Irene Ruhnke

Irene Ruhnke (later Sanvitis; March 30, 1920 – July 13, 1999) was an infielder and outfielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). Listed at , 130 lb., she batted and threw right-handed. She was nicknamed "Ruhnke Dunk". Early life Born in Chicago, Illinois, one of 13 siblings, Irene and her sister, Alice (later Mrs. Alice Cygan) started playing baseball when they attended St. Bridget's Catholic School in Bridgeport, Illinois. They competed against teams throughout the city. They kept playing when they attended Kelly High School. Her most productive season came in her rookie year, when she posted career numbers in average (.253), runs (54) and slugging (.316).

Life after baseball Following her baseball career, she spent the rest of her life in Rockford, Illinois, where she married and had two sons. She worked as a machine operator for 27 years at J. L. Clark Corp., from which she retired in 1985.

She died on July 13, 1999, aged 79, at the Swedish American Hospital in Rockford after a brief illness.

In 1988, Ruhnke became part of Women in Baseball, a permanent display based at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York, which was unveiled to honor the entire All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.

Career statistics Batting Fielding GPPOAETCDPFA 322 524 333 103 960 27 ..893