Lunch With Books: Rose "Gaspipe Rosie" Gacioch with Barbara Gregorich

Barbara Gregorich, author of "Women at Play: The Story of Women in Baseball," shared the story of Wheeling’s own female professional baseball player Rose "Gaspipe Rosie" Gacioch, at Lunch With Books at the Ohio County on Friday, September 16 at noon.

Rosie Gacioch grew up in South Wheeling, two blocks from Pulaski Field, where she first tried out for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She went on to become one of the league’s most dominant players and one of the inspirations for the film, "A League of Their Own," starring Tom Hanks and Rosie O’Donnell.

Chicago based author Barbara Gregorich interviewed Gacioch extensively for her book. A native of nearby Masury, Ohio, just north of Youngstown, Barbara says she strongly identified with Rosie when she interviewed her. The full program description— "When Women Played Baseball: The Story of Margaret, Nellie, and Rose." In 1934 two teen girls played hardball on a bloomer girl baseball team — a team that stopped in Wheeling specifically to pick up a third teen: Rose Gacioch. These three young women — Margaret Gisolo, Nellie Kearns, and Rose Gacioch — came from very different backgrounds and had different reasons for playing baseball. When the season was over they followed different path. But playing baseball on Maud Nelson’s last bloomer girl team profoundly affected their lives and helped determine their careers.

This talk, accompanied by slides, leaves audiences deeply moved. Barbara Gregorich is the author of the baseball novel, "She’s on First," and the award-winning baseball nonfiction title, "Women at Play: The Story of Women in Baseball." In addition to writing for adults and speaking on various subjects ranging from baseball to grammar, Gregorich has written more than 150 children’s books and workbooks.

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ABOUT LUNCH WITH BOOKS:
Lunch With Books at the Ohio County Public Library in Wheeling, WV is a free lunchtime program featuring authors, poets, musicians, historians, and more every Tuesday at noon. Attendees are invited to bring a bag lunch. Pretzels, beverages, and knowledge are provided. Bring your lunch, feed your brain!

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Many thanks as always to our volunteer videographer, Richard Morriale.