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Hello everyone! My name is Leah Buhagiar ( @buhagiarleah), and I’m a current graduate student studying Public History/Museum Studies here at Wayne State University. 1/20
I’ll be here for the next 30 minutes to tweet about my research on the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, or AAGPBL - made famous by the 1992 film, “A League of Their Own.” 2/20
While the entire history of the AAGPBL is fascinating, my research specifically focuses on the gender roles and expectations that the players in the league were expected to follow. 3/20
Since the release of the film, the AAGPBL has become an iconic symbol of female empowerment that still inspires women today. However, empowerment was the last thing on the minds of league executives when it was being developed. 4/20
It was the owner of the Chicago Cubs, Philip K. Wrigley, who came up with the idea for the AAGPBL. World War II had created a shortage of male players, and many believed Major League Baseball could be in danger of shutting down. 5/20
A woman's league meant that the draft would not interfere with the pool of eligible players, and executives could still make money. However, female athletes at this time were often perceived as masculine, and Wrigley was opposed to this being the image of his league. 6/20
The league had strict guidelines in place to ensure that the players represented a particular kind of woman: one that personified what it meant to be an "All-American Girl.” Teams had chaperones to ensure players were following league guidelines, both on and off the field. 7/20
Even on long road trips, players were required to wear skirts. That was not much different from their on field attire: short, tunic style uniforms that were specifically designed to enhance the femininity of the league. 8/20
The skirted AAGPBL uniforms have since become iconic, though they were impractical for playing ball. The players regularly had to deal with injury because of their exposed legs, and many players modified their uniforms strategically so they would not get in the way of play. 9/20
Despite the strict guidelines and expectations AAGPBL players were required to adhere to, these women were anything but submissive. The players were so proud of their accomplishments in the league, they saw themselves as equal to the boys. 10/20
They were young, making their own money, and traveling around the country. For many, this was the first time they had ever left home and they took advantage of their newfound freedom and independence. 11/20
They played baseball just like the boys - but they did it in skirts. 12/20
Dottie Wiltse Collins, the star pitcher of the Fort Wayne Daisies, even played while she was pregnant! 13/20 https://twitter.com/AAGPBL/status/1156850325699080192?s=20
Though the AAGPBL folded after the 1954 season, the accomplishments of the players are still celebrated today. There is a fully operational AAGPBL Players Association that holds an annual reunion each summer 14/20 https://www.aagpbl.org/
The AAGPBL is featured prominently in the Diamond Dreams exhibit at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and museum in Cooperstown, NY, alongside other women who have made contributions to the game. 15/20 https://baseballhall.org/discover/museum/diamond-dreams-women-in-baseball
The All-American Girls even have a presence here on Twitter! Follow them @AAGPBL for pictures, history, and more information on the work that they do! 16/20
Developed in 1943 as a way for baseball to maintain relevance during World War II, the AAGPBL is still a recognizable part of popular culture. While the league was not founded to create an empowering opportunity for women, that is exactly what the AAGPBL ended up doing. 17/20
Though the league underwent many changes, from its rules to the cities that hosted teams, it provided a consistent opportunity for women to play a sport professionally, and the women of the AAGPBL thrived. 18/20
Because of the persistence of these women, and a fictionalized film adaptation of their league, the AAGPBL has become a mainstay of American culture. 19/20
I hope you take the time to explore more resources about the AAGPBL and the amazing women who were part of it. And always remember, there’s no crying in baseball! 20/20
