“The National Association wants to do something,” Spelius said. “They came up during our All-Star break and made a presentation . . . They said they’d get back to us in a couple weeks, and it’s been four,” Spelius said of the NA.

There are 14 teams in the Midwest League and 16 in the South Atlantic League. Realignment would likely see Lake County, which is near Cleveland, and Lexington, Kentucky, leave the SAL and join the Midwest League. Reportedly, Lake County wants to join the Midwest League, but Lexington prefers Sally League. There is also speculation for three 10-team leagues, but that would take massive movement and is unlikely.

While realignment could come as early as 2009 if it does indeed occur, MWL Guru Joel Dinda (who was recently featured on MiLB.com) notes that it is hardly a new idea and 2010 would be more likely. He also mentions a team other than the Lexington team to exit the SAL in favor of the MWL.

The details are not new; the teams are the Lake County team (suburban Cleveland) and the Columbus, Georgia team (which is moving to Bowling Green, Kentucky). MiLB president Pat O’Conner hopes to have the change in place for next season, but considers 2010 more realistic. We’ll keep our eye on this; similar efforts have already fallen through a couple times, but this time there are bigger hitters involved.

Coming on the heels of the renewed PDC between Fort Wayne and the Padres which saw many bloggers and their readers consider a myriad of alternative parent clubs and affiliation scenarios, this is somewhat exciting. While the San Diego affiliation and Midwest League membership is a certainty for 2009, it would be refreshing to see a couple different teams that we’re not used to seeing.

Methinks I gots an idea (finally happened): Anyone up for Low-A Interleague play?

Over the weekend, I learned of several more. Again, it’s a wonderful tribute to a treasure of a woman. Here are the excerpts and links to the additional coverage:

Baseball pitcher Dottie Collins dies at 84

She pitched underhand, sidearm and overhand; she threw curveballs, fastballs and changeups; and in the summer of 1948, she pitched until she was four months pregnant. She won more than 20 games in each of her first four seasons. She threw 17 shutouts and had a league-leading 293 strikeouts in 1945 for the Fort Wayne Daisies, when the women’s game resembled fast-pitch softball. But Ms. Collins’ greatest contribution to women’s baseball may have come when its ball clubs had long been forgotten [Richard Goldstein; New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle].

Final note sung for ex-Daisy

Despite the reminder, Alvarez said she still raised her hand after the funeral and stood by herself before the mourners, singing the league’s song.

As the tearful Alvarez struggled to continue, she was soon joined by Baumgartner and Harding, and the three finished the song together, singing, “We’re all for one, we’re one for all, We’re All-Americans.”

The performance garnered applause from the mourners, Eckler said, and demonstrated the bond that exists among the members of the All-American Girls Baseball League.

“I think it just epitomized the culmination of the love those women had for each other,” Eckler said. “Dottie would have done the exact same thing.”[Becky Manley; The Journal Gazette].

DOTTIE COLLINS, STAR PITCHER IN WOMEN’S BASEBALL, DIES AT 84

Sadly, after the AAGPBL folded, it was all but forgotten, and the girls lost contact with each other. That is, until their superstar got involved. Because of Dottie’s efforts, the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown created its Women in Baseball exhibit.

Penny Marshall’s movie, A League of Their Own, recounts the history of the league. It’s one of my favorite movies and features some big names. The movie focuses mainly on Dottie and her sister, with Dottie being played by Geena Davis.

Note: This blog post includes a chilling excerpt from the end of A League of Their Own - Nearly brings tears to my eyes every time I see it.[ThirdWaveDave].

Dottie Collins, 84, pro league pitcher, dies

June Peppas, a rookie with the 1948 Daisies, remembered how Collins “kind of played mother” to her and fellow rookies, teaching them how to conduct themselves as professional athletes, and how she provided emotional support for former teammates over the years.

“She had a lot of compassion for everybody,” Peppas said from her home in Florida. “She did a lot of letter-writing to support people who had problems. She was a good shoulder.”

“The movie is second place so far as we are concerned,” she told The Las Vegas Review-Journal in 1992. “Being accepted by Cooperstown was the greatest thing that happened to any of us.” [Los Angeles Times].

Women’s Baseball League Hero Dies, or Me and Title IX

A lot of us grew up in the era before Title IX, which resulted in equal sports programs for girls. I was a tomboy and loved sports. I remember the angst I felt at having no outlet for my athletic energy . . . Dottie Collins, one of the most esteemed members of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (1943-1954), died August 12 at age 84. [The Boomer Chronicles].

Dottie Collins: Pitcher in pro baseball league in ’40s

Dottie Collins, a pitcher with the Fort Wayne Daisies in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in the 1940s, has died at 84. [Chicago Sun Times].

NOTE: The Chicago Sun Times has also picked up my two earlier posts, “Dottie Collins Honorary Golf Outing” and “Dottie Wiltse Collins: 1923-2008″, through syndication.

You know we were asking them to agree with us, but we were throwing out some concerns. We didn’t get some of the bigger names that the Padres have drafted in recent years like Khalil Greene, Cesar Carrillo, Tim Stauffer and Jake Gautreau. Obviously not all of those guys made it, but when our fans read about the Padres drafting a big name they would like an opportunity to see him so if one day they are watching a major league baseball game on television they can say, “I saw him play.” Things like that are always very important to a minor league franchise.

Pierce spent the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons at Metro State after arriving from Arkansas-Little Rock.

He led Metro State to Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) tournament berths in each of his two seasons at the helm. The Roadrunners went 55-54 in two seasons under Pierce, including a 43-34 mark in RMAC play. Pierce and Metro State had an outstanding 2008 season, going 38-19.

Prior to his arrival at Metro State, Pierce spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Arkansas-Little Rock. He was also an assistant coach at Central Arizona College. Pierce earned a bachelor’s degree from New Mexico State in 2001.

Since then, several outlets have reported the news ans many have produced wonderful recaps of her life and career.

A wonderful tribute to a treasure of a woman. Rather than produce my own, I’ve provided excerpts and links to the full coverage.

Collins made sure we’ll never forget legacy:

No one was more willing to do than Collins. No one was more cheerful or accommodating, more patient, more forgiving of those whose awareness of the AAGPBL was informed only by Hollywood, in the guise of the 1992 release “A League of Their Own.”

Dottie became Dottie-From-The-Movie once that hit the screen, even though she wasn’t. But what the hey. If it helped America reclaim a piece of its athletic heritage it had somehow forgotten, you could call her Santa Claus if you wanted to. (Ben Smith - Journal Gazette)

For Love of The Game: ’40s baseball ace was ambassador for girls league:

“She supported so many things in our league,” remembers Isabel Alvarez, who was recruited out of Cuba to pitch in the AAGPBL and had two separate stints with the Daisies. “The organizing she did. If it was for the league, she was right there all the time.”(Ben Smith - Journal Gazette)

Sports pioneer Dottie Collins dead at 84:

“Well into her retirement, Collins continued to promote the AAGPBL, providing interviews, speaking at schools, running a Web site and publishing a newsletter. She also served on the board of the Northeast Indiana Baseball Association and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 1999.

That year Collins was 16th in The News-Sentinel’s rankings of northeast Indiana’s 50 greatest athletes of the 20th century. She was the fourth-highest ranked woman.”(Blake Sebring - The News-Sentinel)

Fmr. FW Daisy passes away:

“In 1981, Dottie helped to organize the first exhibition game for former players which renewed interest in the league. Her determined efforts resulted in the All American Girl’s Professional Baseball League Players Association and the movie “A League of Their Own.” She was instrumental in getting the league recognized by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and had the privilege of opening the first Women in Baseball Display in Cooperstown. “(Wane-TV)

WANE also has a great video segment.

See Also:

• Dottie Wiltse Collins: 1923-2008
• Dottie Collins Honorary Golf Outing

He was slotted in the San Diego Padres’ lineup batting 8th and playing shortstop.

Kazmar went one-for-two and collected his first career hit on the first pitch that he saw from Brewer’s pitcher, CC Sabathia, in the second inning.

“I think everyone I talked to said I should swing at a first-pitch fastball,” said Kazmar, who was 1-for-2. “The nerves were definitely there. It was very exciting … and very overwhelming. I’m glad I got it out of the way in the first at-bat” [source: mlb.com]

He was lifted for Luis Rodriguez in the fifth inning after his second at-bat when he lined out to second base.

Kazmar is the 68th former Fort Wayne Wizards player to make his MLB debut. He’s the third from the 2005 team; he joins Colt Morton and Chase Headley. He is the sixth former Wizard to debut in 2008; behind Luke Carlin, Jared Wells, Eddie Bonine, Leo Rosales, and Nick Hundley.

With the Wizards in  2004, Kazmar appeared in 5 games as a late season addition. He spent the entire 2005 season with the Wizards and appeared in 125 games where he hit .267 with 10 home runs 48 RBI, and seven stolen bases. He drew 44 walks and collected 469 hits in 469 at-bats.

Photo by Chad Gramling, 2005.

Rest in peace Dottie. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

See Also: Dottie Collins Honorary Golf Outing | DOTTIE COLLINS: A Great All-American Pitcher During the Forties

UPDATE: 5:28PM
More Coverage at:

• Journal Gazette (Ben Smith): Dottie Collins dies at 84
• Wane.com: Fmr. FW Daisy passes away

Service is 10:00 a.m. Saturday at D.O. McComb & Sons Lakeside Park Funeral Home, 1140 Lake Ave. Rev. Robert Petty officiating. Calling 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial in Greenlawn Memorial Park. Memorials to All-American Girls Professional Baseball League - Reunion Support Fund or Allen County Alzheimer’s Association.

UPDATE: 9:35PM
More Coverage at:

• WLFI18 - Lafayette: Ex-Daisies pitcher dies at 84

Those numbers aren’t exactly what I would call “Big League Watch List” material, but the Padres are short on infield depth and that might just mean an opportunity for Kazmar.

San Diego promoted the Double-A shortstop (and sometimes second baseman) today.  Luis Rodriguez is expected to start this evening’s contest, but he may see some action during the three-game series with Milwaukee.

Until late last season, Kazmar had been used primarily as a second baseman. 2008 marks the first year since being drafted in the 37th round (1112nd overall) of the 2003 draft that he has played short regularly. He started the season by hitting .just 198 over his first 48 games. Then he hit his stride and hit .314 over the next 63 games, including a .368 average over his last 10 games.

With the Wizards in  2004, Kazmar appeared in 5 games as a late season addition. He spent the entire 2005 season with the Wizards and appeared in 125 games where he hit .267 with 10 home runs 48 RBI, and seven stolen bases. He drew 44 walks and collected 469 hits in 469 at-bats.

UPDATE: The Padres/MLB.com have posted an article with quotes from Kazmar: “Kazmar Gets Unexpected Call“:

“He’s the best guy we have to play shortstop,” Padres manager Bud Black said. “He has shown a little bit of bat in the Minor Leagues. We saw him the last couple of springs, and he swung the bat pretty well. He’s a gritty, gutty-type player.”

Photo by Chad Gramling, 2005.