Belles of the Ballpark

The movie A League of Their Own put the AAGPBL on the map, but books tell the real story. Belles of the Ballpark does just that in an intimate, fun, and fact-filled account of the league and its players-from the inception during WWII, to its vibrant popularity today. Read about: The real motivations for forming a girls' baseball league, and what if took for aspiring players to make the grade, Life off the field and on the road for the girls leaguers, who endured grueling schedules, countless bus rides, and demanding public relations obligations, The evolution of the game they played - from softball to modified baseball to a highly competitive brand of hardball, Other features includes: Personal reflections from an all-star lineup of former players, The startling revelation of the gag rule Hollywood clamped onto former girls' leaguers ahead of the release of A League of Their Own, All about the first AAGPBL baseball cards, now scarce collectors' items, The story of the more than 20 former major leaguers who were part of the league, including several Hall of Famers, An interview with Casey Candaele, the big leaguer whose mom won an AAGPBL batting title, Profiles of the determined historians who led the crusade for AAGPBL recognition that culminated in a permanent exhibit at the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Plus over 50 photos, a league history Timeline, and ample resources Book jacket.