In Springfield, Alli Schroder found inspiration in the 1992 movie “A League of Their Own,” which depicted the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. “It was motivating to watch as a kid because, while there wasn’t a professional platform for women in baseball growing up, there was a vision,” Schroder remarked. “And now, we’re here.”
The Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL) kicks off its first-ever season this Saturday, weather permitting. The New York Heights, featuring Denae Benites, will face Mo’ne Davis’s Los Angeles Queens. On Sunday, the Boston Hunters take on the San Francisco Firebells. This new league represents another significant milestone in the history of women’s professional baseball.
Each team will consist of 15 active players competing in seven-inning games. Teams will engage in 15 regular-season games and playoffs at Springfield’s Robin Roberts Stadium, which opened in 1925 and hosts up to 5,200 spectators. Ayami Sato, a top pitcher for New York, expressed her excitement through an interpreter. “Competing against past teammates and Team USA players is something I’ve looked forward to,” she said.
The WPBL’s opening weekend marks a pivotal moment in the journey of women’s professional baseball in the U.S. The AAGPBL, operating from 1943 to 1954, was the first U.S. professional women’s league. Earlier attempts to start a league in the 1990s were short-lived. Co-founded by Justine Siegal, who was the first woman coaching for an MLB team in 2015, the WPBL aspires to establish a lasting impact.
On the rise, the league secured a media rights deal with ESPN and Scripps Sports Network to broadcast games from its inaugural season. Los Angeles infielder Ashton Lansdell shared her hopes: “We aim for this to become the MLB of women’s baseball.” Lansdell, Benites, Schroder, and Kelsie Whitmore were announced as team captains Friday. Whitmore, playing for San Francisco, was their first draft pick.
Whitmore mentioned a sense of camaraderie with her team, stating, “We’re a family now. My goal is to lead both on and off the field.” Managed by Matt Williams, a former five-time All-Star, Whitmore hopes to guide the Firebells diligently. The Hunters will be led by Keith Foulke, the Queens by Eric Young, and the Heights by Rachelle “Rocky” Henley, a seasoned figure in women’s baseball.
With each team comprising only 15 active players, managers and coaches will strategize effectively. Keith Foulke reflected on witnessing players during spring exhibition in Florida. “Seeing them play, it’s clear they’re athletes, not just women playing baseball,” he remarked. “I aim to instill this passion within my team for the league, looking to offer a thrilling experience and quality play.”