Erma Bergmann

Who is Erma Bergmann?

Erma M. Bergmann [״Bergie״] is a former pitcher and outfielder who played from 1946 through 1951 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5 ft 7 in, 155 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Erma Bergmann was one of three children into the family of Otto and Sophie Bergmann. Her father was a packinghouse butcher, while her mother, a ragtime pianist, wanted her only daughter to take piano lessons. But Erma declined, preferring to play sandlot ball with her two brothers and other neighborhood kids. At fourteen, she began playing at third base in the St. Louis Amateur Softball League since other opportunities at school were limited. After eight years of experience, she was recruited by an AAGPBL scout that followed her for three years before signing a contract to play after graduation.

Since the only organized ball for women in the country was softball, the AAGPBL created a hybrid game which included both softball and baseball. Over the twelve years of history of the league, the rules were gradually modified to more closely resemble baseball.