Mary Pratt, pitcher who helped inspire 'A League of Their Own' movie, dead at 101

Mary Pratt is pictured in this combination photo shared by the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League on Twitter.

Mary Pratt, one of the women who inspired beloved baseball movie A League of Their Own, has died, aged 101.

A member of the original 1943 Rockford Peaches of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL), Pratt passed away last week.

Pratt, who was a pitcher for the Peaches and the Kenosha Comets, also officiated basketball, softball, field hockey and lacrosse games.

The AAGPBL was formed in 1943 when Major League Baseball players were called up to serve in the military during World War II.

A spokesperson for the league released a statement on Monday, which read: “We are terribly sad to report that former Rockford Peaches and Kenosha Comets pitcher Mary Pratt passed away on May 6th. She was 101 years old. Mary was the last known original Peaches player that played on the 1943 team. Her stories, her energy will be missed for a long time.”

The Peaches featured in the 1992 film, starring Geena Davis, Madonna and Tom Hanks.

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