The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Reunion

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(Photo credit: Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections, Winthrop University)

I know like many of you one of my favorite movies is still Penny Marshall's hit movie "A League of Their Own". She chronicled 12 years into a two hour and eight minute period of time. She made a very popular movie that we still love today. The movie educated us about these girls lives.  It also showed women in the 1940's while going through a war and finding a place for themselves. We also saw these players break through sterotypes. While their husbands were away fighting for our country in WWII. P.K. Wrigley started the first documented women's baseball league. He took not only an all male sport but also America's past time and transformed it into a legacy. The first four teams formed were the Racine Belles, Southbend Blue Sox's, Kenosha Comets, and Rockford Peaches. Throughout the years 700 women played on 10 teams with 110-120 games a season.They played all of these games in skirts with no helmets, and participated in charm school. They did all of this for $55 to $125 a week. After the war ended, the league continued until 1954. The women eventually went back to their roles as house wives, nurses, and secretaries. The All-American Girls were inducted into Cooperstown, New York Hall of Fame on November 5, 1988.

The All-American Girls Baseball League's Reunion is held annually. On October 21st the girls baseball league members reunite in San Diego California. The players come together to sign autographs, tell stories, and this year you can sit next to them and watch "A League of Their own" for $10. What a great opportunity to be in the same room along side these amazing women. I can hear it now, the credits start to roll, Pepper Pairie and Nalda Bird's "Victory Song" comes on. You start singing with these historic women. What an unforgettable evening it would be and a great way to honor who they are and what they represent.

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• WPS
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There is 1 comment on this post. Join the discussion!

heather.williams04 says:

That's awesome! I would love to go to that reunion. Also, thanks...now I have that song stuck in my head....."batter upp....."

Friday, October 21, 2011 at 1:16pm EDT

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