The Strollers were not like the Bad News Bears either. They had been the amateur champs in Cleveland, Ohio for the past 3-4 years prior to Miss Gapski signing with them. According to the “Charleston Mail”, a South Carolina newspaper, “Cleveland will have to enlarge its ballpark this year. She can hit like Ty Cobb and throw like any of the fellows on her champion team.” Everybody in Cleveland, Ohio wanted to see her play and her team was attracting crowds of 80,000 to 100,000 every time they played.
The Cleveland Amateur Baseball Association was integral in forming the National Amateur Baseball Association (NABA), which became the National Amateur Baseball Federation in 1919.
Lottie started as an outfielder and became a second baseman, then eventually a pitcher. It is said that Lottie was a natural slugger and an even better runner than any of the boys on her club. She provided the talent, but if it weren’t for Clayton Towns approving her contract, no one would know about Miss Lottie!
Towns served as of NABA from 1914 – 1917 and Lottie’s manager, Doik Noverjo also moved up with NABA and became the Executive Director.
The NABF is known for breaking barriers, becoming the first organization to allow women and players of mixed races to play and have opportunities to participate in National, Regional and Local Championship Series.
LOTTIE M. GAPSKI
AND
NABF
P PAVED THE WAY
FOR DENAE BENITES
CENTENNIAL H. S. NV
SOPHMORE -2018