Marge “Pancho” Cryan, 98, Honored by the City of Montebello
The City of Montebello, California honored Marge “Pancho” Cryan on August 19, 2023 by naming the girls’ softball field after her. Cryan was a pioneer in women’s sports and a star player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL).
Born and raised in Montebello, Cryan was a tomboy who loved baseball from a young age. She began playing professional softball at the age of 14 and was asked to join the AAGPBL in 1946. She played for the Kenosha Comets and was known for her power hitting and speed. In one game, she drove in nine runs and collected 11 total bases, setting two single-game league records that still stand today.
Cryan retired from baseball in 1950 due to a shoulder injury, but she continued to play golf and was an accomplished golfer. She married and had two children.
Cryan was a technical advisor for the film “A League of Their Own” in 1992 and in 2018 one of her uniforms was donated to the Smithsonian.
The ceremony to name the softball field after Cryan was attended by her family, friends, and city officials. Mayor David Torres said, “I hope to honor Marge Villa and teach children about their Montebello heritage. Her story is an inspiration to the nation, but especially to everyone who calls our city their home.”
