The Face of Women's Professional Baseball, Dorothy Kamenshek, Passes Away at 84

There might be no crying in baseball, but I'm still saddened upon hearing about the passing of former Rockford Peach Dottie Kamenshek at the age of 84.

Kamenshek was the inspiration for Genna Davis's character in the iconic 1992 baseball film A League of Their Own. During her career in the All-American Girls Baseball League, Kamenshek was one of the game's dominant players. She was a part of four championship clubs, won two batting titles, seven all-star appearances and struck out just 81 times in almost 3800 career at bats. Sports Illustrated ranked Kamenshek on their list of the top 100 female athletes of the 20th century.

As far as hobby connections go, Kamenshek appeared in the under-appreciated 1993 Ted Williams Company set. She was also honored with her own action figure in Kenner's 1997 Starting Lineup Cooperstown Collection.