Mishawaka in St. Joseph County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

South Bend Blue Sox

Photographed by Lou Donkle, September 30, 2022

1. South Bend Blue Sox Marker, Side One

Inscription.
The South Bend Blue Sox was one of four original teams in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (1943-1954). Founded during WWII, the AAGPBL contributed to the war effort by boosting morale through family entertainment. Scouted from across North America, the players constantly balanced their outstanding athleticism with league standards of femininity.

The Blue Sox played in all twelve AAGPBL seasons. Their move in 1946 from Bendix Field to the more centrally located and better-equipped Playland Park, near here, increased attendance. They won Playoff Championships in 1951 and 1952. The AAGPBL garnered public recognition from the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988 and the 1992 film A League of Their Own.

Erected 2021 by Indiana Historical Bureau, The History Museum, And Indiana University South Bend. (Marker Number 71.2021.1.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Sports • War, World II • Women. In addition, it is included in the Indiana Historical Bureau Markers series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1943.

Location. 41° 39.61′ N,

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86° 12.941′ W. Marker is in Mishawaka, Indiana, in St. Joseph County. It is at the intersection of North Ironwood Drive and IUSB Bike Path, on the right when traveling south on North Ironwood Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 314 North Ironwood Drive, South Bend IN 46613, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Indiana

and in Greater South Bend.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Northside Hall of IUSB (approx. 0.3 miles away); Indiana University South Bend (approx. half a mile away); Princess Mishawaka (approx. 1.2 miles away); Kamm & Schellinger Brewery (approx. 1.4 miles away); Mishawaka Wars of the Nation Memorial (approx. 1.4 miles away); Freddie Fitzsimmons (approx. 1.4

South Bend Blue Sox Marker, Side Two image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Lou Donkle, September 30, 2022

2. South Bend Blue Sox Marker, Side Two

miles away); Battell Park (approx. 1½ miles away); Mishawaka Civil War Soldiers Monument (approx. 1.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mishawaka.

Marker on west side of Ironwood Drive just south of the St. Joe River image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Lou Donkle, September 30, 2022

3. Marker on west side of Ironwood Drive just south of the St. Joe River

Credits. This page was last revised on January 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 25, 2023, by Lou Donkle of Valparaiso, Indiana. This page has been viewed 398 times since then and 49 times this year. Last updated on January 16, 2026, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 25, 2023, by Lou Donkle of Valparaiso, Indiana. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.