Have you heard of Mary “Bonnie” Baker?
Mary Geraldine “Bonnie” Baker, born on July 10, 1919, in Regina, Saskatchewan, was a pioneering figure in women’s professional baseball. She played as a catcher and utility infielder in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) for nine seasons and became the only female manager in the league’s history in 1950!
Baker’s athletic journey began at 13, playing softball. In 1938, she joined the Army and Navy Bombers, a team sponsored by a department store at which she worked as a clerk. Under manager Arnold “Kappy” Kaplan, the Bombers won the provincial softball championship in 1940.
In 1943 by chewing gum magnate and Chicago Cubs owner Philip K. Wrigley, along with Brooklyn Dodgers owner Branch Rickey, founded the AAGPBL as a way to provide entertainment during World War II and encourage women to stay fit by playing sports. Canadian players like Baker, who made up about one-tenth of the league, were paid salaries ranging from US$45 to US$85 per week and were trained in both sports and etiquette.
Baker’s career in the league was marked by her defensive prowess as a catcher, contributing to 506 career stolen bases and being named the league’s all-star catcher in 1946. Over nine seasons, she played 930 games, hit 44 career doubles, 20 triples and but had only one home run, which was struck in her rookie season.
Eventually, Baker returned to playing softball in her hometown and in 1953, she led the Regina Legion softball team to provincial and Western Canadian titles. Baker continued playing softball for several seasons until breaking her ankle in 1958.
Besides her sports achievements, Baker broke barriers when she was hired as sports director of radio station CKRM, making her Canada’s first female sports broadcaster.
Her vibrant personality and on-field talent inspired the character of Dottie Hinson played by Geena Davis, in the Hollywood movie A League of Their Own (1992), further immortalizing her impact on women’s baseball and sports culture.
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