which was during Salty’s senior year of high school. Although Salty wanted to graduate, she realized that she would need to leave school before the end of the year. She spoke with her principal, who helped her complete her studies early so she could graduate on
sit on the benches with the team. She quickly fell in love with the sport, and before long, she became the batgirl for the Orangeville baseball team. One of the team’s mothers even took a uniform and sized it down so everyone would know she was part of the team. When the local boys would start a game, someone was always sent to fetch Salty. She played baseball, ice hockey, basketball, and football with them, constantly improving her skills. However, baseball was her true passion and would ultimately make her one of the most famous figures in our area. Shortly after the United States entered World War II, several executives from Major League Baseball sought to keep the sport in the public eye. Many regular players were called to duty, and they feared baseball might come to a halt until they returned home. To address this, they established the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL), which operated from 1943 to 1954. This league has become a forgotten part of American Sports History. A local friend of Salty’s father happened to meet a gentleman who claimed to be a scout for the league. Knowing about Salty’s skills, he recommended her to the scout, mentioning that she would be perfect for the league. They exchanged business cards, and the friend shared them with Salty’s father, who then contacted the scout to arrange a meeting. The meeting took place in a town park in Allentown. Salty brought along her glove and a ball, ready to prove herself. After they threw the ball back and forth five times, the scout paused and announced that he was sending Salty to the Rockford Peaches, managed by Johnny Rawlings, in Illinois, for their tryouts for the 1953 season. The tryouts were scheduled for April and May,
An early baseball trading card featuring Orangeville native Sarah Jane “Salty” Sands with the Rockford Peaches.
The 1953 Rockford Peaches team. Sarah Jane “Salty” Sands is seated in the bottom row, second from the right.
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