Fredda Louise Acker [Thompson] was a professional baseballer and beauty queen. She joined the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in 1947 and was used mainly for publicity purposes. Born in Anderson County, South Carolina, Fredda was the daughter of Henry and Mae Thompson. Her father, who worked in the local textile mill, encouraged Freda and her brothers and sisters at a young age to actively participate in different sports. As a teenager, she began playing amateur softball for the textile teams and excelled as a hard-throwing pitcher. After high school graduation, she married John Lewis Acker in 1944. In November 1946, Fredda Acker was named Mrs. America 1947 in replacement of Janice Pollock, original winner of the contest, who had to decline a six-month tour of the country as part of her reward because of her husband's disapproval. The first AAGPBL spring training outside the United States was held in 1947 in Havana, Cuba, as part of a plan to create an International League of Girls Baseball. The league hired Acker to assist in a charm school and fashion show during the trip. 

September 28th, 1925 in   /  Died:   Jan 1st, 1985