Center Point School Director, Lynda Whitener (left) with guest speaker Lois Youngen who met with Center Point School students and shared her experiences as one of only 600+ women to ever play professional baseball in the 1950’s.
Lois Youngen when she played for the Daisies in the 1950’s.
The students at Looking Glass Center Point School had a special visitor this week when Dr. Lois Youngen, one of roughly only 600 women to ever play professional baseball, stopped by to share her experiences. Youngen played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1951 until it folded in 1954 as a member of the Fort Wayne Daisies and South Bend Blue Sox teams during her four-year career. She primarily played catcher.
Youngen was speaking to the students during their Sports Through Time class, a sports history class. She shared photos and memorabilia and regaled the students with stories from her unique experience.
“I think this was a fantastic opportunity for our students to learn about not only the importance of baseball in our history but also some of the hardships women went through to play sports,” said Shariff Youngblood, Educational and Behavioral Specialist, teacher for the Sports Through Time class. “Secondly, Lois gave us a real-life perspective on how times were in those days. Sharing her experiences with the team and the rules they had in place captivated our students and made it much more tangible for them.”
Youngen revealed that the character in the movie, A League of Their Own, who was played by Tom Hanks, named “Jimmy Dugan” in the film, was based on a real coach named Jimmy Foxx who coached Youngen during one of her seasons.
Youngen joined the University of Oregon staff in 1960 as a women’s physical education instructor and played a significant role at the University of Oregon during her 36-year tenure. She retired as the Director of Physical Activities and Recreation Services in 1996 teaching just about every physical education course and coached basketball, softball, and tennis at the U of O.
The Fort Wayne Daisies team, including Youngen and also coach Jimmy Foxx (right) who was the basis for Jimmy Dugan, played by Tom Hanks in the movie, A League of Her Own.