South Bend Blue Sox: 1952 Champions

Baseball Names & Numbers by Thomas Holmes

5 min readApr 25, 2022

I would like to share this artifact with you. Attached is a photo I bought back in summer of 1995. It was my first visit to Cooperstown. It is a photo of the 1952 South Bend Blue Sox Champions. At this time, baseball was still healing from the 1994 labor dispute yet still buzzing around the League of Their Own movie. Merchandise related to the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) was on display in every window enticing shoppers. I truly cannot remember which store I purchased this picture from, but I am glad I did. It has been in storage for 20 years but now its proudly on display inside my house. It has been 70 years since the photo was taken! It is an amazing snapshot of the past. So much has changed since then. Not just in baseball or the business of baseball but think socially and how women are treated, then and now.

Do you think these ballplayers would be disappointed with baseball today, that there is no professional women’s league? Basketball created the Woman’s National Basketball Association- twice! Two women’s ice hockey leagues have existed. Why not a women’s baseball league? It has been done before.

I often wonder, “What ever happened to those people?” It is time to solve that mystery.

Karl Winsh, Manager — Born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on February 10, 1915. Prior to managing the team, Winsh pitched in the Phillies minor league system. He had no time in the big leagues and had a 15–20 record with an ERA of 4.36 in 112 games. In 1947, after his playing years ended, Winsh married phenom pitching star Jean Faut not knowing he would be named manager of her team in 1952. Winsh’s managerial record was 232–187 (55%) during regular season and 11–7 (61%) in the postseason. Winsh died on December 21, 2001.

Lou Arnold, Pitcher — Louise Arnold was born on May 11, 1923, in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The righty pitched for the Blue Sox from 1948 to 1952. She ended her short career with a 23–16 record in 72 games. Her finest season was 1951. In 20 games she pitched 117 innings with an ERA of 2.62 and had an outstanding 10–2 record. Hall of Famer Dave Bancroft scouted her and drafted her into the league. After baseball Lou worked in a factory that manufactured brake pads with other former players. She died on May 27, 2010.

Joyce (Hill) Westerman, 1B — The Kenosha, Wisconsin native was born on December 29, 1925. She was a catcher converted into a first baseman. During an oral history project conducted by Grand Valley State University, Joyce was interviewed. She tells a story about her encounter with Madonna during the filming of A League of their Own. Joyce and other former players were on set as consultants to ensure the historical accuracy of the movie. In 2000, Joyce was inducted into the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame. Three years later, the Milwaukee Brewers honored Joyce by placing her on their Wall of Fame. Writer Bob Kahn wrote a biography about Joyce in 2011, titled Baseball Hero: Joyce Westerman. Joyce died on January 18, 2021.

Wimp Baumgartner, Catcher — (September 13, 1930 — June 2, 2018) Mary “Wimp” Baumgartner was a defensive catcher on the back-to-back Blue Sox championships teams: 1951 and 1952. Her playing years stretched from 1949 to 1954. After the league folded in 1954, Mary became a schoolteacher. She established a physical education program at her school which introduced girls’ and interracial teams. She used sports as a vehicle to drive social changes within her community.

Janet Rumsey, Pitcher — Little information was found on Janet Rumsey. What is known is she played for the Blue Sox during their most dominating years, 1951–1954. She was born on October 16, 1931 and died on May 12, 2008. She retired from the Cumming Engine Company after working 30 years (1955–1985).

Mary (Froning) O’Meara, Outfield — Mary and her twin were born August 26, 1934, in Minster, Ohio. She was the youngest player on the team. In 1951, she began playing professional ball at the age of 16. She wore number 20 then switched it to number 17 for an unknown reason. She was inducted into the Wall of Honor where the Milwaukee Brewers played in 2003. Mary died on November 2, 2014.

Jo Lenard, Outfield — Jo Lenard’s full name is Veronica Josephine Lenard. She was a well-known player that began playing during the league’s infancy in 1944. Her slick fielding in the outfield and speed on the base paths made her an irreplaceable component to the team. Following her baseball years, Jo was a physical education teacher at Tiden High School in Chicago. She died on February 7, 2007.

Jette (Vincent) Mooney, Pitcher — Georgette, or Jette as she was better known, was a right-handed pitcher for the Blue Sox. No information could be found on her other than her birth (July 5, 1928) and her death (December 4, 1980).

Betty Wagoner, Outfield — Elizabeth “Betty” Wagoner was primarily an outfielder with her days in a Blue Sox uniform but occasionally came in provide relief pitching. She was born on July 15, 1930, in Lebanon, Missouri. The lefty wore number six from 1948 to 1954. Betty died on May 6, 2006, at the age of 75.

Sue Kidd, Pitcher — Although her first name was Glenna, she was known as Sue. Sue was born on September 2, 1933, in Choctaw, Arkansas. From 1949 to 1954, Sue Kidd was a major part of the Blue Sox pitching staff. Her pitching performances led to championships in 1951 and 1952. She died on May 4, 2017.

Jean Faut, Pitcher — The only living player in the photo is Jean Faut (as of April 18, 2022). Born on January 17, 1925, Jean was the face of the league and the most dominate pitcher in the league. Opponents’ feared Jean on the pitching mound. She is a three-time 20 game winner, threw two no-hitters, and pitched two of the five league’s perfect games. Jean was a two-time all-star game (1949 & 1950) and two-time league MVP (1951 & 1953). She has been referenced in the league record books with the second-best record in league history with 140 wins and 64 losses and the lowest ERA ever at 1.23. Her career ended in 1953 due to conflicts created by her marriage to manager Karl Winsh and her teammates.

Gertie Dunn, Shortstop — Gertrude Dunn was born in Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania on September 30, 1933. She had instead success with baseball. She was named Rookie of the Year and won the championship in 1952. Like other players after baseball, Dunn became a physical education teacher and coached field hockey. Tragically, Gertie died in a single-engine plane crash a day before she turned 73 in 2004.

Marge Wenzell, Outfield/2B — Marge was born in Detroit on May 21, 1925. She was a good fielder with speed. Early in her eight-year career she was injury prone and did not see consistent playing time which resulted in her changing teams often. She finally settled in with the Blue Sox. She died on July 6, 2014.

https://www.aagpbl.org/teams/south-bend-blue-sox/1952

https://www.aagpbl.org/profiles/karl-winsch-hap/636

https://www.aagpbl.org/profiles/louise-arnold-lou/269

https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/document/29665.

https://www.aagpbl.org/profiles/joyce-hill-westerman/620

https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/document/29695

https://www.aagpbl.org/profiles/mary-baumgartner-wimp/303

https://digitalcollections.library.gvsu.edu/document/29692

https://www.aagpbl.org/profiles/janet-rumsey/144

https://www.aagpbl.org/profiles/mary-froning-o-meara/194

https://www.aagpbl.org/profiles/veronica-josephine-lenard-jo/28

https://www.aagpbl.org/profiles/elizabeth-wagoner-betty/625