Kamenshek, "Dottie" (Dorothy)
Baseball
b. Dec. 21, 1925, Cincinnati, OH
Like many players in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, Kamenshek grew up playing softball. At seventeen, she joined the Rockford, IL, Peaches in 1943, the league's first year. At that time, it was the All-American Girls Softball League and, aside from the fact that stealing was permitted, it used softball rules and the 12-inch diameter ball.
Originally an outfielder, Kamenshek moved to first base early in the season and stayed there for the rest of her nine-year career. Above all, Kamenshek was a hitter. She led the AAGPBL in batting two years in a row, with .316 in 1946 and .306 in 1947. In those seasons, the ball was only 11 inches in diameter.
The league went to a 10-inch ball in 1949, and batting averages immediately went up. Kamenshek hit .334 in 1950 and .345 in 1951, her final season, despite the fact that she had to wear a brace because of a back injury. Her career average was .292, one of the best among players who had started when the AAGPBL used a softball.
Kamenshek was also a fine fielder at first base. Wallie Pipp, the former New York Yankee first baseman, called her the fanciest fielder he had ever seen at the position.
After retiring, Kamenshek entered college and became a physical therapist.