BOWIE, Md. - The Bowie Baysox announce today the sixth annual All-American Girls Professional Baseball Tribute Saturday, Aug. 4, as the Baysox take on the Trenton Thunder at 6:35 p.m. Five former players from the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League are expected to attend the event. The ladies will be honored on the field before the game before throwing out ceremonial first pitches and signing autographs and meeting fans during the game. After the game, the Baysox light up the skies around Prince George's Stadium with a fireworks extravaganza.

The former players scheduled to appear (subject to change), with their nicknames, teams and maiden names in parenthesis are:

Player	Teams
Sarah Jane "Salty" (Sands) Ferguson	Rockford Peaches (1953-54)
Joanne "Jo" McComb	Springfield Sallies (1950)
Gertrude "Gertie" (Alderfer) Benner	Springfield Sallies (1949) Kalamazoo Lassies & Chicago Colleens (1950)
Esther Ann Hersey-Reeser	Springfield Sallies (1948)
Virginia "Jean" (Ventura) Manina	Rockford Peaches (1951 & 1953)

The AAGPBL was formed in 1943 by chewing gum mogul and Chicago Cubs owner Philip K. Wrigley with four teams. The league grew over the years and was at its most popular in 1948 when it drew 910,000 fans. The league folded after the 1954 season, after twelve seasons featured more than 600 women as professional baseball players. They were immortalized in the movie "A League of Their Own" 20 years ago and now have a permanent display in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Baysox Baseball - We'll Knock Your 'Sox Off. The Baysox 20th season is underway. Parking is free at every Baysox home game and tickets are now available at www.baysox.com, or by calling the Baysox box office at (301) 464-4865.