The Lionettes’ World Series event program is from 1954. All of these items are a part of the Orange History Center’s ephemera collection.
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Two institutions stand as testaments to the city’s history: the Orange Lionettes softball team and the History Center at the Orange Public Library.
The Orange Lionettes, founded in 1936, quickly became the city’s most celebrated athletic team. Sponsored by the Orange Lion’s Club, the team donned eye-catching orange and blue satin uniforms, proudly displaying “Orange” across the front and “Lionettes” on the back.
Over four decades, the Lionettes dominated the softball scene, clinching nine national championships and producing eleven Hall of Fame inductees—a quarter of all women’s fast-pitch players enshrined in the Amateur Softball Association's National Hall of Fame.
Roger Fitschen was a bat boy for the Lionettes at the age of 12 in 1960 when they played at Orange City Park, which was renamed W.O. Hart Park in 1964.
“It was like the major league for me,” Fitschen recalls. “We were under the lights at night, the stands were full. I was really nervous. This was big time stuff for me.”
He recalls going to The Snack Shop (now Woody’s Diner) with the team afterwards—their usual tradition after home games.
The Lionettes’ uniform, cleats, glove, ball and both jackets were donated by Melba Estes Tatum, a member of the Lionettes softball team in 1937-39, 1941-47 and 1949.
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From their early triumphs in local tournaments to representing the USA at the World Championships in Osaka, Japan, the Lionettes’ journey culminated in 1970 when they finished second in the World Tournament in Japan. The team turned professional in 1973, relocating to Santa Ana before disbanding in 1975.
The History Center at the Orange Public Library has been diligently preserving the city’s past, including Lionettes’ uniforms on display. Born from the Orange Community Historical Society formed in 1973, the History Center opened in 2007 and took on the collection of ephemera and artifacts started by the Historical Society.
Under the stewardship of Local History Librarian and Archivist Aida Cuevas, the History Center houses a collection of artifacts, photographs and documents. This includes items such as William Glassell’s 1850s naval epaulets to tickets from the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. The History Center serves as a vital resource for residents researching their homes’ histories, students exploring their roots, and families seeking connections to their past.
“It’s not just about the items themselves, but the personal stories and emotional connections they evoke,” says Cuevas.
She also curates displays to honor Orange’s history at each library in Orange. At the main library is a display of postcards, the fountain crash and original library books from the 1890s.
“As Orange continues to grow and evolve, we are keeping the spirit of Orange alive for future generations,” says Cuevas.
Orange History Center
407 East Chapman Ave., Old Towne Orange, CA 92866 / 714-288-2465
