Rella Swamp

Rella Swamp Murray

• High School Appleton High School
• Born January 5, 1924 in Appleton, WI USA
• Died December 16, 2004 in Miami, FL USA

Biographical Information

Rella Swamp appeared on the inaugural 1943 Rockford Peaches roster for just 10 games and played first base. She was a Native American, a member of the Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin and was the youngest of four children. Her mother Irene died around the time Rella was just 7 years old. Shortly after this, Rella's father Joel sent her to a boarding school in Wittenberg, WI, which she described as a psychologically damaging experience. She later attended Appleton High School and was said to be great at many different sports. She played for various amateur softball teams before trying out for the newly-founded AAGPBL.

In 1944 she enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and met her future husband J.J. Murray of Miami, FL, who was a marine. She was in the Marines until 1946, which was the year she was married. Following the wedding, she moved to Miami to be with J.J. and his family and died there in 2004, leaving behind three daughters, a son, and six grandchildren.

Related Sites

• AAGPBL profile