Women In Baseball by Nathan Richard Park
Women in baseball history begins in the 1900's barnstorming teams known as Bloomer Girls were formed in parts of the United States.
It is thought that women in baseball first came to be because of an attempt to profit form "novelty" of female players.
In 1931 Jackie Mitchell signed a contract with the minor league Chattanooga Lookouts. Mitchell pitched against the New York Yankees struck out their two star players Babe Ruth Lou Gehrig Since then in 1952 organized baseball formally banned women from signing professional contracts with mens teams. This is still in effect today
The amount of women in baseball was about to increase as the Second World War saw many men go off to fight for their country. This ment that many women took their place to keep the game of baseball alive. It when then that the All American Girls Professional Baseball League AAGPBL was founded with four teams. These teams were; the Rockford Peaches the Racine Belles the Kenosha Comets the South Bend Blue Sox. The amount of women in baseball soared
Wearing lipstick was encouraged so was long hair. Wearing trousers off the field was also encouraged.
At first the women baseball players played fast pitched softball with a larger ball with no overhand pitching. In 1948 overhand was introduced. Women's baseball's rules evolved form men's baseball rules with a few small changes. These changes were; 80 feet between bases 55 feet for the pitching distance only nine players on the field.
In 1954 the AAGPBL folded mainly due to the introduction of televised baseball games. On November 5 1988 the All American Girls Professional Baseball League enshrined memorabilia in the Hall of Fame Cooperstown New York. Over 550 names are on a plaque in the exhibit named "Women In Baseball".
Currently there are around 40 youth women's baseball teams throughout the U. S. They play in roughly nine leagues independent tournaments throughout the year.
For more information on women in baseball check out the Baseball Brainiac page 'Women In Baseball baseball brainiac. com women in baseball. html'. Women In Baseball
