Janet Anderson Perkin



Janet Margaret Anderson [Perkin] (November 21, 1921 – March 30, 2012) was a Canadian pitcher and outfielder who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during the 1946 season. She batted and threw right handed.[1]

Janet Anderson was one of the 57 players born in Canada to join the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in its twelve years history.[2]

Born in Montreal, Quebec,[3]  Janet was the daughter of Tom and Mary Anderson. She grew up in Bethune, Saskatchewan, where she went on to become a teacher. She then was spotted by an AAGPBL scout who signed her to a contract. She later attended the spring training camp held at Pascagoula, Mississippi, and was assigned to the Kenosha Comets. But Janet had a rather unfortunate career in the league, posting a 0-6 record in 10 pitching appearances while connecting a .173 batting average in 36 games.[1] [4] [5]

After baseball, Anderson worked for Allied Van Lines moving company and in her spare time enjoyed bowling. She married Max Perkin, and they had two children, Jean and Thomas. She alo was a member of the 1954 Regina Govins softball club.[3] [6] [7]

She was a long time resident of Regina, where she curled under her married name of Janet Perkin, and her skills should translate to becoming a solid player for a long time. As askip, she could often be counted on to guide her rink in style, winning the first Western Canadian Ladies' curling championship in 1953, and three provincial champion teams in 1953, 1959 and 1964.[3]

For her accomplishments, she has been elected to several Hall of Fames: Canadian Baseball (1998),<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[8]  Saskatchewan Curling Association (2004),<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[9]  Saskatchewan Sports (curling, 2005)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[10]  and Regina Sports (softball, 2008).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ReginaSHoF_6-1" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[6]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;">In addition, she received life membership in the Saskatchewan Ladies Curling Association in 1992. Then, in 2004 her 1953 team was named to the Saskatchewan Legends of Curling Honour Roll.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[11]

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;">In 1988, Janet received further recognition when she became part of Women in Baseball, a permanent display based at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York, which was unveiled to honor the entire All-American Girls Professional Baseball League

<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.200000762939453px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;">Janet Anderson Perkin died in Regina, Saskatchewan, at the age of 90.