Today in Wheeling History: August 31--Rose Gacioch, All-American girls' professional baseball league star was born in Wheeling (1915).
Rose Gacioch, born on August 31, 1915, in Wheeling, West Virginia, was a pioneering figure in women's professional baseball. Known as "Rosie Gaspipe," she spent her early years playing baseball and other sports at Pulaski Field in South Wheeling. During World War II, while working in a local factory, Rose learned about the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) tryouts and decided to participate. She made the team and became one of the league's standout players, primarily as a right fielder and pitcher for the Rockford Peaches.
Gacioch's career in the AAGPBL spanned 11 seasons, during which she achieved numerous accolades. She was a three-time All-Star and pitched a no-hitter in 1953. Her impressive performance and dedication to the sport made her an inspiration for the character portrayed by Rosie O'Donnell in the 1992 film "A League of Their Own." Rose's contributions to women's baseball were further recognized when she was inducted into the Wheeling Hall of Fame in 2004.
Rose Gacioch passed away on September 9, 2004, but her legacy continues to inspire future generations of female athletes. Her story is a testament to the resilience and determination of women in sports, breaking barriers and paving the way for future opportunities.
To learn more: (https://shorturl.at/nkPqF) (https://shorturl.at/TmptZ) (https://shorturl.at/3hw55) (https://shorturl.at/JL4CB)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Wikimedia Commons, Find a Grave
Rose Gacioch, born on August 31, 1915, in Wheeling, West Virginia, was a pioneering figure in women's professional baseball. Known as "Rosie Gaspipe," she spent her early years playing baseball and other sports at Pulaski Field in South Wheeling. During World War II, while working in a local factory, Rose learned about the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) tryouts and decided to participate. She made the team and became one of the league's standout players, primarily as a right fielder and pitcher for the Rockford Peaches.
Gacioch's career in the AAGPBL spanned 11 seasons, during which she achieved numerous accolades. She was a three-time All-Star and pitched a no-hitter in 1953. Her impressive performance and dedication to the sport made her an inspiration for the character portrayed by Rosie O'Donnell in the 1992 film "A League of Their Own." Rose's contributions to women's baseball were further recognized when she was inducted into the Wheeling Hall of Fame in 2004.
Rose Gacioch passed away on September 9, 2004, but her legacy continues to inspire future generations of female athletes. Her story is a testament to the resilience and determination of women in sports, breaking barriers and paving the way for future opportunities.
To learn more: (https://shorturl.at/nkPqF) (https://shorturl.at/TmptZ) (https://shorturl.at/3hw55) (https://shorturl.at/JL4CB)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Wikimedia Commons, Find a Grave
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