Fightins Mourn Loss of 'Queen of Baseballtown' Ruth Hartman

"Queen of Baseballtown" Ruth Hartman passed away on Monday night at the age of 89 following a car accident over the weekend. 

"It is with great sadness that we have learned that our friend Ruth Hartman has passed," said Fightins General Manager Scott Hunsicker. "She was a passionate person in everything she did, and one of her biggest passions was coming to FirstEnergy Stadium to support her 'boys' on the Fightin Phils. Baseballtown won't be the same without the 'Queen of Baseballtown'. They just don't make them like Ruth anymore."

Hartman, named the first ever "Queen of Baseballtown" in 2008, played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League for the Fort Wayne Daisies and Racine Bells during the 1940s. The league was the inspiration for the 1992 film "A League of Their Own".  

A pitcher and second baseman during her playing days, Hartman took part in the National Baseball Hall of Fame Museum's 2006 dedication of "Diamond Dreams: Women in Baseball", an updated version of the exhibit on the history of women in baseball that has been on display since 1988.

Hartman was a 2002 inductee of the Berks County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. A physical education teacher in the Reading School District, she coached volleyball, track, and swimming in the 1950s before founding the school's softball program in 1976. In 18 seasons as head coach, Hartman led the Red Knights to a 217-73 record, two Berks County Championships, three District titles, and two state runner-ups.

In addition to her time spent on the diamond, Hartman was recognized perennially as a champion breeder of Corriedale sheep. Many of Hartman's sheep were named after Reading and Philadelphia Phillies players, including 2006 National Champion Ram "Brito" named for left-handed pitcher Eude Brito.