Claire Schillace
From BR Bullpen
Claire Joan Donahoe née Schillace
- Bats Right Throws Left
- Height 5'3", Weight 128 lbs.
- School New York University
- Born March 29, 1922 in Melrose Park, IL USA
- Died January 17, 1999 in Bethesda, MD USA
Centerfielder Claire Schillace was one of the first four players signed to play in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She spent her four year career with the Racine Belles from 1943 to 1946.
Schillace grew up playing baseball in Chicago and was on Illinois state and Chicago city championship team before joining the AAGPBL in the spring of 1943. In her first season, she had her best year batting .251 with 7 doubles. During her career, she hit .202 with 2 home runs, 112 RBIs and 153 stolen bases.
After the 1946 season, Schillace left her baseball career to get married and spent many years as an educator in Illinois including a spell at DeKalb Teachers College. She died of a blood clot at age 77.
