Josephine Kabick

Who was Josephine Kabick?

Josephine Kabick [Jo] was a female pitcher who played from 1944 through 1947 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5 ft 7 in, 142 lb., Kabick batted and threw right-handed. She was born in Detroit, Michigan.

Kabick entered the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in 1944 with the expansion Milwaukee Chicks, playing for them one year before joining the Grand Rapids Chicks, Kenosha Comets and Peoria Redwings. In her rookie season she posted a 26–19 record with 81 strikeouts in 45 pitching appearances, while leading the league in victories and innings of work.

In 1944 the Chicks, managed by Max Carey and supported by Kabick, slugger Merle Keagle, and the speedy Alma Ziegler, finished 30–26 in the first half of the year and dominated the second half to collect the best overall record. They then went on to win the Championship Title, beating Kenosha in seven games.

Although the Chicks captured the AAGPBL championship, they had no local financial backing and could not compete with the American Association Milwaukee Brewers. In fact, the Chicks were forced to play all seven games of the series at Kenosha's Lake Front Stadium because the Brewers were using the Borchert Field in Milwaukee. Due to lack of community support and the vaunted skepticism of journalists, the team moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, prior to the 1945 season.