I was surprised and honoured to learn that my mom, Arleene Johnson Noga, was to be inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame this year. I was surprised because I had no idea that this was in the works, but I feel honoured because she dedicated most of her life to baseball and empowering women in sport as a player, coach, mentor, and ambassador. Thank you for the recognition of her accomplishments and her passion. – Carol Lee Noga Scott (Arleene’s daughter)
Born on January 1, 1924 in Ogema, Sask., Arleene 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.
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).
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 she 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.
In the early 90s, she was brought on board as a technical advisor for Penny Marshall’s film “A League of Their Own” which told the story of the AAGPBL. On set, she worked with many of the actors and taught Rosie O’Donnell the nuances of playing shortstop and Madonna how to slide.
Noga was also a tireless promoter of women’s baseball across the country, speaking at school assemblies and banquets and assisting at baseball clinics for girls. For her efforts, she was inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame the following year. In October 2004, she was inducted into the Regina Sports Hall of Fame.
Noga passed away on March 14, 2017 in Regina, Sask.
