Helen Callaghan

Who was Helen Callaghan?

Helen Callaghan Candaele St. Aubin was a left-handed center fielder who appeared in five seasons in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, playing under the name Helen Callaghan.

As a rookie with the Minneapolis Millerettes Callaghan hit a .287 average in 111 games, for second in the league. She also finished third in total bases, hits, runs and stolen bases, while tying for third in home runs. By then, her older sister, Margaret, was the team's third basewoman.

The Millerettes could not compete attendance-wise with the Minneapolis Millers, so the team moved in 1945, becoming the Fort Wayne Daisies. That year Callaghan had her best season, batting .299 to lead the AAGPBL. She tied for the league lead in homers, led in total bases, was second in steals, first in hits, second in runs and first in doubles. Callaghan was often called the "Ted Williams of women's baseball". The league was not yet giving out Player of the Year or All-Star honors, but it is clear she was a candidate for both. Ft. Wayne finished second and advanced to the championship, but fell four games to one despite a .400 mark from the younger Callaghan.