoffs in those years.
Joanne's playing got much better in her second season. In 1952, she moved to right field. She led all hitters with a .344 average. Her sister Betty hit .331 and won the Player of the Year Award that year. Both sisters were picked for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League All-Star Team. They also helped Fort Wayne get to the playoffs.
In 1953, Joanne greatly improved her fielding. She finished the year with a .952 fielding average. Her hitting was still excellent, and she won another batting title with a .346 average. She was second to Betty in total bases (187) and hits (142). Joanne also ranked third in runs (79), stolen bases (70), and runs batted in (76). Fort Wayne made it to the playoffs again, and Joanne was on the All-Star Team once more.
During the middle of the 1954 season, the AAGPBL changed the size of the ball. It became smaller, like the balls used in major league baseball. The league also made the pitching distance longer and the bases farther apart. These changes seemed to help Joanne. She won the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Player of the Year Award and was on the All-Star Team for the third time in a row. She set new season records with 29 home runs and 254 total bases. She also led the league in hits (143), runs (109), and stolen bases (79). Joanne was one of only two players in league history to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases in one season. She also hit a league-leading .429, which is still the highest professional baseball batting average in the 20th century.
The Fort Wayne Daisies made it to the best-of-five game Championship Series. They had beaten the Grand Rapids Chicks in their playoff series.
The Big Championship Game of 1954
The 1954 AAGPBL Championship Series was exciting! In Game 1, the Kalamazoo Lassies beat the Fort Wayne Daisies 17–9. June Peppas pitched well for the Lassies and even hit a home run. Joanne Weaver hit a home run for the Daisies, but it wasn't enough.
In Game 3, the Daisies won 8–7. Joanne Weaver was a big reason for their win. She hit a double, a triple, and a three-run home run, bringing in four runs.
The Lassies tied the series in Game 4, winning 6–5. This meant the championship would be decided in Game 5!
In the final Game 5, June Peppas pitched a complete game for the Lassies. She also hit well, helping her team win 8–5. This made the Kalamazoo Lassies the champions in the very last game of the AAGPBL's history.
Even though the Foss-Weaver sisters won the last five batting championships and two Player of the Year awards, the Fort Wayne Daisies never won a Championship Title. They made the playoffs for seven seasons in a row but always struggled in the post-season.
After the League: The All-Stars Tour
After the league ended in 1954, Joanne Weaver was one of eleven players chosen by her former manager, Bill Allington. They formed a touring team called the All-Americans. This team played 100 games between 1954 and 1958. They traveled over 10,000 miles, playing against male teams in different towns. Besides Joanne, her sister Betty Foss was also on this special team.
Life After Baseball and Special Recognition
After her baseball career, Joanne Weaver lived in Fort Wayne, Indiana, for over 30 years. In November 1988, the Weaver sisters received a special honor. The Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York, created a permanent display about the entire AAGPBL. This display honored all the women who played in the league.
In 1990, Joanne moved back to her hometown of Metropolis, Illinois, to be with her parents. Her sister Betty returned in 1994, and Jean moved back in 1995. This meant all three Weaver sisters could see each other every day. Sadly, Betty passed away in 1998 at age 68 from a disease called Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease). Joanne also passed away in 2000 at age 64 from the same disease. Eight years later, Jean passed away at age 74.
