The Peoria Redwings was a women's professional baseball team who joined the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) in the 1946 season and remained in the league through 1951. The team represented Peoria, Illinois, playing home games at Peoria Stadium.
The Redwings made an unsteady start in their inaugural season, going 33âÂÂ79 to finish last 41 games out of first place in the Western Division. The team improved in 1947 with a 54âÂÂ57 record, good to finish in fifth place in the eightâÂÂteam league.
Their most productive season came in 1948, when they finished 71âÂÂ55 for third place in the division and fourth overall, gaining a playoff spot. In the playoffs, the Redwings were swept by the Racine Belles in three straight games.
Peoria fell to 36âÂÂ43 and last place in 1949, and nextâÂÂtoâÂÂlast in 1950 after ending 44âÂÂ63âÂÂ2. They went 48âÂÂ56âÂÂ2 in 1951, their last season, having finished over .500 once in six years of existence.
Some players of note included pitchers Doris Barr, Dorothy Mueller and Mary Nesbitt; infielders Margaret Callaghan, Betty McKenna and Dorothy Stolze; outfielders Eleanor Callow and Thelma Eisen, and OF/P Mary Reynolds. Eventually, Eisen and Reynolds served as player/managers for the team.