|
OUR LOCAL BASEBALL HERO: JOYCE HILL WESTERMAN
Joyce Hill Westerman learned to play baseball while growing up on a farm in Pleasant Prairie. From a young age, she dreamed of playing professional baseball. She had a natural ability, and so she was allowed to play on her aunt's softball team at the age of 12. She was eight years younger than any other player.
After high school, Joyce got a job at Nash Motors in Kenosha and joined their softball team. Her talent was undeniable. Six months later she was approached to be a stand-in for the Kenosha Comets—an All-American Girls Baseball League team. After that weekend, Joyce decided she would try out for the AAGPBL. Out of hundreds of women who tried out for the 1945 season, Joyce was offered a spot. She played in the league for eight seasons.
After her seventh season, Joyce decided to retire from professional baseball. The AAGPBL had begun to have problems, and she wanted to spend more time with her husband, Ray. But Joyce had become one of the most talented players in the league—they weren't going to let her go without a fight. The South Bend Blue Sox offered Joyce $100 a week—nearly double her original salary. When Joyce still refused, they upped their offer to $110. Well, that was an offer she couldn't turn down. That season, Joyce played a key role in helping her team win the League Championship. On that high note, Joyce retired from professional baseball.
Joyce Westerman, Pleasant Prairie's baseball hero, passed away on January 18, 2021 at the age of 95.
| 
