Winter Auction 2015 closing February 7
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/8/2015
This rare catcher's chest protector designed for women worn by a local team (Downtown Enco Service hand notated on the straps) dates from the tenure of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (1943-1954) when women’s baseball peaked in popularity. This historic era in baseball occurred during World War II when most able bodied men were called into service. It was during this time that chewing gum mogul and owner of the Chicago Cubs founded the AAGPBL in order to keep baseball in the public’s eye with initial tryouts held at Wrigley Field. The purpose of this unusual looking chest protector is of course given away by the hard shell protectors sewn on front. The Wilson Sporting Goods manufacturing label appears on a leather attachment to the straps and latch used to attach the protector from the rear. Although women had played baseball since the nineteenth century, the AAGPBL was the first women’s professional baseball league. Comes with a Gotta Have It certificate that unconditionally guarantees the authenticity of this item.