Bales' research found that Popovich, who was born in Chicago and used Valli as a stage name, lived with an abusive father, was a child of divorce, spent part of her childhood in an orphanage when her mother couldn't make ends meet, may have had a failed marriage at age 18 and reportedly dated Cubs outfielder Kiki Cuyler then broke it off when she found out he was married. Then in 1931, she met Jurges at a party and was smitten; she even traveled to some road games to be with him. "She really wanted to find happiness. She wanted a husband," Bales said.