Virginia Busick’s father has to share some of the credit for his daughter becoming one of the best softball pitchers in the 1940s and 1950s. In 1946, after the wartime blackout of games had been lifted, Ginny’s father encouraged her to try out for a new team forming in Fresno, CA called the Rockets. “Believe it or not, I was bashful,” recalled Busick, who was born June 28th, 1925. “So my father put me in the car and took me. I’ll never forget that day. We walked onto the field and two men came out to meet me. They asked what position I played and my father said, ‘she pitches.’ They gave me a glove and said, ‘Let’s see you pitch.’” Ginny got the position and eventually became one of the top hurlers in the nation, leading the Fresno Rockets to the national title in 1957. In the national, Busick went undefeated (5-0) and allowed one run and 10 hits. She finished the year 32-4, allowing only 20 earned runs. She was named an All-American that year as well in 1958. In seven ASA national championships she achieved a 22-11 pitching record. Her 21-year career included four seasons as a manager, leading the Rockets to a third place in the 1968 national championship. Busick died August 5, 1982 at age 57.
