Beverly Armstrong [Steuert] (born September 27, 1934) is an American former female pitcher who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She batted and threw right-handed. Sometimes she is credited as Bev Steuert.[1][2]

Beverly Armstrong
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
Pitcher
Born: (1934-09-27) September 27, 1934 (age 89)
Maywood, New Jersey
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Teams

A native of Maywood, New Jersey,[3] Armstrong began to play at age 10 in the backyard with her father, a semi-professional baseball player who taught her how to pitch and knew all about the baseball game. She later developed a strong fastball and a decent curve.[4]

Armstrong entered the league in 1952 with the Rockford Peaches, pitching for them in that season while she was still in high school. She posted a 4–1 record in six starts and three relief appearances. Managed by Bill Allington, the Peaches featured top-notch players as Eleanor Callow, Rose Gacioch, Carol Habben, Alice Pollitt and Ruth Richard. The team advanced to the playoffs, only to lose in the first round to the Fort Wayne Daisies.[5][6]

Unfortunately, in 1953 Armstrong injured an ankle midway through her second season. Due to the AAGPBL folding in 1954, before she had a chance to really play, Armstrong went on to play basketball and softball. She later married and raised three children.[4][7]

In November 1988, the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York dedicated a permanent display to the entire league. She currently lives in Kernersville, North Carolina.[8]

Sources edit

  1. ^ "All-American Girls Professional Baseball League – Beverly Armstrong". Retrieved 2019-03-25.
  2. ^ Encyclopedia of Women and Baseball - Leslie A. Heaphy, Mel Anthony May. Publisher: McFarland & Company, 2006. Format: Paperback, 438pp. Language: English. ISBN 0-7864-2100-2
  3. ^ Heaphy, Leslie A.; and May, Mel Anthony. Encyclopedia of women and baseball, p. 276. McFarland & Company, 2006. ISBN 0-7864-2100-2. Accessed February 10, 2011.
  4. ^ a b "A Life of Baseball - Article by Wayne Thompson". Archived from the original on 2011-07-17.
  5. ^ All-American Girls Professional Baseball League History. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
  6. ^ 1952 Rockford Peaches. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
  7. ^ Encyclopedia of Women and Baseball
  8. ^ The Celebrity Black Book 2010 – Jordan Mcauley. Publisher: Mega Niche Media, 2009. Format: Paperback, 814pp. Language: English. ISBN 1-60487-014-1