Shirley Crites


Shirley L. Crites was an infielder who played in the All-American Girls [Professional Baseball League] during the season. Crites batted and threw right-handed. She was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
"Squirrely", as her teammates nicknamed her, played briefly for the 1953 [All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season#Standings|1953 pennant-winning] Fort Wayne Daisies. She hit a.129 average (baseball)|average] in 47 games, appearing mainly at third base as a backup to incumbent Catherine Horstman, which gave manager Bill Allington the chance to use Horstman more as a pitcher.
Fort Wayne clinched the title with a 66–39 record, 4½ games ahead of the Grand [Rapids Chicks], but lost to the Kalamazoo Lassies in the first round series. Crites went 0-for-3 in a playoff game.
Crites is part of Women in Baseball, a permanent display based at the Baseball [Hall of Fame and Museum] in Cooperstown, New York, which was unveiled in 1988 to honor the entire All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.
She died in 1990 in Phoenix, Arizona, at the age of 56.

Career statistics

Batting
GPABRH2B3BHRRBISBTBBBSOBAOBPSLG
471321517310117221517.129.218.145

Fielding
GPPOAETCDPFA
204192111445.924