BALTIMORE SPORTS NEST

The Baltimore Cats, also known as the Atlantic Cats and the Baltimore Washington Cats, competed in Roller Games; a rival league to the International Roller Derby (IDRL) founded in 1937 by Leo Seltzer. In the 1960s, Roller Games experienced rapid growth, and established teams in Baltimore, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Florida, Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, Australia and Japan. Roller Games eventually encompassed several separate leagues: National Roller Derby (NRD), which was renamed to National Roller League (NRL); Canadian National Roller League (CNRL); and Japanese National Roller League (JNRL). Aside from the L.A. Thunderbirds, NRD/NRL teams over the years included the Chicago Hawks, Detroit Devils, New York Bombers, Texas Outlaws, Philadelphia Warriors, and Brooklyn Red Devils.Transportation costs during the gas crisis of the 70's were blamed for low attendance and the ultimate death of this first incarnation of roller derby. 

The Cats were a mix of skaters; most of whom also skated for the Philadelphia Warriors (also known as the Eastern Warriors). The Cats were captained by former Warriors veterans Ruberta Mitchell and Vinnie Gandolfo.