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Birth Date of Jackie Mitchell
Jackie Mitchell was born this day. No one knew yet, but she was one of the first women who played in professional baseball. Jackie's real name is Virne Beatrice "Jackie" Mitchell. When she was born Jackie was underweight at three and half pounds, but as soon as she could walk, her father took her to the baseball fields, and thats how she learned the basics of baseball. -
Childhood
She lived next door to a minor league baseball player named Dazzy Vance. When Jackie was six, Dazzy taught her how to pitch. Dazzy later played for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He taught her his favorite pitch, the “drop pitch”. It would come at a nice level for someone to hit, but it would drop right before it hit the homeplate. He believed that Jackie would make an excellent baseball player! -
Baseball Start
When Jackie was 16 years old, she played for an woman's baseball team in Chattanooga, Tennessee. -
Struck Out!!!
There was an exhibition game against the Yankees, and Chattanooga, it has been raining for a couple of days, but finally, they were able to play, at 2:30 P.M. Jackie Mitchell was pitching. When she was playing she struck out Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth. Go Jackie!!! -
Baseball Contract!!!
A few days after the exhibition game with the Yankees, Jackie's contract was voided, by Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who said baseball was "too strenuous," for woman. -
New Team
When Jackie attended a special baseball school, she caught the atttention of Joe Engel, who is the president of Chattanooga Lookouts. He was the one who offered Jackie her baseball contract.On this day, Jackie signed a contract for the Chattanooga Lookouts which is an AA minor leaugue baseball team. -
Coming Home.
In 1935 when Jackie was 23 she returned to Chattanooga to work for her father who was an eye doctor. She lived the rest of her life in the Chattanooga area. -
Jackie's Legacy
On this tragic day Jackie Mitchell died in Fort Oglethorpe. She was 74 years old and to this day is remembered as "The Girl who Struck Out Babe Ruth!" Jackie did not live long enough to see her efforts and hard work in ripping down obstacles for woman, but we will always know who did it. -
Rewarding Efforts!!!
In 1992, the ban for woman to play baseball was lifted. This was the beginning of women to play sports and it was because of one woman, Jackie Mitchell. Her silent courage and natural skill was just the commence for woman in all sports. -
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