April 6, 1931 - The Evening Independent - Massillon, OH - Jackie Mitchell
GIRL BASEBALL STAR WANTS JOB IN FILM
By NELLIE KENTON
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., April 6.-She can cook, but isn't "crazy" about it; she can dance, she wants to become a movie star--
Just a picture of a regular American girl? Well, that's Miss Verne Beatrice Mitchell, age 17, better-known as Jack Mitchell the girl southpaw who will play real professional baseball this summer and who recently pitched to the great Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees and saw them strike out.
Always Liked Baseball
Jack Mitchell doesn't think it's funny that she is a real ball player, and neither do those who know her. She has wanted to play league bate ever since she was "knee-high to a grasshopper and now, having signed real, honest-to-goodness contract with Joe Engle, president of the Chattanooga baseball club, she cares to do nothing else but pitch baseballs from now on.
Jack isn't terribly interested in all the publicity she is receiving. She'd rather talk about the chances of the big league clubs this year.
Not Keen for Dancing
The girl is unlike many misses her age in some respects. She dances, but doesn't "give a snap of the Singers" for it. She'd much rather wear a baseball unie than a gorgeous evening gown.
On the wall of her bedroom are many pictures. Jack in a baseball uniform. Jack in her mother's arms, taken when the girl was a few months old. Movie stars—Douglas; Fairbanks, Jr., Charles Farrell, Richard Dix and others. Baseball stars- Babe Ruth and others.
Against a wall, a girl's bicycle
"I've had it eight years," she says. "And I've got my old coaster wag stuck away around .here somewhere."
On her table are a few books, boy's books of adventure.
Wants Movie Job
"Oh, I'd so like to be in the movies," Jack told a Central Press. correspondent, the first to see her after she signed her contract to play league baseball. ''But I'm afraid might not make good. 'I'm afraid that's too ambitious.
"If I did get a chance in the films I'd like to play in Western pictures, you know, cowboys and sheriffs and all that. I would like to play in some of those mystery stories, too.
"I've always wanted to be in the movies, but I've wanted all the more to play in real baseball games.
"I'm not too little to play baseball though I'm only five feet three an a half inches tall and- weigh about 130 pounds. And I'm strong. of swimming and horseback riding: has givens me plenty of good exercise.
What Jack didn't tell was that she has medium brown hair and bluish gray eyes.
Jack Mitchell was born in Chatt nooga just before the World war gap and has lived in the foothills' the Cumberland mountains most of her life.
She received her early training a pitcher from no less a tutor than the great Dazzy Vance, the Brooklyn star. Later she attended Norman (Kid) Elberfeld's baseball school 1 Atlanta. Ga. The Kid says she has real ability.
What Jack will receive as salary for her pitching has not been revealed, but the club has announced it is a substantlal sum.
Anyway, what's more important Jack is that she, at last, has a chance to show how' well she can play the game she prefers above all else.
By NELLIE KENTON
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., April 6.-She can cook, but isn't "crazy" about it; she can dance, she wants to become a movie star--
Just a picture of a regular American girl? Well, that's Miss Verne Beatrice Mitchell, age 17, better-known as Jack Mitchell the girl southpaw who will play real professional baseball this summer and who recently pitched to the great Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees and saw them strike out.
Always Liked Baseball
Jack Mitchell doesn't think it's funny that she is a real ball player, and neither do those who know her. She has wanted to play league bate ever since she was "knee-high to a grasshopper and now, having signed real, honest-to-goodness contract with Joe Engle, president of the Chattanooga baseball club, she cares to do nothing else but pitch baseballs from now on.
Jack isn't terribly interested in all the publicity she is receiving. She'd rather talk about the chances of the big league clubs this year.
Not Keen for Dancing
The girl is unlike many misses her age in some respects. She dances, but doesn't "give a snap of the Singers" for it. She'd much rather wear a baseball unie than a gorgeous evening gown.
On the wall of her bedroom are many pictures. Jack in a baseball uniform. Jack in her mother's arms, taken when the girl was a few months old. Movie stars—Douglas; Fairbanks, Jr., Charles Farrell, Richard Dix and others. Baseball stars- Babe Ruth and others.
Against a wall, a girl's bicycle
"I've had it eight years," she says. "And I've got my old coaster wag stuck away around .here somewhere."
On her table are a few books, boy's books of adventure.
Wants Movie Job
"Oh, I'd so like to be in the movies," Jack told a Central Press. correspondent, the first to see her after she signed her contract to play league baseball. ''But I'm afraid might not make good. 'I'm afraid that's too ambitious.
"If I did get a chance in the films I'd like to play in Western pictures, you know, cowboys and sheriffs and all that. I would like to play in some of those mystery stories, too.
"I've always wanted to be in the movies, but I've wanted all the more to play in real baseball games.
"I'm not too little to play baseball though I'm only five feet three an a half inches tall and- weigh about 130 pounds. And I'm strong. of swimming and horseback riding: has givens me plenty of good exercise.
What Jack didn't tell was that she has medium brown hair and bluish gray eyes.
Jack Mitchell was born in Chatt nooga just before the World war gap and has lived in the foothills' the Cumberland mountains most of her life.
She received her early training a pitcher from no less a tutor than the great Dazzy Vance, the Brooklyn star. Later she attended Norman (Kid) Elberfeld's baseball school 1 Atlanta. Ga. The Kid says she has real ability.
What Jack will receive as salary for her pitching has not been revealed, but the club has announced it is a substantlal sum.
Anyway, what's more important Jack is that she, at last, has a chance to show how' well she can play the game she prefers above all else.
