| Women in baseball...In the early 20th century, | | | | baseball soared! |
| barnstorming teams known as Bloomer Girls were | | | | Rules encouraging the wearing of lipstick and long |
| formed in parts of the U.S. and took on amateur | | | | hair on the women in baseball were declared. Also |
| and semi-professional teams that included both | | | | the banning of wearing trousers off the field. |
| women and men. | | | | Initially, the women played fast-pitch softball with |
| It is thought that women in baseball first came to | | | | a larger ball and underhand pitching. In 1948 |
| be because of an attempt to profit from the | | | | overhand pitching was introduced, and eventually |
| "novelty" of female players. | | | | there was not much difference between mens |
| In 1931, Jackie Mitchell signed a contract with the | | | | baseball and AAGPBL women's baseball. The |
| minor league Chattanooga Lookouts. Mitchell | | | | women's baseball game evolved using men's |
| pitched against the New York Yankees and struck | | | | baseball rules, but with a few small changes...80 |
| out their two star players, Babe Ruth and Lou | | | | feet between bases, 55 feet for the pitching |
| Gehrig!!! Since then, in 1952, organized baseball | | | | distance and only nine players on the field. |
| formally banned women from signing professional | | | | The AAGPBL finally folded in 1954, due to the |
| contracts with mens teams. This is still in effect | | | | televising of major league baseball in the 1950's. |
| today! | | | | But the spirit of the women of baseball was to |
| Women in baseball were about to increase, as | | | | live on, as on November 5, 1988, the All American |
| World War II arose, many men were sent out to | | | | Girls Professional Baseball League enshrined |
| fight. This ment that the women had to step in to | | | | memorabilia in the Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, |
| keep the game of baseball alive until the return of | | | | New York. More than 550 names are on a plaque |
| the men. It when then that the All-American Girls | | | | in the exhibit named "Women In Baseball". |
| Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) was | | | | Currently, there are roughly 40 youth and |
| founded with four teams; the Rockford Peaches, | | | | women's baseball teams in the United States that |
| the Racine Belles, the Kenosha Comets and the | | | | play in roughly nine leagues and independent |
| South Bend Blue Sox. The amount of women in | | | | tournaments throughout the year. |