Rita Briggs
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| Rita Briggs | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Catcher / Outfielder | |
| Born: March 27, 1929 Ayer, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| Died: September 6, 1994 (aged 65) Kalamazoo, Michigan, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
| debut | |
| 1947 | |
| Last appearance | |
| 1954 | |
| Teams | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Rita Briggs ["Maude"] (March 27, 1929 – September 6, 1994) was an American female baseball catcher who played from 1947 through 1954 for seven different teams in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). Listed at 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m), 120 lb., Briggs batted left-handed and threw right-handed. She was born in Ayer, Massachusetts.[1][2]
An All-Star and member of two champion teams, Briggs was a solid backup catcher during the last years of existence of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Known more for her glove work than her bat, she had a strong throwing arm and worked well with pitchers, which was important in a league that progressively expanded the length of the base paths and pitching distance and decreased the size of the ball until the final year of play. A consistent and durable player, she recorded an all-time mark for most games played by a catcher in a single season. Besides this, she provided versatility being able to play all outfield positions and first base while being a left-hitter.[1]
Early life
Briggs started to play baseball at a very early age. She attended Ayer High School, where she was the full-time catcher for the Ayer baseball team to become the first and only girl ballplayer in the school's history. Briggs was discovered by an AAGPBL scout while she was playing at school and gave her a tryout. Briggs did well, and was given a contract to play in the 1947 season. This time the league opened its spring training in Havana, Cuba.[3][4][5]