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Peterson, Betty Jean, 1933-

BiographyAAGPBL player | "In 1952 Betty Jean Peterson graduated high school and turned 18 years of age when the opportunity came to try out for the AAGPBL. Jean went to spring training and signed a contract with the Rockford Peaches. However, on the first road trip, the manager told Jean she needed more experience and thought it best that she return home, get more playing time, and return for tryouts in 1953. And that's exactly what Jean did. In 1953 she returned and was again contracted by the league. Jean wanted to be a catcher but the Rockford Peaches had the experienced Ruth Richard on their team so Jean went to the Kalamazoo Lassies as a rookie catcher. Early in the season, she was loaned to the Muskegon Belles where she caught for Jo Hasham, a very experienced pitcher. Jean was also called upon to be a pinch runner, first base coach, and a relief catcher in late inning games for Kate Vondereau. Jean remembers, "It was just a tremendous thrill to be able to play in the league. I enjoyed every minute of it. We all loved doing what we were doing! I so enjoyed the girls, even the road trips! It was all a new experience for me, a young farm girl, and it was my first trip to the big city of Chicago!" However, Jean had some bad luck at the end of the 1953 season when she split her fingers catching! In 1954, Jean did not return her contract. She'd taken a new job, started dating her future husband, and had begun a new life in central Illinois."--https://www.aagpbl.org/profiles/betty-jean-peterson-fox/384