Joan Kaufman

Joan Kaufman (November 9, 1935 – December 30, 2018) was an American infielder who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5 ft 4 in and 120 lbs (1.63 m and 54 kg), Kaufman batted and threw right handed. She was dubbed "Jo" by her teammates.[1][2]

Born in Winnebago, Illinois,[2] Joan Kaufman had a chance to join the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in its last year of operations. According to her own words, it was a lifelong dream.[1]

Kaufman played on a girls' softball club at the age of 12. She showed her interest for baseball whenever she visited her grandmother, who lived close to the Rockford Peaches ballpark.[1] She then began her desire to play baseball for the Peaches team when she grew up. In between, Joan played as a catcher for the Rockford Coeds when she was fifteen,[2] mostly because the Coeds served as a Peaches farm team that utilized AAGPBL rules of play.[2]

In 1953, Kaufman tried out for the Peaches while she was still at Winnebago High School. By then the team was already having financial issues.[1] As a result, the Peaches told her to return the next year. After school graduation, she did that and was used by them at second base and third base throughout the 1954 season.[3]

In a 43-game career, Kaufman posted a batting average of .134 (13-for-97) with a double and one stolen base, driving in five runs while scoring three times.[3]

As a fielder, she hauled in 49 putouts with 77 assists and turned 12 double plays, while committing 20 errors in 146 total chances for a combined .863 fielding average.[3]

After the league folded, Joan never received her final paycheck.[1]

Following her baseball stint, Kaufman returned home and worked as a bookkeeper for the local lumber company and as a part-time typist before joining the United States Air Force as a personnel clerk.[2] She then became a recruiter and later served as a USAF superintendent for military education and training, supervising over 100 instructors and 500 trainees, while serving on Southeast Asia and in Thailand during Vietnam War conflict.[2] Moreover, her position included writing condolence letters to family members of deceased soldiers, reporting casualties and filing procedure work in support of the awards and decoration programs.[2]

During this time, Kaufman received a bronze medal as a result of her outstanding professionalism, efficiency, and leadership skills. In addition, she earned her third Oak leaf cluster for her commendation award.[2]

Kaufman spent 20 years in the military and retired in 1975 as a master sergeant.[1] She chose to stay in the San Antonio, Texas area, where she bought a gift shop in 1978[1] and operated it for 20 years.[2] Similarly, Kaufman obtained a license to sell life insurance in Texas, an occupation she had for many years.[2] Severe arthritis prevented her from participating in any more sports.[1]

In 1988, a permanent display was inaugurated for Kaufman 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. Joan Kaufman, along with the rest of the girls and the league staff, is included at the exhibit.[4]

Kaufman died December 30, 2018.[2]