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Shirley Sommer

Shirley Sommer

Shirley Sommer

Shirley Sommer

Shirley Sommer

Profile Information

  • Maiden Name: (Kleinhans)
  • Nickname:
  • Hometown: Sheboygan Falls, WI (US)
  • Throwing Hand:
  • Batting Hand:
  • Born: November 2, 1928
  • Died: August 23, 2001

Shirley SommerHistory

Team Position Uniform #
1948 South Bend Blue Sox Pitcher Unknown

Shirley Kleinhans attended spring training in Opa-locka, Florida in 1948 with the Blue Sox.  She tried to make the roster as a pitcher. However, the staff was already pretty well set heading into the season with Jean Faut, Ruth Williams, and Sugar Koehn expected to lead the way.  Several others, including Lil Faralla and Lou Arnold, were also vying for innings.  Unfortunately, Kleinhans did not make the opening day roster.  Perhaps, a back injury that year also ended any attempt at making another team's roster, as well. 

After her brief stint in the AAGPBL she would go on to play competitive underhand dartball as a new pastime. She also enjoyed raising cattle and rabbits on her family farm.  

 This is all the information we have for Shirley.   If you or someone you know has additional information for Shirley, please contact us.

Author: Keith Stiles, Jr.

Contributed By: Keith Stiles, Jr.

Copyright: Information courtesy of The History of the South Bend Blue Sox by Jim Sargent and Robert Gorman, & Hall of Fame Questionnaire.


Shirley M Kleinhans was the daughter of Edgar William Kleinhans 1895 and Olga M Schmidt.

Shirley married George A Sommer on September 8, 1957 at the Saron United Church of Christ. 

Author: Find A Grave Memorial

Contributed By: Helen Nordquist

Copyright: Find A Grave Memorial


LeagueBatting Record

Year Ga AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG
1948 - - - - - - - - - - - -

LeaguePitching Record

Year G IP R ER ERA BB SO HB WP W L PCT
1943 - - - - - - - - - - - -

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