Kenosha Comets

Championships: 0

Playoffs: 5 (1943, 1944, 1948, 1949, 1950)

Franchise Players: Helen Nicol, Audrey Wagner

Playing at Simmons Field in Kenosha, WI, the Kenosha Comets were one of the first four teams in the AAGPBL. They had the third-best record at 56-52, but had won the second-half title, earning them a ticket to the playoffs, where they were swept in 3 games by the Racine Belles. 31-8 Helen Nicol lost 2 of the contests.

The team again placed third the next year (62-54) and made the playoffs, this time thanks to a first-half title. They took a 3-2 lead over the Milwaukee Chicks in the championship but Nicol lost an 11-inning pitching duel with Connie Wisniewski and Wisniewski beat Nicol again 3-0 in game 7.

Kenosha's fortunes faded after that. They finished last in 1945 (41-69), 7th of 8 teams in 1946 (42-70), last in 1947 (43-69) and fourth in the 5-team Western Division in 1948 (62-64) before going back over .500 at 58-55 in 1949, good for 4th in the 8-team AAGPBL. Kenosha had a very good year in 1950 with a 63-46 record, 3 games behind the Rockford Peaches. For the 5th straight appearance, the club lost in their first round of post-season action.

Kenosha had a rocky seasons in 1951, going 36-67, 6th in the 8-team league. The Comets folded after that year.

Managers

• 1943 - Josh Billings
• 1944 - Marty McManus
• 1945 - Eddie Stumpf
• 1946 - Press Cruthers
• 1947 - Ralph Shinners
• 1948 - Chet Grant
• 1949-1951 - Johnny Gottselig

Further Reading

• Gary Belleville: "June 25, 1943: Kenosha’s Helen Nicol hurls 13 scoreless innings of relief, drives in winning run," SABR Baseball Games Project.