Guide to the Mary Pratt Collection, 1940-1959, 1982-2010, undated

Authors

Orson Kingsley, Bridgewater State UniversityFollow

Document Type

Finding Aid

Collection Number

MSS-049.01.09

Publication Date

2022

Last Revision Date

10-31-2022

Description

The Mary Pratt Collection is part of the Kathleen Bertrand and Linda Lundin, Honoring Women in Sports Collection. The Mary Pratt Collection is part of the Kathleen Bertrand and Linda Lundin, Honoring Women in Sports Collection. It includes original content by Pratt while she was a player in the All American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) and original content from players and others associated with the league well after the league ended in 1954. The collection also contains some artifacts, including Pratt’s game used glove and cleats from her playing days in the AAGPBL. Beginning with the AAGPBL’s first player reunion in 1982, Pratt collected and preserved league related material, putting it into binders for future generations to have access to in her attempt to keep the memory of the league alive.

Mary Pratt was born in Bridgeport, CT in 1918. Her family relocated to Quincy, MA in 1932. During her high school years she competed in softball, basketball, lacrosse, volleyball, tennis, archery, field hockey, and sailing. She graduated from Sargent College at Boston University in 1940, majoring in physical education.

Pratt played competitive softball for the Boston Olympets during 1939-1940. She joined the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) for its inaugural season in 1943, playing for the Rockford Peaches. Pratt, a lefty pitcher, would play in the league from 1943-1947. Due to league rules to create a more competitive atmosphere, Pratt was moved from the Rockford team to the Kenosha Rockets during the 1944 season. She would return to Rockford for her final two season, 1946-1947.

Mary Pratt’s dedicated purpose was to promote and advocate through sports for the advancement of women into leadership roles in society. She passed away on May 6, 2020 at the age of 101. She was the last living member of the original 1943 Rockford Peaches team of the AAGPBL.

Related Materials

Related collections include: the Massachusetts Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Records (MAHPERD); the New Agenda: Northeast Records; the many baseball and softball related collection in the Kathleen Bertrand and Linda Lundin, Honoring Women in Sports Collection, including the Madeline "Maddy" English Collection, the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Collection, the Joanne “Jo” Winter Collection, the Margaret “Marge” Russo Collection, the Helen Delores Nunamaker Collection, the Edith Dennison Bloomer Girl Collection, the Bertha Levi Collection, and more.