Memorial Park-Fort Wayne Daises
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
Images
Fort Wayne Daises Logo
Picture of current ballpark
Fort Wayne Daisies Program
(Courtesy of The History Museum, South Bend)
(Courtesy of The History Museum, South Bend)
(Courtesy of The History Museum, South Bend)
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
Memorial Park is a 42-acre area that was dedicated to the service men and women that lost their lives in World War I. Formerly known as the “golfing grounds,” Ms. Minnie Hill White purchased the land just eighteen days after the armistice ending the First World War was signed. The park today houses events for the entire community and the baseball field once housed the home of the Fort Wayne Daisies, an All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Today, the park is known for its commemorative statues of WWI, including the one honoring Art Smith, a Fort Wayne resident and aviation pioneer, known for the origination of skywriting.
The Fort Wayne Daisies
formed in 1945 after the dissolving of the Minneapolis Millerettes in
1944. The team was in existence until the AAGPBL's disbanding after the 1954
season. The Daisies, along with other teams in the AAGPBL were formed by
Phillip K Wrigley of Wrigley Chewing Gum fame during World War II. This was to
keep the American people's spirit of baseball alive with so many men overseas
fighting in the war.
The team had a strong first season in 1945, where they played at North Side High
School Field, finishing second in the league. In 1946, they moved to
Memorial Park for the remainder of their playing days. In 1952, after a few
lackluster seasons, they received the AAGPBL pendent and did for the remainder
of the League’s existence (winning in 1952, 1953, & 1954). This was in
large part credited to the sister duo Betty Foss and Joanne Weaver who were the
star players of those seasons.
The Fort Wayne Daisies acquired many awards during their tenure. Foss and
Weaver won two player of the year awards as well as the final five batting championships
of the league. The team also earned six batting crowns, which set a league
record. Unfortunately, the team was not able to win a championship title.