RUMFORD – It’s not often that a figure from a fabled era of baseball history walks into a local sports bar.

But on Thursday a member of the first professional women’s baseball league, Marie Richardson Jessup, came to Rumford to sign memorabilia at the Penalty Box restaurant.

“It’s a great honor,” said Penalty Box owner Andy Cornier as he accepted framed photos and a story on Jessup.

Jessup played for the Fort Wayne Daisies of the All-American Girls Baseball League, which traveled the country from 1942 to 1953. The league is well represented in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., and was commemorated in the 1992 movie “A League of Their Own.”

Jessup, originally from Rumford, also autographed a small baseball bat that is part of the sports-themed restaurant’s decorations.

Jessup played for the league during its last year. She often visits her hometown from her residence in Oregon to see family and friends.

During this year’s visit, her niece Marlene Viger decided the new restaurant should have a copy of the front-page newspaper story written on her aunt.

“When I came into this restaurant, I found pictures of my two brothers on the tables. I decided to donate the photos and story (of Jessup) because I feel it is significant,” she said.

So, she had the story and photos professionally framed.

Jessup graduated from Stephens High School in 1952 and had always wanted a professional sports career. A relative showed her an advertisement calling for women baseball players. She jumped at the chance.

Her career as a baseball catcher with the Fort Wayne Daisies was cut short when the league folded in 1953.

“We traveled the Midwest on a bus. It was fun,” she said.

Cornier, who opened his restaurant on River Street in April, said Jessup is the only professional sports person represented in the photos, news clips and other paraphernalia decorating the business.

Now, with Jessup’s autograph and framed story, he hopes for more.