A new exhibit at the Caterpillar Visitors Center showcases the company’s historic women’s soft-ball team. Peoria Public Radio’s Alex Rusciano reports:
It’s called “Caterpillar Dieselettes: The Girls of Summer.”
The Caterpillar Dieselettes softball team started in 1936 and drew thousands of people to their games. Katheryn Spitznagle manages the Caterpillar Visitors Center. She says the world-famous team balanced life on and off the field:
“They were in accounting, they were in the mailroom, they were in comp and benefits, they had all kinds of different jobs and careers at Caterpillar, and then night and weekend they’d play softball.”
The new exhibit runs through October and features team artifacts, a digital photo album and game footage. The softball team is still in existence today as the Pekin Lettes.