Meryle Fitzgerald (later LeClaire; January 24, 1925 – March 4, 2004) was a pitcher who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). Fitzgerald batted and threw right handed. She was dubbed 'Pinkey' by her teammates.All-American Girls Professional Baseball League – Meryle LeClaire – Profile / Obituary. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
Born in Hutchinson, Minnesota to Elmer and Virginia Fitzgerald, she was raised in Rapid City, South Dakota. By the age of 10 she was the mascot/batgirl for a baseball team coached by her father. Meryle was 21 when she joined the Fort Wayne Daisies in 1946, but she did not have much of a chance to play during the season. She made two pitching appearances,Madden, W. C. (2000) All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Record Book. McFarland & Company. but additional information is incomplete because there are no records available at the time of the request.
In 1988, a permanent display was inaugurated at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum at Cooperstown, New York, that honors those who were part of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Meryle Fitzgerald is included at the display/exhibit.Before A League of Their Own. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum; retrieved September 5, 2016. She later was inducted into the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame.
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