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Gertie Dunn sculpture’s comments
Gertie Dunn, from the artist’s perspective:
When Jim Vankoski, Phil Damiani, and Rich Pagano approached me to create a statue to honor Gertie Dunn, I knew it would be an exciting project.
To say Gertie Dunn is an inspiration is an understatement. She is one of the greatest female athletes of all time and was born and raised right here, in Delco, Pennsylvania. She played multiple sports, including field hockey, lacrosse, and golf, and was named Rookie of the Year in 1952 while playing in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Along with the entire league, she was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. They even made a film, A League of Their Own, about the extraordinary female baseball players of that time. In gest, Gertie shared with Jim that Madonna played her role in the movie.
Making a statue is often a group effort, and between the photos Jim supplied me with and the even harder to find photos Gertie’s niece, Valerie Dunn, shared with me, I had everything I needed to capture her amazing energy and grace as an athlete.
The pose for the statue is of Gertie playing shortstop in a vintage uniform from the era. She is touching second base with one foot and striding forward to throw the baseball after just catching it—all while holding the ball in proper shortstop form. She is staring ahead, poised to let go of the ball, while the breeze tosses her hair and skirt to one side. It was easy to imagine her at that moment. This type of commissioned sculpture is a pure joy for me to make. I found it immensely rewarding to create a statue that will help keep her memory alive.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Frudakis-Petry, sculp
Gertie Dunn
Gertrude “Gertie” Dunn, one of Delaware County’s greatest athletes of all time, graduated from Sharon Hill High School in 1952. Later Gertie attended West Chester University and graduated with the class of 1960. The Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum has commissioned sculptor Jennifer Frudakis Petry to create a twenty-four-inch bronze sculpture of Gertie playing for the South Bend Blue Sox of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, made famous by the 1992 film A League of Their Own.
At the conclusion of her first season with the Blue Sox in 1952, Gertie was named Rookie of the Year after leading her team to the championship. She went on to play and coach field hockey and lacrosse and was eventually named to the US Field Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988 and posthumously inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2007.
The photo above shows a work-in-progress clay model. Once completed, it will be sent to the foundry, where a bronze statue will be constructed. For more information on Gertie’s athletic achievements, visit www.
Gertie Dunn, In a League of Her Own
The Sports Legends of Delaware County has commissioned renowned sculptor Jennifer Frudakis Petry to produce a twenty-three-inch-tall bronze sculpture of Gertrude “Gertie” Dunn, one of Delco’s all-time great athletes. Jennifer’s work, valued at approximately $10,000, will become part of the SLDC Museum’s permanent collection.
To commemorate the occasion, the museum is offering a chance for fans of Gertie and friends of the museum to own a fractional ownership share of this historic work. Anyone making a $100 donation will receive a one-percent ownership interest—with all the rights and benefits that ownership entails. Percent ownership increases with each additional tax-deductible donation of $100. A $200 donation, for example, will earn memorabilia collectors a two-percent ownership interest. Each person with an ownership interest will be provided with documentation listing their name and percentage of ownership interest. All fractional share owners will have their names posted alongside Jennifer’s magnificent sculpture, creating a personal connection for all to see. The insurance value of Jennifer’s sculpture is $10,000, meaning that a total of 100 shares will be offered. For those donating $500 or more to the museum, Jennifer has generously agreed to produce a reduction [copy] of the original sculpture that is sure to find a place of honor in the proud owner’s home or office.
“She was in a league of her own,” Jennifer says of one of Delco’s greatest athletes. According to museum curator Jim Vankoski, the sculpture will be displayed in the museum’s Janie Barkman Brown/Mary Ellen Clark Women’s Sports Gallery at the museum, located at 301 Iven Avenue in Wayne, Pennsylvania. In the meantime, friends and fans can view more of Jennifer’s work at her website: www.jenfrudakis.com.
Oh Those Skirts
A great story regarding the Uniforms designed for the movie “A League of Their Own.
All Fractional Share Donors will receive a replica Gertie Dunn South Bend Blue Sox cap.
Gertie Dunn Coloring Contest
In keeping with our dual mission of acknowledging excellence and preserving the heritage of our local sports history, the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum is happy to announce the winner of the Gertrude “Gertie” Dunn Connect
And the first-place winner is—drum roll, please—Julia Metzger. Julia attends Lake Forest Central Elementary School, located in Felton, Delaware. Her teachers are Mr. Evans and Mrs. Tucker. Julia’s winning entry will be placed on display at the museum’s website: www.delscosportsmuseum.org. For more information contact Jim Vankoski vankoski21@comcast.net
