Lucella MacLean facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lucella MacLean |
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| All-American Girls Professional Baseball League | |||
| Catcher / First base / Right field | |||
| Born: January 3, 1921 Lloydminster, Alberta, Canada |
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| Died: June 25, 2012 (aged 91) Lloydminster, Alberta, Canada |
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Lucella MacLean (January 3, 1921 – June 25, 2012) was a talented baseball player. She played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) from 1943 to 1944. Lucella was known for being a "utility player," meaning she could play many different positions. She batted and threw with her right hand.
Lucella was born in Lloydminster, Canada. She was one of 68 Canadian girls who played in the AAGPBL. This league lasted for 12 years. She was also one of the first 60 players when the league began.
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Early Life and Baseball Beginnings
Lucella was one of nine children in her family. She finished high school in Lloydminster in 1940. Before joining the AAGPBL, Lucella played for local teams.
She played with the Lloydminster Nationals' senior team. They won a special trophy in Saskatoon several times. In 1941, she joined the Saskatoon Pats. She helped them win another provincial trophy. When Lucella was not playing baseball, she worked as a telephone clerk.
Playing in the AAGPBL
The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League started in the spring of 1943. Lucella MacLean joined the South Bend Blue Sox team. She played for them for two seasons.
Lucella often played as a backup catcher. She also played at first base and in right field. She played in 101 games during her time in the league. She also helped start the very first triple play in AAGPBL history. This is a rare and exciting play in baseball!
After the AAGPBL
In 1945, Lucella returned to Canada. She played as a catcher for the Army and Navy Pats in Edmonton. She then spent seven years playing in another league. This was called the National Girls Baseball League. She played for several teams from 1946 to 1953.
Lucella worked in the United States until 1959. She then moved back to Canada. She got married in 1951 to Jesse Moore. After he passed away in 1957, she married George Ross in 1960.
Honors and Legacy
Lucella MacLean is remembered for her amazing baseball skills. She was honored in several Halls of Fame. These include the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame and the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame. She is also in the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
She is also part of a special exhibit called Women in Baseball. This display is at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. It was opened in 1988 to honor all the players of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. In 2012, a new award was created in her memory. It is called the MacLean-Ross Cup.
