The All American Girls Professional Baseball League Players Association, Inc. extends its deepest gratitude to Merrie Fidler as she concludes her service on the Association's Board of Directors.

Merrie was elected to the Board in 2007 and has served as Secretary since 2008, providing the Association with nearly two decades of dedicated Board leadership. Throughout those years, her knowledge, careful attention to the history of the League, and commitment to the women who made that history have been invaluable to the Association.

Merrie's connection to the AAGPBL reaches back much further than her Board service. She began researching the League in 1971, when its remarkable story remained largely unknown to the broader public. Her research became the subject of her master's thesis at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1976. She attended the first AAGPBL National Reunion in Chicago in 1982 and was present for the opening of the National Baseball Hall of Fame's first Women in Baseball exhibit in 1988. After retiring from a career in teaching and coaching, Merrie expanded and published her research in the 2006 book The Origins and History of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League.

Her service to the Players Association has extended well beyond her duties as Secretary. Merrie has contributed extensive committee work, including leadership of the Association's Database and Humanitarian Committees, helping preserve information and support the people at the heart of the organization. In 2019, the Association recognized her years of exceptional service with its Outstanding Associate Award.

Merrie's scholarship, institutional knowledge and dedication have helped preserve an important part of women's baseball history and ensure that the accomplishments of the women of the AAGPBL are documented and remembered for generations to come.

While Merrie is stepping away from the Board, she remains an important part of the AAGPBL Players Association and its work. Her depth of knowledge and decades of experience are resources the Association deeply values, and we know there will continue to be times when we call upon her expertise, perspective and historical knowledge. We are especially grateful for Merrie's continued willingness to volunteer her time and remain involved in supporting the organization and its mission.

On behalf of the Board, our members, our players and the entire AAGPBL-PA family, we offer our sincere thanks to Merrie for her many years of Board leadership, friendship and devoted service. We are grateful not only for everything she has already given to the Association, but also that she will continue to be part of its future.

Thank you, Merrie.