Photo courtesy Dottie Stolze.

DOTTIE STOLZE
Born 1923
Shortstop

Muskegeon Lassies

Dottie Stolze was playing softball on a women's team in Alameda, California, when former major leaguer Max Carey saw her and signed her to play with his AAGBL team--the Muskegeon Lassies. The season was already in progress; she was put in as the shortstop almost as soon as she arrived. But she distinguished herself in that first game by getting a triple.

Hampered by an elbow injury incurred in a car accident, she started having trouble making the long throws from short, and was moved to second base the next season. For most of her career, she generally played second base, but also served as a utility player for the Lassies, covering every position except pitcher at one time or another.

The Lassies drew over 9,000 visitors to many games in the 1947 season, when they were the league champions. Dottie's best year was 1948, when she batted .242, had 62 runs, and stole 67 bases.

She played seven seasons in the AAGBL, retiring in 1952. She returned to college to get her degree, and went on to teach physical education and coach girls' softball teams for many years.

© 1998, The Exploratorium