St. Louis Trailblazer Erma Bergmann: From Pitcher's Mound to Patrol by Patricia Treacy

Breaking Glass Ceilings in St. Louis 

Erma Mary Bergmann was a generation ahead of her time. She was born in a cold-water flat over a shoe store on South Broadway in St. Louis's Soulard area. Restrained by the Great Depression and the minority status of women in the 1930s and '40s, she hoped someday to climb out of poverty. When she was recruited to play baseball with the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, her life changed. She pitched a no-hitter in 1947. She parlayed her natural athletic ability into two successful careers, baseball and policing. She spent twenty-five years as a policewoman, serving on the dangerous Decoy Squad. Author Patricia Treacy details the history of a pioneering woman.

About the Author

Patricia Treacy is a lifelong St. Louisan and has been a writer for thirty years. She is retired from St. Luke's Hospital, where she was director of public relations and coordinator of services for older adults. She has a special interest in local history and is a member of the Missouri Historical Society, Landmarks Association and the National Women's History Museum. Her book Grand Hotels of St. Louis, published by Arcadia Publishing, has been a catalyst for downtown tours. She is pleased to tell Erma's story and hopes that it will help motivate a young woman.

Product Specifications

Published by Arcadia Publishing, 2023. Paperback, 144 pages.