YORKTON - You might not recognize the name Arlene Noga, but as a Saskatchewan sports fan you probably should.
Born on January 1, 1924 in Ogema, Sask., Noga was an outstanding Senior A softball player in Regina when she was scouted and signed by the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) in 1944.
From there Noga carved out a ball career which had the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s Veterans Committee electing Noga for induction this year – sadly posthumously.
“My initial reaction was surprised and quite honoured for mom,” said Carol Lee Scott, Noga’s daughter, in an interview with Yorkton This Week.
“I was surprised because I had no idea this was even in the works, or ever thought about it. It caught me completely off guard.
That said Scott said she was aware her mother had loved playing ball.
“I knew how much baseball and softball were part of her life,” she said, adding the upcoming induction “recognizes the contribution she made.”
Her time in the AAGPBL was perhaps the most notable of her playing career.
The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame notes, “the right-handed hitting infielder joined the Fort Wayne Daisies for 15 games in 1945 prior to being dealt to the Muskegon Lassies. The sure-handed infielder proceeded to establish a league record for best fielding percentage (.942) by a third baseman and help lead the Lassies to a pennant in 1947.
“At one point, Noga played over 300 consecutive games, which garnered her the nickname “Iron Lady.” In all, she competed in 354 AAGPBL games, which is the eighth-most among Canadians who played in the league. She also ranks ninth among Canadian AAGPBL players in at bats (1,119), RBIs (91) and stolen bases (123) and 10th in hits (183) and runs (103).”
Scott said it was something of a daring adventure for her mom to head to the United States to play in the league.
“It’s kind of surreal when you really think about it,” she said, adding she doubts her mom exactly knew “what she was getting into.”
Interestingly it was part of Noga’s life her daughter learned of later in life.
“When I was growing up I didn’t know anything about her playing on the professional side. . . She never talked about that,” she said.
But ball was still part of Noga’s life, said Scott, relating how her mom was often coaching women’s softball teams, and she and her brother were off to weekend tournaments with her.
Following her AAGPBL career, Noga returned to Regina where she played and coached softball for close to three decades and was part of nine provincial championship-winning teams and five Western Canadian champions.
But again from the CBHoF Noga “never lost her connection with the AAGPBL. She served as a member of the board of directors of the AAGPBL Players Association for 12 years and was a spokesperson for Canadian AAGPBL women.”
And then the famed movie ‘A League of Their Own’ was announced, and Scott recalls that was the time her mom become much more interested in sharing her stories in the pro league.
That was likely pushed a bit by the fact Noga was brought on board as a technical advisor for Penny Marshall’s film. On set, she worked with many of the actors and taught Rosie O’Donnell the nuances of playing shortstop and Madonna how to slide.
Scott said her mom was one of several league veterans brought in to ensure the actresses taking on the roles of AAGPBL players looked realistic on film.
Madonna in particular was one member of the cast Noga spoke of with some admiration, said Scott.
“She said she was really impressed with Madonna how much effort she put into the part,” said Scott. “. . . Rosie O’Donell was wonderful as well.”
The film experience seemed to bring Noga’s days as a professional ballplayer back to the forefront of her mind, and Scott said, “in her later years (she died in 2017) she kept going back to her playing days. It was a big part of her life.”
Now the induction lies ahead. Scott said it will be emotional.
“I think it will be overwhelming . . . For me it will be really close to my heart, being there more mom – representing her,” she said.
The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s 2025 class was honoured in a ceremony at the Hall of Fame grounds in St. Marys, Ont., on June 7.
