Dottie Wiltse Collins: Strikeout Queen of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League »

As World War II depleted the available manpower available to the major and minor leagues, Chicago Cubs owner Phillip Wrigley came up with a plan to ensure baseball would continue in the war years: the creation of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The inaugural season in 1943 was so successful that two additional teams were added for 1944.

One of the players brought in to fill the rosters of the new teams was Dottie Wiltse, a star softball player from Southern California. Assigned to the newly formed Minneapolis Millerettes, Wiltse went on to become one of the dominant players in the AAGPBL. During her six-year career with the Millerettes and the Fort Wayne Daisies, Dottie Wiltse Collins (married to Harvey Collins in 1946) pitched in 223 games, with a 117-76 record, 1205 strikeouts, and an earned run average of 1.83.

Based on extensive research and interviews with Collins and other principals, this work covers the pitcher's early career as a softball player, her triumphs in professional baseball, and her part in the renewed interest in the women's league in the late 1980s.

SABR member and award winner Carolyn M. Trombe lives in Wynantskill, New York. She is an an associate member of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Players Association.

Della A. Yannuzzi - Children's Literature

Dottie Wiltse Collins was a star softball player from Southern California. She joined the Minneapolis Millerettes in 1944 and played with them and the Fort Wane Daisies for six years. During her career, she pitched 223 games, 1205 strikeouts, and earned a run average of 1.83. Author Trombe has done considerable research on her subject, including interviews with Dottie Collins and those who knew her. Collins grew up with baseball; her father played second base for the semipro National Niteball Baseball League in Inglewood, California. Her father was instrumental in developing his daughter's skill as one of the best pitchers in the softball leagues of Southern California and in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Collins loved to play baseball and did so throughout her school years. Then she joined the Millerettes in 1944. During her fourth season of play, Collins decided to leave the game temporarily when her husband returned from military service. Collins did not stay away from baseball for long. She rejoined the team in Fayetteville, N.C. for an exhibition game. After she retired from baseball, she took up golf and in 1999, was honored as Celebrity of the Year at the Celebrity Golf Tournament. Black-and-white illustrations, as well as a bibliography are included. 2005, McFarland & Company, Ages 10 up.