1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,480 >> My name is Helen Thomas. 2 00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:05,160 I'm outreach archivist for Kennesaw State University. 3 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:09,340 Today is Wednesday, May 31st, 2023. 4 00:00:09,340 --> 00:00:14,350 And today, I'm speaking with Mrs. Jane Cleveland Mantel. 5 00:00:14,350 --> 00:00:15,935 Is it Mantel or Mantel? 6 00:00:15,935 --> 00:00:17,070 >> Mantel. 7 00:00:17,070 --> 00:00:20,440 >> Mantel, we're going to be talking about her time 8 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:22,520 as a member of the Lorelei 9 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:24,905 Ladies softball team in Atlanta. 10 00:00:24,905 --> 00:00:27,900 So Ms. Mantel, I'm so grateful for 11 00:00:27,900 --> 00:00:31,140 you to take the time to speak with me today. 12 00:00:31,140 --> 00:00:33,180 And I'll just start off by 13 00:00:33,180 --> 00:00:36,430 asking where and when were you born. 14 00:00:36,430 --> 00:00:42,510 >> I was born in Blakely, B-L-A-K-E-L-Y, Georgia. 15 00:00:42,510 --> 00:00:45,510 It's on the Florida line. 16 00:00:45,670 --> 00:00:50,005 September 4, 1931. 17 00:00:50,005 --> 00:00:53,895 >> And what did your parents do for a living? 18 00:00:53,895 --> 00:00:55,785 >> When did they what? 19 00:00:55,785 --> 00:00:59,265 >> What did your parents do for a living? 20 00:00:59,265 --> 00:01:06,310 >> My mother at the time was a practical nurse, 21 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:10,830 but when she met my father she gave that 22 00:01:10,830 --> 00:01:17,190 up. And what was the other question? 23 00:01:17,190 --> 00:01:19,305 >> And what did your father do? 24 00:01:19,305 --> 00:01:25,965 >> My father mostly was a semi-pro baseball player. 25 00:01:25,965 --> 00:01:27,660 >> Really? 26 00:01:27,660 --> 00:01:32,160 >> The city teams wherever he lived, 27 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:34,825 he belonged to the city team. 28 00:01:34,825 --> 00:01:39,505 And he was a short stop and a second base. 29 00:01:39,505 --> 00:01:41,670 >> Wow. So baseball sounds 30 00:01:41,670 --> 00:01:44,570 like it was a big part of your childhood? 31 00:01:44,940 --> 00:01:46,940 >> Right. What was that? 32 00:01:46,940 --> 00:01:49,950 >> Baseball was a big part of your childhood? 33 00:01:49,950 --> 00:01:53,030 >> You're right. Exactly. I went 34 00:01:53,030 --> 00:01:54,790 to the games and in fact, 35 00:01:54,790 --> 00:01:57,460 I used to sell drinks and things 36 00:01:57,460 --> 00:02:02,130 to the fans, things like that. 37 00:02:02,130 --> 00:02:05,550 >> Wow. So did you spend most of 38 00:02:05,550 --> 00:02:10,125 your young life in Blakely or in that part of the state? 39 00:02:10,125 --> 00:02:12,930 >> No. 40 00:02:12,930 --> 00:02:15,560 When my mother married, 41 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:20,925 we were living, I'm not sure where, 42 00:02:20,925 --> 00:02:22,510 it was in Georgia. 43 00:02:22,510 --> 00:02:24,890 I forget the name of the town where they 44 00:02:24,890 --> 00:02:27,080 were living when I got married? 45 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:28,570 >> Thomaston? 46 00:02:28,570 --> 00:02:31,815 >> No we lived there later. 47 00:02:31,815 --> 00:02:35,700 I went to school in Thomaston, Georgia, 48 00:02:35,700 --> 00:02:41,505 and Bainbridge, Georgia. 49 00:02:41,505 --> 00:02:42,600 >> Bainbridge. 50 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:45,160 >> Which is in the South. 51 00:02:45,860 --> 00:02:49,110 >> That was your mother remarried? 52 00:02:49,110 --> 00:02:50,940 >> No. She didn't. 53 00:02:50,940 --> 00:02:53,620 She never remarried. 54 00:02:56,750 --> 00:02:59,840 I think they got divorced when I 55 00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:04,145 was maybe four or five or something like that. 56 00:03:04,145 --> 00:03:04,970 >> I see. 57 00:03:04,970 --> 00:03:08,610 >> So I really never lived with him until I was grown. 58 00:03:08,610 --> 00:03:09,390 >> I see. 59 00:03:09,390 --> 00:03:11,430 >> A lot of school life, 60 00:03:11,430 --> 00:03:16,040 I lived with my father in Atlanta, he and his wife. 61 00:03:16,550 --> 00:03:20,580 And then my mother came to Atlanta, 62 00:03:20,580 --> 00:03:24,540 and then I moved in with my mother. 63 00:03:24,780 --> 00:03:27,460 And I had a very nice life. 64 00:03:27,460 --> 00:03:32,190 >> When did you move to Atlanta? 65 00:03:32,190 --> 00:03:36,930 When did you move to Atlanta? 66 00:03:36,930 --> 00:03:42,580 >> I would say it was around '50, '51. 67 00:03:42,890 --> 00:03:48,160 >> So you would have been 1920? 68 00:03:49,100 --> 00:03:51,105 >> I would say so. 69 00:03:51,105 --> 00:03:53,760 >> That's right. 70 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:58,330 >> And what did you move to Atlanta for? 71 00:03:58,950 --> 00:04:04,240 >> To work. I was the secretary. 72 00:04:04,850 --> 00:04:08,640 I studied shorthand in typing. 73 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:12,150 >> Where did you study? 74 00:04:12,150 --> 00:04:13,635 >> Where? 75 00:04:13,635 --> 00:04:16,505 >> Yes. Where did you go to school for that? 76 00:04:16,505 --> 00:04:22,050 >> I lived with my aunt and uncle in Selma, Alabama. 77 00:04:23,110 --> 00:04:25,390 It was a sacred heart. 78 00:04:25,390 --> 00:04:27,550 It was a Catholic school. 79 00:04:27,550 --> 00:04:28,240 >> Oh, I see. 80 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:30,610 >> It was only for two years. 81 00:04:30,610 --> 00:04:38,775 And I chose to go that route instead of going to college. 82 00:04:38,775 --> 00:04:40,730 >> Do you remember where you 83 00:04:40,730 --> 00:04:43,550 worked as a secretary in Atlanta? 84 00:04:43,690 --> 00:04:47,110 >> As a secretary, I worked for the State of 85 00:04:47,110 --> 00:04:54,270 Georgia in the Children's Welfare Department. 86 00:04:54,530 --> 00:04:58,245 >> And how long did you have that job? 87 00:04:58,245 --> 00:05:05,415 >> I would say two or three years, I think. 88 00:05:05,415 --> 00:05:10,305 I got married in 1954. 89 00:05:10,305 --> 00:05:14,890 That's when my husband 90 00:05:14,890 --> 00:05:17,790 was going to Georgia Tech at the time. 91 00:05:18,750 --> 00:05:23,630 >> How did you find out about the Lorelei Ladies? 92 00:05:25,940 --> 00:05:28,425 >> Before I got married, 93 00:05:28,425 --> 00:05:30,190 before I met my husband, 94 00:05:30,190 --> 00:05:33,070 I needed a car to get around. 95 00:05:33,070 --> 00:05:36,550 So I went, I think it was Hertz, 96 00:05:42,350 --> 00:05:46,845 and I bought a '49 Ford. 97 00:05:46,845 --> 00:05:49,430 And I was talking to the manager, 98 00:05:49,430 --> 00:05:53,365 and I think he was involved with the Lorelei Ladies, 99 00:05:53,365 --> 00:05:56,950 and he told me about them. 100 00:05:56,990 --> 00:06:01,965 I was always interested in sports. 101 00:06:01,965 --> 00:06:04,360 >> That's great. 102 00:06:04,550 --> 00:06:09,570 >> I played [NOISE] baseball when I was growing 103 00:06:09,570 --> 00:06:14,920 up with the San Loch teams. 104 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:20,130 I only played with the boys. 105 00:06:20,130 --> 00:06:22,665 I didn't play with the girls. 106 00:06:22,665 --> 00:06:25,240 >> Well, there may not have been 107 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:29,100 as many opportunities for girls at that time? 108 00:06:29,100 --> 00:06:31,260 >> It wasn't, no. 109 00:06:31,260 --> 00:06:34,340 >> Do you know how long the Lorelei Ladies had 110 00:06:34,340 --> 00:06:37,960 been around by the time you joined the team? 111 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:40,845 >> I really don't remember. 112 00:06:40,845 --> 00:06:42,840 >> But they were established? 113 00:06:42,840 --> 00:06:44,380 They already had a team going and 114 00:06:44,380 --> 00:06:46,440 everything, by the time you joined? 115 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:50,140 >> They were established, yes. 116 00:06:50,420 --> 00:06:53,730 >> Did you have to try out? 117 00:06:53,730 --> 00:06:56,340 >> Yes, I did. 118 00:06:56,340 --> 00:07:00,280 I guess I passed because they welcomed me. 119 00:07:00,280 --> 00:07:05,300 And they were very loving, nice girls. 120 00:07:05,300 --> 00:07:08,160 We had a lot of fun together. 121 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:11,555 >> What position did you play on the team? 122 00:07:11,555 --> 00:07:15,890 >> Whatever they wanted, except catching. 123 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:22,340 >> And how long were you a member of the team? 124 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:29,880 >> Well, as I recall I got married in '54. 125 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:38,160 I guess maybe a couple of years at the most. 126 00:07:38,300 --> 00:07:43,410 >> And you would have been in your early 20s at the time? 127 00:07:43,410 --> 00:07:57,750 >> I would say about 19, 20. 128 00:07:57,750 --> 00:08:00,690 >> So where did you-all play games? 129 00:08:00,690 --> 00:08:03,750 >> It wasn't too far from where I worked. 130 00:08:03,750 --> 00:08:09,550 I worked at the Georgia State Capitol. 131 00:08:09,550 --> 00:08:11,330 It was right near the dome. 132 00:08:11,330 --> 00:08:16,210 There was a dome. I guess the dome is still there, 133 00:08:16,210 --> 00:08:18,790 and it was right across the street. 134 00:08:18,790 --> 00:08:23,190 It was a Georgia State building. 135 00:08:23,190 --> 00:08:25,050 The State of Georgia. 136 00:08:25,050 --> 00:08:28,420 It was in the welfare department. 137 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:34,560 My department was when IBM first started 138 00:08:34,560 --> 00:08:41,760 and their computer was about as big this room almost. 139 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:45,150 The computers back then were very big. 140 00:08:45,150 --> 00:08:48,740 And I worked on 141 00:08:48,740 --> 00:08:54,630 an addressograph machine and it punched holes in 142 00:08:54,630 --> 00:09:00,430 cards and those cards were inserted into a machine 143 00:09:00,430 --> 00:09:08,300 that produced welfare checks for people that were poor. 144 00:09:09,970 --> 00:09:12,875 It was quite interesting. 145 00:09:12,875 --> 00:09:17,420 And people in my department, 146 00:09:17,420 --> 00:09:20,330 we would go on holidays together. 147 00:09:20,330 --> 00:09:26,040 We went to Daytona Beach and I got extremely burned. 148 00:09:27,870 --> 00:09:31,700 That's why I'm suffering today. 149 00:09:33,490 --> 00:09:42,570 But it was a nice close-knit family 150 00:09:42,570 --> 00:09:47,805 of work because I enjoyed it very much. 151 00:09:47,805 --> 00:09:53,650 >> That's good. You would 152 00:09:53,650 --> 00:09:55,130 have played games on 153 00:09:55,130 --> 00:09:57,330 that same field near where you were working. 154 00:09:57,330 --> 00:10:00,265 Was that also where you held practices? 155 00:10:00,265 --> 00:10:04,450 >> Yeah. We held practices there. 156 00:10:07,820 --> 00:10:10,725 I don't think it was far, 157 00:10:10,725 --> 00:10:15,510 not too far from where I worked, I think. 158 00:10:15,510 --> 00:10:19,255 >> So I know that the team sponsor was, 159 00:10:19,255 --> 00:10:20,830 I think his name was Holly Lough, 160 00:10:20,830 --> 00:10:26,410 and I think that may have been the man who you met. 161 00:10:26,900 --> 00:10:29,865 >> I think he was, yes. 162 00:10:29,865 --> 00:10:31,830 >> Do you have any other memories of him 163 00:10:31,830 --> 00:10:34,995 aside from getting you on the team in the first place? 164 00:10:34,995 --> 00:10:38,570 >> No. He was very friendly and nice 165 00:10:38,570 --> 00:10:43,350 and very easy with the payments on the car. 166 00:10:43,350 --> 00:10:46,140 I bought it on the never-never plan. 167 00:10:46,140 --> 00:10:49,105 >> What was the never-never plan? 168 00:10:49,105 --> 00:10:53,370 >> Whenever I could afford to pay him. 169 00:10:53,620 --> 00:10:57,630 He didn't really have a contract. 170 00:10:59,060 --> 00:11:02,410 I forget how much I paid for that car. 171 00:11:02,410 --> 00:11:05,225 It was a '49 Ford. 172 00:11:05,225 --> 00:11:08,530 The beautiful car. 173 00:11:08,780 --> 00:11:12,520 >> Did you have a team coach? 174 00:11:12,680 --> 00:11:17,780 >> I'm sure we did, but I don't remember him. 175 00:11:18,630 --> 00:11:22,500 >> What teams did you play against? 176 00:11:22,500 --> 00:11:25,290 Do you remember anything about them? 177 00:11:25,290 --> 00:11:27,285 >> When I played with? 178 00:11:27,285 --> 00:11:28,710 >> What were the teams that 179 00:11:28,710 --> 00:11:30,465 the Lorelei Ladies would play? 180 00:11:30,465 --> 00:11:33,740 I think that there was one called the Tomboys. 181 00:11:33,890 --> 00:11:38,265 >> I don't remember what their names were. 182 00:11:38,265 --> 00:11:41,380 They were all good. 183 00:11:41,910 --> 00:11:44,110 Much better than me. 184 00:11:44,110 --> 00:11:46,630 I was a little tiny thing, 185 00:11:46,630 --> 00:11:49,765 and I didn't have much power. 186 00:11:49,765 --> 00:11:53,080 But I substituted, 187 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:56,425 I played whatever they wanted me to. 188 00:11:56,425 --> 00:11:59,005 I really enjoyed it. 189 00:11:59,005 --> 00:12:00,115 >> That's great. 190 00:12:00,115 --> 00:12:01,900 >> If I had a ball in my hand, 191 00:12:01,900 --> 00:12:03,490 I was very happy. 192 00:12:03,490 --> 00:12:07,480 >> That's good. I know that 193 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:09,430 we talked a bit about 194 00:12:09,430 --> 00:12:11,560 some memories you have of traveling. 195 00:12:11,560 --> 00:12:13,825 Did you travel for games? 196 00:12:13,825 --> 00:12:20,140 >> Well, I traveled with them to Phoenix. 197 00:12:20,140 --> 00:12:24,655 And I probably traveled around Atlanta. 198 00:12:24,655 --> 00:12:28,900 But I remember the time we went to Phoenix, 199 00:12:28,900 --> 00:12:33,320 it was very hot. 200 00:12:33,990 --> 00:12:36,190 >> I think I had looked this up. 201 00:12:36,190 --> 00:12:40,030 Was that the world tournament in Phoenix in 1951? 202 00:12:40,030 --> 00:12:41,575 >> Yes. 203 00:12:41,575 --> 00:12:45,280 >> Do you remember how well the team did? 204 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:49,000 >> We didn't win. I'm not too 205 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:53,005 sure what position we ended up. 206 00:12:53,005 --> 00:12:56,785 >> Did you drive all the way there or did you fly? 207 00:12:56,785 --> 00:12:58,210 >> Drove. 208 00:12:58,210 --> 00:12:59,350 >> Wow. 209 00:12:59,350 --> 00:13:03,115 >> There were six girls in the car, 210 00:13:03,115 --> 00:13:06,235 three in front and three in the back. 211 00:13:06,235 --> 00:13:08,620 And as I recall, 212 00:13:08,620 --> 00:13:11,410 I don't know if we had air conditioning or not, 213 00:13:11,410 --> 00:13:14,020 but very, very hot. 214 00:13:14,020 --> 00:13:16,090 Phoenix was very, very hot. 215 00:13:16,090 --> 00:13:18,710 I'll always remember the heat. 216 00:13:19,050 --> 00:13:24,110 I don't even think the hotel had air conditioning. 217 00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:32,665 But we really we went horseback riding and it was fun. 218 00:13:32,665 --> 00:13:35,230 >> That sounds fun. 219 00:13:35,230 --> 00:13:37,270 You mentioned that you had 220 00:13:37,270 --> 00:13:39,670 a good time with your teammates. 221 00:13:39,670 --> 00:13:41,800 What do you remember about them? 222 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:42,850 Were they mostly from 223 00:13:42,850 --> 00:13:45,295 the Atlanta area or were they from all over? 224 00:13:45,295 --> 00:13:48,055 >> I think they were mostly from Atlanta. 225 00:13:48,055 --> 00:13:54,680 I never had a real bosom buddy on the team. 226 00:13:54,680 --> 00:14:00,765 But we had a lot of fun playing together. 227 00:14:00,765 --> 00:14:04,580 But I didn't socialize, 228 00:14:04,580 --> 00:14:07,600 I wasn't a very social person. 229 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:09,400 [LAUGHTER] 230 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:12,220 >> About how old were the other players? 231 00:14:12,220 --> 00:14:14,635 Were you all all about the same age? 232 00:14:14,635 --> 00:14:19,000 >> I would think so, maybe some were a little older. 233 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:23,590 >> Do you think they had job similar to yours? 234 00:14:23,590 --> 00:14:26,005 Do you know what all they did for a living? 235 00:14:26,005 --> 00:14:29,470 >> No, I don't remember what they did for a living, 236 00:14:29,470 --> 00:14:31,780 but I would imagine so. 237 00:14:31,780 --> 00:14:34,840 >> Were they mostly single women, 238 00:14:34,840 --> 00:14:36,955 were any of them married? 239 00:14:36,955 --> 00:14:44,360 >> I think a couple were married, but mostly single. 240 00:14:45,750 --> 00:14:47,980 >> So I know that 241 00:14:47,980 --> 00:14:51,610 the Lorelei Ladies also had a basketball team. 242 00:14:51,610 --> 00:14:53,440 Did you just play softball or did 243 00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:55,825 you do anything with the basketball team? 244 00:14:55,825 --> 00:14:57,115 >> Softball. 245 00:14:57,115 --> 00:14:58,570 >> Just softball? Do you remember 246 00:14:58,570 --> 00:15:01,130 that they had a basketball team? 247 00:15:01,500 --> 00:15:05,815 >> Now, thinking back, 248 00:15:05,815 --> 00:15:09,445 if I had thought they had a basketball team, 249 00:15:09,445 --> 00:15:11,890 I would have thought that I would try to join 250 00:15:11,890 --> 00:15:15,590 it because I love basketball, too. 251 00:15:15,630 --> 00:15:23,590 But maybe I didn't know about the basketball team. 252 00:15:23,590 --> 00:15:27,100 >> That may have been before your time. 253 00:15:27,100 --> 00:15:29,410 I know that they had a basketball team for 254 00:15:29,410 --> 00:15:32,575 a while that would play out at Southern Tech, 255 00:15:32,575 --> 00:15:36,040 which is part of KSU now. 256 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:38,290 So I was just wondering if that was still 257 00:15:38,290 --> 00:15:39,940 around when you were playing, 258 00:15:39,940 --> 00:15:41,560 but it may not have been. 259 00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:43,790 >> I'm not sure. 260 00:15:44,460 --> 00:15:50,650 >> Can you tell me when you left the team and why? 261 00:15:50,650 --> 00:15:54,490 >> Well, I met my husband and 262 00:15:54,490 --> 00:16:00,475 that put it into my softball. 263 00:16:00,475 --> 00:16:04,525 Of course, he didn't particularly like sports. 264 00:16:04,525 --> 00:16:07,510 He was a Georgia Tech guy. 265 00:16:07,510 --> 00:16:11,620 And we went to a lot of movies, 266 00:16:11,620 --> 00:16:17,950 and so my playing days were just about over. 267 00:16:17,950 --> 00:16:20,230 >> You just got too busy? 268 00:16:20,230 --> 00:16:22,850 >> I got too busy. 269 00:16:22,890 --> 00:16:27,740 >> And then when did you get married? 270 00:16:34,260 --> 00:16:39,115 >> April 1954. 271 00:16:39,115 --> 00:16:41,875 >> April of 1954. 272 00:16:41,875 --> 00:16:45,490 >> Did you all stay in Atlanta or did you move? 273 00:16:45,490 --> 00:16:46,960 >> Sorry? 274 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:48,295 >> Did you stay in Atlanta. 275 00:16:48,295 --> 00:16:50,935 Was he still at Georgia Tech at that time? 276 00:16:50,935 --> 00:16:56,350 >> Right. We were there for maybe a couple of years. 277 00:16:56,350 --> 00:17:02,800 And then he was a private pilot at the time. 278 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:08,230 And he used to fly tropical fish. 279 00:17:08,230 --> 00:17:12,655 >> That was after you left Atlanta. 280 00:17:12,655 --> 00:17:17,185 That was after he graduated from Georgia Tech? 281 00:17:17,185 --> 00:17:20,545 >> He graduated from Tech, yes. 282 00:17:20,545 --> 00:17:26,110 And then he was 283 00:17:26,110 --> 00:17:32,740 flying tropical fish from the Amazon to Tampa, Florida. 284 00:17:32,740 --> 00:17:41,665 And he had to stop in the Island of Jamaica to refuel, 285 00:17:41,665 --> 00:17:44,590 but then he had to get clearance to go into 286 00:17:44,590 --> 00:17:48,775 Columbia, South America. 287 00:17:48,775 --> 00:17:51,550 And back then, it took 288 00:17:51,550 --> 00:17:54,430 a while to get clearance to do that. 289 00:17:54,430 --> 00:17:57,970 So I had to get the clearance form in Tampa 290 00:17:57,970 --> 00:18:03,310 with the Colombian Embassy. 291 00:18:03,310 --> 00:18:05,980 I didn't speak Spanish. 292 00:18:05,980 --> 00:18:11,980 So my husband's sister who could speak Spanish, 293 00:18:11,980 --> 00:18:16,300 she was there and she interpreted everything. 294 00:18:16,300 --> 00:18:18,340 So I got him clearance, 295 00:18:18,340 --> 00:18:22,750 but he stayed in Jamaica for about a week to go down. 296 00:18:22,750 --> 00:18:27,640 And he loved Jamaica and everybody was so friendly. 297 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:32,650 And we ended up spending 20 years in Jamaica. 298 00:18:32,650 --> 00:18:33,651 >> Oh, wow. 299 00:18:33,810 --> 00:18:39,070 >> He ran an airline in Jamaica called 300 00:18:39,070 --> 00:18:45,325 Jamaica Air Taxi and Trans Jamaica Air Airlines. 301 00:18:45,325 --> 00:18:48,295 And that was quite exciting. 302 00:18:48,295 --> 00:18:51,040 >> Did you enjoy the time in Jamaica? 303 00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:54,710 >> The children were born in Jamaica. 304 00:18:55,560 --> 00:18:59,110 So that was a lot of fun. 305 00:18:59,110 --> 00:19:00,775 >> Oh, that's great. 306 00:19:00,775 --> 00:19:04,970 >> And we came back to the states in 1980. 307 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:08,620 >> And then you relocated 308 00:19:08,620 --> 00:19:11,530 from Atlanta or did you go back to Atlanta? 309 00:19:11,530 --> 00:19:21,680 >> No, we went to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 310 00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:26,545 Actually, Plantation, Florida, 311 00:19:26,545 --> 00:19:30,830 which is a suburb of Fort Lauderdale. 312 00:19:32,580 --> 00:19:36,500 He actually ran a business. 313 00:19:37,500 --> 00:19:42,400 He started with other people, 314 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:48,440 of course, computer animation. 315 00:19:49,620 --> 00:19:54,340 And he animated automobile accidents, 316 00:19:54,340 --> 00:19:57,680 and they presented them in court. 317 00:19:58,320 --> 00:20:02,090 So that was quite interesting. 318 00:20:03,300 --> 00:20:07,720 So my husband was a jack of all trades. 319 00:20:07,720 --> 00:20:09,920 >> That sounds like it. 320 00:20:10,110 --> 00:20:13,900 Were you mostly a homemaker during this time, 321 00:20:13,900 --> 00:20:16,630 or did you have a career outside the home? 322 00:20:16,630 --> 00:20:19,780 >> Sometimes I did temporary work. 323 00:20:19,780 --> 00:20:20,665 >> I see. 324 00:20:20,665 --> 00:20:22,780 >> But mostly at home. 325 00:20:22,780 --> 00:20:25,315 I had three children. 326 00:20:25,315 --> 00:20:27,850 >> Did they grow up playing baseball? 327 00:20:27,850 --> 00:20:29,440 >> You want to show your face. 328 00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:31,380 [LAUGHTER] 329 00:20:31,380 --> 00:20:32,130 >> Hi. 330 00:20:32,130 --> 00:20:32,835 >> Hi. 331 00:20:32,835 --> 00:20:34,595 >> Thanks. 332 00:20:34,595 --> 00:20:37,300 >> What did you say did they play? 333 00:20:37,300 --> 00:20:39,565 >> Did they play baseball as children? 334 00:20:39,565 --> 00:20:42,460 >> No. [LAUGHTER] 335 00:20:42,460 --> 00:20:44,560 >> Joe played baseball. 336 00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:46,825 >> Not very well. 337 00:20:46,825 --> 00:20:52,615 >> Joe? You used to keep score. 338 00:20:52,615 --> 00:20:56,170 >> No, Joe change did not. 339 00:20:56,170 --> 00:20:59,830 I didn't pass on any of those changes. 340 00:20:59,830 --> 00:21:02,845 >> They had other interests, I suppose. 341 00:21:02,845 --> 00:21:05,420 >> But I had three children. 342 00:21:07,170 --> 00:21:09,610 >> Have you kept up with professional 343 00:21:09,610 --> 00:21:11,230 baseball over the years? 344 00:21:11,230 --> 00:21:13,640 Is that an interest of yours? 345 00:21:15,240 --> 00:21:21,440 >> For a while I was rooting for Atlanta. 346 00:21:22,260 --> 00:21:24,055 >> Braves. 347 00:21:24,055 --> 00:21:27,430 >> At one time, they were called the Atlanta Crackers. 348 00:21:27,430 --> 00:21:30,290 >> Oh, really? I didn't know that. 349 00:21:31,830 --> 00:21:38,980 >> But now I'm into basketball. 350 00:21:38,980 --> 00:21:41,440 I love the Miami Heat. 351 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:45,340 >> Oh, fantastic. [LAUGHTER] You 352 00:21:45,340 --> 00:21:46,885 mentioned that your father was 353 00:21:46,885 --> 00:21:48,880 a semi professional ball player. 354 00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:52,480 Do you think he encouraged you to play ball? 355 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:57,500 >> Actually, my mother and father were separated. 356 00:21:57,600 --> 00:22:03,760 So I didn't really have grow up with my father very much. 357 00:22:03,760 --> 00:22:06,770 But he never encouraged me, 358 00:22:08,370 --> 00:22:12,170 you're born with it, I guess. 359 00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:16,180 I didn't play with girls, 360 00:22:16,180 --> 00:22:18,185 I played with boys. 361 00:22:18,185 --> 00:22:20,700 >> Was your time on the Lorelei Ladies 362 00:22:20,700 --> 00:22:22,800 the first opportunity you'd really 363 00:22:22,800 --> 00:22:26,470 had to play baseball with other girls? 364 00:22:28,190 --> 00:22:31,895 >> I never played baseball with girls. 365 00:22:31,895 --> 00:22:33,730 When I was going to school, 366 00:22:33,730 --> 00:22:38,740 we never had a girls softball team in my school. 367 00:22:38,740 --> 00:22:43,540 We had girls basketball, which I played. 368 00:22:43,540 --> 00:22:46,750 But my school has never had 369 00:22:46,750 --> 00:22:51,385 a girls baseball team or a softball team. 370 00:22:51,385 --> 00:22:53,620 >> That's so interesting to think 371 00:22:53,620 --> 00:22:56,620 about a city like Atlanta had 372 00:22:56,620 --> 00:22:58,840 enough people that there were 373 00:22:58,840 --> 00:23:02,330 enough women who could get a team together. 374 00:23:02,610 --> 00:23:05,335 >> You're talking about Atlanta? 375 00:23:05,335 --> 00:23:06,565 >> Yes. 376 00:23:06,565 --> 00:23:10,345 >> No, I'm talking about in South Georgia. 377 00:23:10,345 --> 00:23:12,715 >> I meant that when you got to Atlanta, 378 00:23:12,715 --> 00:23:16,270 there was a team there that you could play with. 379 00:23:16,270 --> 00:23:21,310 >> Exactly. And I only learned about it from, 380 00:23:21,310 --> 00:23:25,825 I guess his name was Mr. Lough? 381 00:23:25,825 --> 00:23:30,890 >> Yes. I think it's Lower Lough, L-O-U-G-H. 382 00:23:31,620 --> 00:23:34,315 >> He was very nice. 383 00:23:34,315 --> 00:23:38,600 >> Did your co-workers know that you played baseball? 384 00:23:41,140 --> 00:23:44,540 >> I don't know. I don't remember. 385 00:23:44,540 --> 00:23:50,210 >> That's okay. Well, is there anything else 386 00:23:50,210 --> 00:23:52,280 that we haven't talked about that 387 00:23:52,280 --> 00:23:55,370 you'd like to tell us about, 388 00:23:55,370 --> 00:23:56,990 either about your time on the Lorelei 389 00:23:56,990 --> 00:23:59,970 Ladies or in Atlanta. 390 00:24:01,150 --> 00:24:05,855 >> I can just say I enjoyed it very, very much. 391 00:24:05,855 --> 00:24:10,760 I loved playing any type of ball, really. 392 00:24:10,760 --> 00:24:14,570 >> That's great. I did mean to ask what kind of 393 00:24:14,570 --> 00:24:16,370 things did you do for fun in 394 00:24:16,370 --> 00:24:18,965 Atlanta when you were living there? 395 00:24:18,965 --> 00:24:21,590 >> We went to a lot of movies, 396 00:24:21,590 --> 00:24:28,850 drive in and the company 397 00:24:28,850 --> 00:24:29,900 I worked for was 398 00:24:29,900 --> 00:24:33,875 the Children's Welfare Department. 399 00:24:33,875 --> 00:24:38,370 And we went to picnics every year. 400 00:24:40,090 --> 00:24:42,560 The companies I worked for, 401 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:44,570 they were very close-knit. 402 00:24:44,570 --> 00:24:47,045 We all did things together. 403 00:24:47,045 --> 00:24:51,020 >> That's nice. And you, 404 00:24:51,020 --> 00:24:53,750 were you living alone or 405 00:24:53,750 --> 00:24:56,105 with family when you were living in Atlanta? 406 00:24:56,105 --> 00:24:57,395 >> With my mother. 407 00:24:57,395 --> 00:24:59,130 >> With your mother. 408 00:25:00,040 --> 00:25:02,930 >> Just me and my mother.. 409 00:25:02,930 --> 00:25:12,560 >> That's nice. I'm trying to think of how to ask, 410 00:25:12,560 --> 00:25:16,760 what did you think the general attitudes were like 411 00:25:16,760 --> 00:25:21,305 about girls playing sports in that period of time? 412 00:25:21,305 --> 00:25:22,610 I know that you said there were 413 00:25:22,610 --> 00:25:25,590 not as many opportunities. 414 00:25:27,790 --> 00:25:34,310 >> No, I think people gravitated to the girls teams. 415 00:25:34,310 --> 00:25:38,342 I think people enjoyed Washington. 416 00:25:38,342 --> 00:25:42,350 It was a nice close-knit team. 417 00:25:42,350 --> 00:25:44,090 Everybody got along. 418 00:25:44,090 --> 00:25:46,025 Nobody thought. 419 00:25:46,025 --> 00:25:48,170 >> That's good. 420 00:25:48,170 --> 00:25:51,890 >> We had a good time when we went to Phoenix. 421 00:25:51,890 --> 00:25:53,435 >> That's great. 422 00:25:53,435 --> 00:25:56,135 >> Do you want to tell any of the stories? 423 00:25:56,135 --> 00:25:57,920 You told me some details 424 00:25:57,920 --> 00:26:00,185 about when you went on the horseback. 425 00:26:00,185 --> 00:26:03,245 >> We went horseback riding. 426 00:26:03,245 --> 00:26:05,510 I'd never been on a horse before. 427 00:26:05,510 --> 00:26:06,590 >> Oh, wow. 428 00:26:06,590 --> 00:26:08,540 >> And the horse was 429 00:26:08,540 --> 00:26:12,860 three or four horses with girls on them. 430 00:26:12,860 --> 00:26:16,020 And they would be trotting slowly. 431 00:26:16,020 --> 00:26:18,265 But then I think the horses got 432 00:26:18,265 --> 00:26:21,740 tired and they wanted to go back home. 433 00:26:21,740 --> 00:26:25,870 So they practically turned us 434 00:26:25,870 --> 00:26:30,065 around and they started galloping. 435 00:26:30,065 --> 00:26:30,845 >> Oh, no. 436 00:26:30,845 --> 00:26:34,170 >> And I'm holding on for dear life. 437 00:26:34,240 --> 00:26:39,155 I remember that I didn't want to fall off. 438 00:26:39,155 --> 00:26:40,595 >> My goodness. 439 00:26:40,595 --> 00:26:45,890 >> That was an experience and it was very hot in Phoenix, 440 00:26:45,890 --> 00:26:48,020 and I don't think that hotels were air 441 00:26:48,020 --> 00:26:50,975 conditioned. 442 00:26:50,975 --> 00:26:50,976 >> Oh, bad. 443 00:26:50,976 --> 00:26:53,420 >> And that was a misery, too. 444 00:26:53,420 --> 00:26:58,130 But as far as playing, it was fine. 445 00:26:58,130 --> 00:27:01,400 We didn't win the tournament that year. 446 00:27:01,400 --> 00:27:05,210 >> Did you travel any of the other years? 447 00:27:05,210 --> 00:27:10,250 >> I don't think so because I don't remember. 448 00:27:10,250 --> 00:27:12,620 I think I would've remembered. 449 00:27:12,620 --> 00:27:18,695 >> I think they went to Toronto maybe in '53 or '54. 450 00:27:18,695 --> 00:27:21,380 That may have been after your time. 451 00:27:21,380 --> 00:27:24,035 >> Right. I didn't stay with them. 452 00:27:24,035 --> 00:27:28,865 I would say I left them in early '54. 453 00:27:28,865 --> 00:27:33,500 So I think I was with him for about a year. 454 00:27:33,500 --> 00:27:37,040 >> Do you remember the young lady, 455 00:27:37,040 --> 00:27:39,830 her name was, I think, Frances Wallace? 456 00:27:39,830 --> 00:27:42,005 >> I read about her. 457 00:27:42,005 --> 00:27:47,315 But it didn't strike me back then. 458 00:27:47,315 --> 00:27:50,840 >> She may have been on the team after you. 459 00:27:50,840 --> 00:27:52,475 >> She probably was. 460 00:27:52,475 --> 00:27:53,555 >> I see. 461 00:27:53,555 --> 00:27:59,345 >> I read about it the other day. She was quite good. 462 00:27:59,345 --> 00:28:01,895 >> It seems like she was pretty good. 463 00:28:01,895 --> 00:28:04,295 >> Do you play? 464 00:28:04,295 --> 00:28:09,270 >> No, ma'am. I was not very athletically inclined. 465 00:28:09,610 --> 00:28:13,085 But I appreciate all of these stories. 466 00:28:13,085 --> 00:28:14,810 They're wonderful to have. 467 00:28:14,810 --> 00:28:19,340 >> Something you'll always remember. 468 00:28:19,340 --> 00:28:23,135 >> I was in the marching band. 469 00:28:23,135 --> 00:28:26,450 That was me. But is 470 00:28:26,450 --> 00:28:30,630 there anything else you'd like to share with us today? 471 00:28:31,030 --> 00:28:34,730 >> You think of anything? 472 00:28:34,730 --> 00:28:36,260 >> No, just the boys 473 00:28:36,260 --> 00:28:40,940 the men that were whistling at you in Phoenix, 474 00:28:40,940 --> 00:28:42,770 the team when you run out. 475 00:28:42,770 --> 00:28:46,985 >> The girls are out walking around, 476 00:28:46,985 --> 00:28:49,130 of course, boys follow you, 477 00:28:49,130 --> 00:28:51,785 you know how that is. 478 00:28:51,785 --> 00:29:01,400 I guess. I think they do that very much now. 479 00:29:01,400 --> 00:29:07,060 I think it's probably against the law. 480 00:29:07,060 --> 00:29:10,255 >> When you say they followed you, what do you mean? 481 00:29:10,255 --> 00:29:13,190 >> Trying to be friendly 482 00:29:13,190 --> 00:29:16,055 with you so you might date them or something. 483 00:29:16,055 --> 00:29:17,720 >> Now, was that when you 484 00:29:17,720 --> 00:29:21,230 were on the field or off the field? 485 00:29:21,230 --> 00:29:26,150 >> When you were maybe traveling in. 486 00:29:26,150 --> 00:29:27,590 >> I see. 487 00:29:27,590 --> 00:29:30,200 >> If the girls go out in a bunch you there's 488 00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:34,820 always boys that are going to be following you. 489 00:29:34,820 --> 00:29:38,750 But I must 490 00:29:38,750 --> 00:29:46,205 say one thing we used to do that we did then. 491 00:29:46,205 --> 00:29:50,030 We filled balloons with water. 492 00:29:50,030 --> 00:29:52,385 >> On the trip? 493 00:29:52,385 --> 00:29:57,680 >> Yeah, when we got to Phoenix and the boys were 494 00:29:57,680 --> 00:30:00,320 down I guess we were on 495 00:30:00,320 --> 00:30:02,105 the second or third floor up 496 00:30:02,105 --> 00:30:05,105 yet and we'd opened the window. 497 00:30:05,105 --> 00:30:07,940 And we filled the balloons 498 00:30:07,940 --> 00:30:10,740 with water and throw them down. 499 00:30:11,260 --> 00:30:14,105 Stupid things like that. 500 00:30:14,105 --> 00:30:18,890 >> Well, what were they doing when you 501 00:30:18,890 --> 00:30:20,600 were throwing water balloons at them? 502 00:30:20,600 --> 00:30:22,070 Had they been kind 503 00:30:22,070 --> 00:30:26,675 of saying anything to you or was that just. 504 00:30:26,675 --> 00:30:27,815 >> You mean the boys? 505 00:30:27,815 --> 00:30:28,700 >> Yeah. 506 00:30:28,700 --> 00:30:31,820 >> When you're like a bunch of girls walking on 507 00:30:31,820 --> 00:30:34,850 the sidewalk and guys 508 00:30:34,850 --> 00:30:41,210 or young men are around and they try to pick you up. 509 00:30:41,210 --> 00:30:44,630 >> Sure. So the water balloons were to discourage them. 510 00:30:44,630 --> 00:30:47,315 >> I don't know if it happens today or not. 511 00:30:47,315 --> 00:30:51,410 >> I think it does. But that was kind 512 00:30:51,410 --> 00:30:55,115 of asking them to leave, basically. 513 00:30:55,115 --> 00:30:59,255 >> We were having fun throwing balloons before. 514 00:30:59,255 --> 00:31:07,010 >> That does sound fun. I did 515 00:31:07,010 --> 00:31:08,345 want to ask one other thing. 516 00:31:08,345 --> 00:31:12,230 I noticed in the photograph that 517 00:31:12,230 --> 00:31:17,660 you pointed out that you're in your uniforms. 518 00:31:17,660 --> 00:31:21,575 What do you remember about your uniforms for the team? 519 00:31:21,575 --> 00:31:23,990 >> Yes, I call them bloomers. 520 00:31:23,990 --> 00:31:27,570 They were bushy. 521 00:31:28,540 --> 00:31:30,650 When you had them on, 522 00:31:30,650 --> 00:31:33,300 it didn't look so hot. 523 00:31:34,930 --> 00:31:39,230 >> Were they easy or hard to play in? 524 00:31:39,230 --> 00:31:41,465 >> No. They were easy. 525 00:31:41,465 --> 00:31:45,810 They were sort of bloom out. 526 00:31:48,250 --> 00:31:50,730 >> Good. 527 00:31:51,460 --> 00:31:54,260 >> They weren'tlike short shorts. 528 00:31:54,260 --> 00:31:55,445 They were bloomers. 529 00:31:55,445 --> 00:31:59,300 >> I see. Yes. I guess 530 00:31:59,300 --> 00:32:02,030 most men who played baseball at the time 531 00:32:02,030 --> 00:32:05,780 wore pants or would they wear shorts? 532 00:32:05,780 --> 00:32:09,590 >> Baseball, I would imagine they wore pants. 533 00:32:09,590 --> 00:32:12,455 >> So they didn't have you wear. 534 00:32:12,455 --> 00:32:15,815 >> I don't remember seeing men in shorts. 535 00:32:15,815 --> 00:32:18,960 >> I see. But the girls wore shorts? 536 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:20,810 >> Yeah. 537 00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:28,210 >> You said it was easy to play in, but I mean, 538 00:32:28,210 --> 00:32:30,070 would you get skin knees and things 539 00:32:30,070 --> 00:32:33,495 because your legs weren't covered? 540 00:32:33,495 --> 00:32:35,255 >> Did I get what? 541 00:32:35,255 --> 00:32:37,625 >> Did you ever get skin knees or 542 00:32:37,625 --> 00:32:41,255 bruises or anything because your legs weren't covered? 543 00:32:41,255 --> 00:32:50,900 >> Not really. Well, as I recall in high school, 544 00:32:50,900 --> 00:32:53,250 we had bloomers. 545 00:32:59,280 --> 00:33:03,355 We might have practiced in long pants. 546 00:33:03,355 --> 00:33:05,125 >> I see. 547 00:33:05,125 --> 00:33:07,570 >> Maybe I'm thinking 548 00:33:07,570 --> 00:33:10,285 about the basketball uniforms. 549 00:33:10,285 --> 00:33:14,350 >> Maybe. It looked like you all played in shorts in 550 00:33:14,350 --> 00:33:17,210 the scrapbook pictures or 551 00:33:17,210 --> 00:33:19,160 it looks like your uniform shorts. 552 00:33:19,160 --> 00:33:25,310 >> I wish I had saved some of my uniforms. 553 00:33:25,310 --> 00:33:27,365 I didn't save anything. 554 00:33:27,365 --> 00:33:30,960 >> Well, I'm so glad we have that picture of you. 555 00:33:31,270 --> 00:33:36,020 >> But it was very, very nice. 556 00:33:36,020 --> 00:33:37,820 I enjoyed every minute. 557 00:33:37,820 --> 00:33:43,400 >> Wonderful. Well, unless you have 558 00:33:43,400 --> 00:33:45,050 anything else you'd like to share, 559 00:33:45,050 --> 00:33:48,530 I'll go ahead and conclude the interview. 560 00:33:48,530 --> 00:33:51,080 But thank you so much Ms. 561 00:33:51,080 --> 00:33:54,570 Mantel for sharing your memories with us. 562 00:33:54,910 --> 00:33:59,130 >> Well, thank you. I hope 563 00:33:59,770 --> 00:34:03,650 some of our players are still around. 564 00:34:03,650 --> 00:34:05,810 I'm sure they are. 565 00:34:05,810 --> 00:34:09,875 >> From your era, I'm not sure that many are, 566 00:34:09,875 --> 00:34:13,110 but I'm very pleased to have gotten to speak with you. 567 00:34:13,110 --> 00:34:16,075 >> Nice and good luck to you. 568 00:34:16,075 --> 00:34:18,170 >> Thank you.