Annastasia Batikis

Annastasia 'Stash' Batikis born in Racine, Wisconsin was a female center fielder professional baseball player for the Racine Belles. She played in the AAGPBL in 1945, a women's professional baseball league which existed from 1943 to 1954.

Biography

"Stash" first got interested in playing baseball as a young girl in third grade while watching men play baseball on the playgrounds. When she got older she joined the Recreation Department League and played softball. She and her high school friends would go out to games where Racine played and watch in awe the women who played so well. At 18 years of age and in her senior year in high school, she tried out at the Historic Horlick Field where the Racine Belles played and made the cut, she was then send to Spring Training in Chicago where she got a contract with the Racines, playing for her home town. At that time only one other women in the league played for her home town.

Batikis played for one season because she left the following year to attend college at La Crosse, Wisconsin. After her career as a professional baseball player ended, Batikis went on to get a teaching position, working in the educational department for 35 years. She did a lot of volunteer work for clubs, churches, ballteams, civic groups to give talks about the League she played in.

Annastasia's brother, Alex S. Batikis, served in the United States Navy from 1943-1946. Little is known about her second brother, John.

Miscellanea

* Ann was still in high school when the league first started.
* Her advice for young women who want to become pro ballplayers: "If you have a dream - work at it. Don't give up. Play hard - listen to your coaches."
* She believed that playing ball gave her the opportunity to travel, meet all kinds of neat people - helped with self confidence.
* Annastasia is an alumna of Northwestern University
* She is of Greek-American origins
*In 2002 Stash was added to Milwaukees Walls of Honor, which salutes Wisconsin's baseball history greats.
* She is in the hall of fame at her old college University of Wisconsin-Madison for being a pioneer for women in professional baseball.
*Inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Washington Park Hall High School in 1987 along with her brother John Batikis who was inducted in 1976.
*Stash's league, Racine Belles, served as the inspiration for the 1992 motion picture A League of Their Own starring Geena Davis, Madonna and Tom Hanks.

Quote

*..."I never dreamed I would make it, but I did. Seeing my name on the list of gals that made the team was my biggest thrill," said Annastasia [http://www.aegeanbooks.com/excerpts/body_excerpts.html#ab]

ee also

*All-American Girls Professional Baseball League

External links

* [http://www.thediamondangle.com/archive/dec02/batikis.html An Interview with Ann Batikis]
* [http://www.star-collector.net/celebpages/annastasiabatikis.htm Annastasia Batikis Autographed League patch]