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Women in baseball talk set at Des Plaines History Center

The public is invited to swing by the Des Plaines History Center, 781 Pearson St., to hear a presentation about women in baseball from 3-4 p.m. on Sunday, March 30.

The History Center presents author Barbara Gregorich as its March Coffee Talk speaker in honor of Women's History Month and the beginning of baseball season. A $3 donation is suggested for this event.

Gregorich's talk, "When Women Played Baseball: The Story of Margaret, Nellie, and Rose," describes life in 1934, when three teen girls from Illinois, Indiana and West Virginia played hardball on a bloomer girl baseball team. These three young women - Margaret Gisolo, Nellie Kearns, and Rose Gacioch - came from very different backgrounds and had different reasons for playing baseball.

When the baseball season ended, the women followed different paths. But, according to Gregorich, playing baseball on Maud Nelson's last bloomer girl team profoundly affected their lives and helped determine their careers.

Gregorich's website reveals a little bit about her background. She writes, "When I was growing up, I yearned to be a baseball player or a writer. I had no thought at all of writing about baseball, and certainly not about women in baseball ... but that's how things turned out."

After the talk, guests are invited to stay and view the History Center's new quilt exhibit "Wrapped in Comfort and Community." In addition, the public is invited to share photos of their own homemade and treasured quilts by uploading them to desplainesmemory.org.

For more information, call the History Center at (847) 391-5399.

The Des Plaines History Center gratefully acknowledges operating support from the City of Des Plaines, the Des Plaines Park District, its members, and other contributors.

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