Her father, who worked in the local textile mill, encouraged Fredda and her brothers and sisters at a young age to actively participate in different sports.

[2][3] In November 1946, Fredda Acker was named Mrs. America 1947 in replacement of Janice Pollock, original winner of the contest who had to decline a six-month tour of the country as part of her reward because of her husband's disapproval.

[4] The first AAGPBL spring training outside the United States was held in 1947 in Havana, Cuba, as part of a plan to create an International League of Girls Baseball.

By then, city ordinances in Vero Beach, Florida, where the Dodgers normally trained, prevented blacks and white players from competing on the same field against each other.

Notably, newspaper stories from Havana indicate that the All-American girls drew larger crowds for their exhibition games at Estadio Latinoamericano than did the Dodgers.