Lavonne Paire-Davis, a star in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in the 1940s and 1950s, died on Saturday in the Van Nuys section of Los Angeles. Paire-Davis was the inspiration for the 1992 film, A League of Their Own.
Paire-Davis played 10 seasons for the A.A.G.P.B.L. She entered the league in 1944, which was created by Philip W. Wrigley, who was worried that World War II would cause professional baseball for men to fold. While that never happened, Paire-Davis became a league standout and one of its most beloved players.
Her love for the game developed when she was 19-years old working as a shipyard welder to support the war efforts. She played softball in local leagues when she and a friend, Faye Dancer, were recruited to join the Minneapolis Millerettes of the newly created women's league. Paire-Davis played for four teams during her time in the A.A.G.P.B.L. She was a versatile player, spending time as a catcher, shortstop and third baseman. She knocked in 400 career runs which ties for fourth in league history. In 1950, she drove in 70 runs in 110 games. The girls normally played 120 games a season.
The league's website describes Paire-Davis as an influence behind the plate and handled pitchers well and was always able to get the best of them.
The league ceased operations in 1954. Players began holding reunions in 1982 which sparked media attention and recognition from the Baseball Hall of Fame, along with a documentary in 1988. It was the documentary that brought on the film, A League of Their Own.
According to The New York Times, Paire-Davis served as a consultant on the film, which was directed by Penny Marshall. She inspired the fictional character Dottie Hinson, played by Geena Davis.
Paire-Davis is survived by two sons, William and Robert; a daughter, Susan; four grandchildren; and a brother.
