A League of Our Own: The Downers Grove Chryslerettes
Downers Grove Magazine and local area partners search for information
By Maureen Callahan
Downers Grove has accomplished an objective for which many have long been striving: the local girls’ team, the Borman Chryslerettes (alias Downers Grove Chicks), is now affiliated with the Greater Chicago League of Illinois,” a local paper boasted sometime around 1950.
Apparently, it was a step up from its membership in the West Suburban Girls Baseball League, in which the Downers Grove Chryslerettes had previously played.
The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) began during World War II, primarily because men’s sports were put on hold at that time. Their moment was brief (1943-1954), but their impact was significant. The all-girl baseball league is considered the forerunner of American women’s professional sports.
The local teams seemed to follow in the footsteps, but a rung or two below that level – where the Downers Grove Chryslerettes played. Unfortunately, the league struggled to survive due to a lack of funding – along with the fact that by the mid-50s, the boys were home again and back running the bases. The AAGPBL was no longer needed and therefore stepped into the pages of history, but not obscurity.
Unfortunately, the local teams were not far behind.
Published information about the Downers Grove Chryslerettes is not easy to find, but there are a few mentions here and there in local newspapers. What we do know for sure is the Downers Grove Chryslerettes’ team sponsor was Harry Borman, and not everybody on the roster lived in town. An article in Berwyn Life claimed that in addition to those native to Downers Grove, our local team players’ home addresses included Naperville, Lisle, Belmont, Hinsdale, Western Springs, and LaGrange. Most of the teams were named after car dealerships, similar to the nomenclature of today’s Little League teams, for advertising purposes.
We also know that the Chryslerettes played 12-inch overhand fast-pitching baseball. They held tryouts and practiced at Gilbert Park and Lincoln School (Lincoln Center) in inclement weather, and ‘positions [were] awarded solely on ability.’
A few other teams in the league mentioned in the news of the day were Cicero, Brookfield, and Austin. Forest Park appears to have had multiple teams simultaneously and several heavy hitters among them.
The same Berwyn Life article (mentioned above) informed readers that a ‘new setup provided excellent opportunities’ for girl players to qualify for big leagues eventually. Another source noted that teams from Milwaukee, Waukegan, Racine, Kenosha, South Bend, and Indianapolis sometimes played games locally as special attractions for fans.
A reflection of the times, one article from an uncertain source claimed the training staff included ‘experienced men.’ Another reassured readers that according to league rules, all girls were accompanied by a team mother to and from all out-of-town games.
One thing is for sure. Although very little information is out there, the Downers Grove Chryslerettes carved its space in the sporting landscape. And we want to know more.
Downers Grove Magazine wishes to acknowledge the Downers Grove Park District and Downers Grove Museum Curator, Nina Fuscato, as well as Dr. Bruce Allardice, Baseball Historian, for their research efforts.
Do you have information on the Downers Grove Chryslerettes?
If any reader near or far has any information on the Downers Grove Chryslerettes, or knows someone who played on the
team, please email Downers Grove Magazine Editor Anne Healy at [email protected].
We are interested in featuring a larger piece on the history of this team.
