Softball and baseball have long been considered male-dominated, but women have played the game for just as long. Women’s history in softball and baseball is a story of perseverance, struggle, and triumph over adversity.
In the early days of softball and baseball, women were not allowed to play on the same fields as men. Instead, they played on smaller fields with different rules and often had to wear long skirts or dresses while playing. Despite these obstacles, women continued to play the game and hone their skills.
One of the earliest known women’s baseball teams was the “Blondes vs. Brunettes” team, formed in 1866 in Springfield, Illinois. This team consisted of women from local colleges who played exhibition games against each other.
In 1926, a women’s baseball league was formed in the United States. The league was called the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) and operated from 1943 to 1954. The league was formed during World War II when many male baseball players were drafted into the military, and it provided an opportunity for women to play professional baseball.
The AAGPBL was an important milestone for women in baseball, as it allowed them to play professionally and earn a living playing the game. The league was also unique in requiring players to attend charm school, where they were taught proper etiquette and how to present themselves in public.
Despite the success of the AAGPBL, women’s baseball faced many obstacles. In the 1970s, women’s softball became more popular than baseball, and many women turned to softball as a way to continue playing the game. Softball was also added to the Olympic Games in 1996, providing another opportunity for women to compete at a high level.
In 2015, Monica Abbott signed a six-year, $1 million contract with the Scrap Yard Dawgs of the National Pro Fastpitch league. This made Abbott the highest-paid player in American women’s softball history. She also holds the NCAA record for most career strikeouts with 2,440.
Women’s history in softball and baseball is a testament to the strength and resilience of women athletes. Despite facing many obstacles and discrimination, women have continued to play and excel at the game. Today, women’s softball and baseball are more popular than ever, and many young girls are taking up the sport.
Kimberly Evering, aka Gal on the Go, life has been a wild ride filled with many unforgettable adventures, like cycling more than 550 miles across New York State in seven days (two times) for cancer research! She also proudly served as a U.S. ambassador reporting at Vancouver’s 2010 Winter Paralympic Games for Alpine skiing and the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi for ice hockey. However, Kimberly is most passionate about hosting Gal on the Go Unplugged™, a bi-weekly award-winning podcast series featuring interviews with women from all walks of life to empower others.
Life adventurer, cyclist, and podcaster Kimberly discusses experiences that influenced her and others and expected and unexpected life lessons. Her persona, Gal on the Go, organically grew from a blog she created to share her adventures in the hope of breaking down others’ barriers of intimidation in life. The blog evolved into a podcast aimed at empowering women through shared stories by women from all walks and stages of life.
Kimberly Evering is a winner of a Silver Award for her podcast Gal on the Go Unplugged from Davey Awards for General Interview | Talk Show!
You can find out more about Kimberly at https://galotgo.com/. Or you can follow her free Gal on the Go Unplugged podcast at https://galotgo.com/gal-on-the-go-unplugged-podcast/.
For more great lifestyle content see here.
