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A Whole New Ball Game: The Story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
For 12 seasons, from 1943 to 1954, the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League captured America's attention with top-notch playing, and showed everyone that a woman's place was at home only when she was at bat, behind the plate, or scoring a run! ALA Best Book for Young Adults. NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Book. School Library Journal Best Book of the Year.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 8, 2017
My beloved grandfather was a huge baseball fan. When he babysat me, he loved to set us up with ice cream and watch the games on TV, or even take me to the Olympic Stadium (that was when Montreal still had a baseball team: RIP Expos!): he’d explain the game, the strategies, the signals. He had played in minor leagues when he was younger, before his heart condition forced him to take it easy on sports, but he never lost his passion for the game. When the movie “A League of Their Own” came out, we watched it together and he was delighted when I asked for a baseball glove and bat for my birthday. We played in the garden together for hours every summer.
I still have a soft spot for that movie, even if I know now that it’s about 30% historical, 70% Hollywood: Tom Hanks' amazing "There's no crying in baseball!!" rant cracks me up every time, but most importantly, the movie captures a unique event in the history of women's athletics. I recently realized that it came out twenty-five years ago! That did not make me feel any younger, but it reminded me I had this little used book I found about the AAGPBL tucked away somewhere, waiting to be read.
As you might have guessed, I am fascinated by the AAGPBL and I was actually shocked at how hard it is to find any literature on the League. Having a chance to become professional baseball players meant that these women were given the opportunity to lead independent lives, and opened the door to careers they could have never imagined having access to before. I was always puzzled and deeply disappointed by the fact that the League closed in 1954 and that there hasn't been an equivalent organization since.
This book is a short and light read (I hadn't realized that it was for young readers until I brought it back home and saw the Puffin logo on it… oh well!), which is great (because yes, let's make young girls read about this!) and it is also surprisingly informative. Macy does an excellent job of putting the creation of the AAGPBL in its historical context: the draft, the war effort, the new feminine ideals that the American government was promoting (the strong, tough and yet attractive Rosie the Riveter is the iconic image of that era’s “propaganda” and a personal favorite of mine).
Of course, gentlemen such as Mr. Wrigley (yes, the chewing gum magnate and owner of the Cubs; the league was his brainchild) wanted to keep making money from professional sports while men were away, but they also gave women an incredible opportunity at the same time - for a better salary than they could have made almost anywhere else! The idea of sending these women to charm school and have them chaperoned seems ridiculous to our modern sensibilities, but it was in line with the time's idea that public figures should be polished and classy (for example: Cary Grant was under contractual obligation with the studio that employed him to wear a suit in public at all times, because they felt that if he was caught looking like a slob, it would hurt his popularity as a leading man); many of the younger girls might not have been allowed to play by their parents had they not felt their daughters were safe and behaving well. The teams were scattered through mid-sized towns in the Midwest, where it was felt this sort of "wholesome" entertainment would be well-received, so the girls had to be perceived as ladies by the public in order to sell tickets. But even if they were forced to wear lipstick to play, their game (and tempers!) could often best that of their male counterparts!
I was very impressed to learn of some of the league’s players incredible accomplishments: many of them were very serious athletes who were involved in many other sports, sometimes even at the Olympics level! A few of them eventually had kids who became major league baseball players and who obviously learned from the best. I was also quite sad to finally put together that the rise of television and other sources of entertainment (the sudden popularity of bowling and drive-in theaters, to name a few), combined with a swing back of the pendulum when it came to Americans' view on a woman's proper place (leading to sever drops in women's employment after WWII) finally got the League to fold due to low attendance, which made its business model unsustainable. A few attempts were made in the 90's to revive professional women's baseball, but that did not go very far, unfortunately.
This is a small, but very informative and inspiring book. I only withheld the last star because I really wished this book was twice the size it is. It made me want to hunt down more books on the subject, and I am now trying to convince my husband to swing by Cooperstown next time we are in New York State, so I can go check out the Baseball Hall of Fame's "Women in Baseball" exhibit for myself and pay respect to these pioneers of women's athletics. If you enjoyed “A League of Their Own”, like baseball or are interested in the history of women in sports, this little book is worth checking out!
I still have a soft spot for that movie, even if I know now that it’s about 30% historical, 70% Hollywood: Tom Hanks' amazing "There's no crying in baseball!!" rant cracks me up every time, but most importantly, the movie captures a unique event in the history of women's athletics. I recently realized that it came out twenty-five years ago! That did not make me feel any younger, but it reminded me I had this little used book I found about the AAGPBL tucked away somewhere, waiting to be read.
As you might have guessed, I am fascinated by the AAGPBL and I was actually shocked at how hard it is to find any literature on the League. Having a chance to become professional baseball players meant that these women were given the opportunity to lead independent lives, and opened the door to careers they could have never imagined having access to before. I was always puzzled and deeply disappointed by the fact that the League closed in 1954 and that there hasn't been an equivalent organization since.
This book is a short and light read (I hadn't realized that it was for young readers until I brought it back home and saw the Puffin logo on it… oh well!), which is great (because yes, let's make young girls read about this!) and it is also surprisingly informative. Macy does an excellent job of putting the creation of the AAGPBL in its historical context: the draft, the war effort, the new feminine ideals that the American government was promoting (the strong, tough and yet attractive Rosie the Riveter is the iconic image of that era’s “propaganda” and a personal favorite of mine).
Of course, gentlemen such as Mr. Wrigley (yes, the chewing gum magnate and owner of the Cubs; the league was his brainchild) wanted to keep making money from professional sports while men were away, but they also gave women an incredible opportunity at the same time - for a better salary than they could have made almost anywhere else! The idea of sending these women to charm school and have them chaperoned seems ridiculous to our modern sensibilities, but it was in line with the time's idea that public figures should be polished and classy (for example: Cary Grant was under contractual obligation with the studio that employed him to wear a suit in public at all times, because they felt that if he was caught looking like a slob, it would hurt his popularity as a leading man); many of the younger girls might not have been allowed to play by their parents had they not felt their daughters were safe and behaving well. The teams were scattered through mid-sized towns in the Midwest, where it was felt this sort of "wholesome" entertainment would be well-received, so the girls had to be perceived as ladies by the public in order to sell tickets. But even if they were forced to wear lipstick to play, their game (and tempers!) could often best that of their male counterparts!
I was very impressed to learn of some of the league’s players incredible accomplishments: many of them were very serious athletes who were involved in many other sports, sometimes even at the Olympics level! A few of them eventually had kids who became major league baseball players and who obviously learned from the best. I was also quite sad to finally put together that the rise of television and other sources of entertainment (the sudden popularity of bowling and drive-in theaters, to name a few), combined with a swing back of the pendulum when it came to Americans' view on a woman's proper place (leading to sever drops in women's employment after WWII) finally got the League to fold due to low attendance, which made its business model unsustainable. A few attempts were made in the 90's to revive professional women's baseball, but that did not go very far, unfortunately.
This is a small, but very informative and inspiring book. I only withheld the last star because I really wished this book was twice the size it is. It made me want to hunt down more books on the subject, and I am now trying to convince my husband to swing by Cooperstown next time we are in New York State, so I can go check out the Baseball Hall of Fame's "Women in Baseball" exhibit for myself and pay respect to these pioneers of women's athletics. If you enjoyed “A League of Their Own”, like baseball or are interested in the history of women in sports, this little book is worth checking out!
April 13, 2022
A short but still fascinating glimpse at women's professional baseball. Some really interesting anecdotes as to how it was preparing to join the league (including manners training!) and how people embraced these ladies inviting them into their homes (dinners and rooms) during the season because they didn't get paid that much.
June 26, 2007
As you may or may not know, A League of Their Own is my favorite movie of all time. This book tells the true story of the founding of the All American Girls' Professional Baseball League, and all the various permutations it took on in its early years. It has stats, pictures, letters from former players, and it explains the history of girls' baseball very well. I've been reading it on and off for a couple of months, but it is very enjoyable.
June 9, 2020
This is an excellent short book. If your looking for a historical read that is informative and yet enticing and enthralling this book is for you. I don’t recall reading about this piece of history in school when we read about WWII on the American home front. While I agree there are very important novels about the brutality of WWII, there are also very important milestones for women in history.
This book unearths what it was like when women were called to the workforce. Prior to WWII it was illegal and frowned upon in many states and places for women to work. In order to uphold the economy while the boys are overseas, women join the workforce with the help of icons such as Rosie The Riveter. Women become riveters, and some baseball players. Women’s softball was very popular and still is today on a minor scale. In this book women go from minor to major softball, and then became major baseball players as the league advances, and players become better.
In order to draw crowds retired male major league baseball players are hired as coaches, and accompanied by female chaperones to maintain both a crowd, and a soft female presence. Women are sent to charm school in the early stages, as it is expected for women to look like women at all times, but play like men on the field. They are told it’s not shocking when a woman looks like a man and plays like a man. It’s important to look like women. At the time many of the players said it was crucial in order to be accepted by all as an American League of female pioneers. Despite many hating charm school. The league starts off with four teams, Kenosha, South Bend, Racine, and Rockford. A gentle ballerina uniform in pastels for all teams with knickers and socks is expected to be worn to maintain their female presence. The uniform isn’t remotely practical for the sport...Stationed primarily in the Midwest, and costing 50 cents to a $1 a game.
The book details women such as Faye Dancer breaking the rules, (played by Madonna in Penny Marshall’s film), and the real names of characters depicted (references are given) in A League Of Their Own, what they were known for, the ages of the players, 14 being the youngest, and 17-20 being a severely young average. One thing to note was individual buses were not ridden until after WWII bc of gasoline rations. They initially rode trains, all night, played multiple games a day all summer, stayed in hotels, and later on became boarders at homes which helped prevent the players from becoming home sick.
The book goes over civil rights as well. Black women did work out with the South Bend Blue Sox, and there was a meeting held to talk about adding black women to the league. It’s a shame it never happened, bc Toni Stone did try out, and went on to become one of the first female black baseball players for the Indianapolis Clowns. At this time the television set was decreasing attendance, and the league wasn’t sure if they could add or expand. They had set up rules saying all players regardless of race would be treated fairly, and accepted everywhere as a team, which was groundbreaking at the time, and it regrettably never came to fruition under the man who purchased/owned the first women’s baseball league for most of its duration.
In the 1950s, as attendance decreased, they closed off some teams, and turned them into minor leagues, in the hopes they’d soon be added to the main roster and become part of the condensed major league. Fans kept the league going for added years with donations. In 1955 the league closed, and funds were depleted and closed off.
Women were called to the home, due to jobs choosing to offer women far less pay than men in an effort and incentive to get em back into the home and give the boys who had returned home from war their jobs back. Women didn’t want to be offered far less pay for the same services performed. Commercials and ads sold the American public the idea women were too frail for the work force, and didn’t have the same endurance. Many women who had worked during WWII argued, “we think we proved ourselves. We can do the work.” It became a choice for many despite the gaslighting to start over at home, as it wasn’t fair to be fired for being female, or paid less. By the time the Vietnam war started the league had become a faint memory. Only 23% of the women in the league took in the role of homemaker, but many had families and husbands nonetheless. Many of the women in the league said we were never traditional. We were always different.
This book addresses many issues we still have in society as women, and it addresses the need for all races to be given those same opportunities as well...its 2020 and we still need to march towards equality. Thanks for the pioneers who have made it possible for so many. May you get your place in history one day. You don’t deserve to be erased or forgotten. We see you.
This book unearths what it was like when women were called to the workforce. Prior to WWII it was illegal and frowned upon in many states and places for women to work. In order to uphold the economy while the boys are overseas, women join the workforce with the help of icons such as Rosie The Riveter. Women become riveters, and some baseball players. Women’s softball was very popular and still is today on a minor scale. In this book women go from minor to major softball, and then became major baseball players as the league advances, and players become better.
In order to draw crowds retired male major league baseball players are hired as coaches, and accompanied by female chaperones to maintain both a crowd, and a soft female presence. Women are sent to charm school in the early stages, as it is expected for women to look like women at all times, but play like men on the field. They are told it’s not shocking when a woman looks like a man and plays like a man. It’s important to look like women. At the time many of the players said it was crucial in order to be accepted by all as an American League of female pioneers. Despite many hating charm school. The league starts off with four teams, Kenosha, South Bend, Racine, and Rockford. A gentle ballerina uniform in pastels for all teams with knickers and socks is expected to be worn to maintain their female presence. The uniform isn’t remotely practical for the sport...Stationed primarily in the Midwest, and costing 50 cents to a $1 a game.
The book details women such as Faye Dancer breaking the rules, (played by Madonna in Penny Marshall’s film), and the real names of characters depicted (references are given) in A League Of Their Own, what they were known for, the ages of the players, 14 being the youngest, and 17-20 being a severely young average. One thing to note was individual buses were not ridden until after WWII bc of gasoline rations. They initially rode trains, all night, played multiple games a day all summer, stayed in hotels, and later on became boarders at homes which helped prevent the players from becoming home sick.
The book goes over civil rights as well. Black women did work out with the South Bend Blue Sox, and there was a meeting held to talk about adding black women to the league. It’s a shame it never happened, bc Toni Stone did try out, and went on to become one of the first female black baseball players for the Indianapolis Clowns. At this time the television set was decreasing attendance, and the league wasn’t sure if they could add or expand. They had set up rules saying all players regardless of race would be treated fairly, and accepted everywhere as a team, which was groundbreaking at the time, and it regrettably never came to fruition under the man who purchased/owned the first women’s baseball league for most of its duration.
In the 1950s, as attendance decreased, they closed off some teams, and turned them into minor leagues, in the hopes they’d soon be added to the main roster and become part of the condensed major league. Fans kept the league going for added years with donations. In 1955 the league closed, and funds were depleted and closed off.
Women were called to the home, due to jobs choosing to offer women far less pay than men in an effort and incentive to get em back into the home and give the boys who had returned home from war their jobs back. Women didn’t want to be offered far less pay for the same services performed. Commercials and ads sold the American public the idea women were too frail for the work force, and didn’t have the same endurance. Many women who had worked during WWII argued, “we think we proved ourselves. We can do the work.” It became a choice for many despite the gaslighting to start over at home, as it wasn’t fair to be fired for being female, or paid less. By the time the Vietnam war started the league had become a faint memory. Only 23% of the women in the league took in the role of homemaker, but many had families and husbands nonetheless. Many of the women in the league said we were never traditional. We were always different.
This book addresses many issues we still have in society as women, and it addresses the need for all races to be given those same opportunities as well...its 2020 and we still need to march towards equality. Thanks for the pioneers who have made it possible for so many. May you get your place in history one day. You don’t deserve to be erased or forgotten. We see you.
March 2, 2018
I flew through this nonfiction account of the first women's professional baseball league in one sitting. Without the movie A League of Their Own which fictionalized this story in the early 1990s, I wouldn't know much about this groundbreaking historical moment. Macy does a good job of depicting the wider culture of the time period while retaining the excitement of baseball action. Well-placed black and white photos chosen largely from the Northern Indiana Historical Society help provide visual documentation of exciting gametime moments along with stats and memorabilia from the league.
August 23, 2023
For such a slim book intended for a young audience, I found this surprisingly packed with all the important details about the AAGPBL along with some wonderful anecdotes from former players and the author herself.
Well worth your time if you're new to learning about the AAGPBL, or even if you (think) you know it all!
Well worth your time if you're new to learning about the AAGPBL, or even if you (think) you know it all!
July 25, 2018
It was a good book. I learned a lot from it but I wished I learned more like about the players or what it was really like. I feel like there where some details missing. Other wise it was a good book.
February 7, 2024
I read this for my 2024 Reading Challenge and the prompt was a book about a women's sports and/or by a women athlete. I knew there was a female baseball league but I did not know much about it. This was a fun quick read. If you love base you should definitely read this book.
November 6, 2024
Great historical view for any baseball fan who loves baseball history Macy did a great job
January 2, 2008
A readable account of an interesting chapter in women's history. The All American Girls Professional Baseball League gave women a chance to play they game they loved. When the men went off to fight overseas in World War II, women were encouraged to step up and take over the vacant jobs. They worked in factories and plants... and they played baseball. A Whole New Ball Game covers the development of the League, information about some specific players, daily life for the women in the League, and more. Tons of photos break up the text and it includes a several-page spread of many baseball cards from the League. An appendix with information about League teams and standings, a chronology, source notes, suggestions for further reading, and an index round out the book. An excellent choice for women's history month and any fans of A League of Their Own.
August 12, 2014
A pretty fascinating book, though very lightly written - I checked multiple times to see if it said "ages 8 & up" anywhere, but finally had to conclude it was just VERY simply written, with hilarious sentences to link paragraphs (like things I wrote in college).
But it's amazing how much we don't know about the AAGPBL. For example, Sophie "Flint Flash" Kurys stole 201 bases in a season. Why don't we know her name like we know that of James "Cool Papa" Bell? (Don't all baseball fans know about James "Cool Papa" Bell? If not, oh jeez, what a world.)
Two documentaries about the AAGPBL were made in 1987. The first book on the subject was published in 1992. 1992! If not for the movie, "A League of Their Own" (which came out the same year), would we know anything about women in baseball?
Also: if this interests you, be sure to read "Bat 6", by Virginia Euwer Wolff.
But it's amazing how much we don't know about the AAGPBL. For example, Sophie "Flint Flash" Kurys stole 201 bases in a season. Why don't we know her name like we know that of James "Cool Papa" Bell? (Don't all baseball fans know about James "Cool Papa" Bell? If not, oh jeez, what a world.)
Two documentaries about the AAGPBL were made in 1987. The first book on the subject was published in 1992. 1992! If not for the movie, "A League of Their Own" (which came out the same year), would we know anything about women in baseball?
Also: if this interests you, be sure to read "Bat 6", by Virginia Euwer Wolff.
April 30, 2013
I didn't realize until this came in the mail that this one was for the children, but it added in some good anecdotes and actually mentioned the Negro leagues (but only briefly). So it was a worthwhile read in my quest to learn everything about ladies playing baseball.
June 4, 2013
Baseball is my favorite sport and A League of Their Own was a great baseball movie. In this book, I learned the background of the Women's baseball league. I really wish something like this was around today. I would really enjoy going to see them play.
May 27, 2015
I read this as piggy back on "Dirt on Their Skirts. My mom often talked about seeing the Racine Belles play ball and I loved the movie A League of Their Own so I was interested to find out more on this topic.
March 3, 2016
Great book on the All American Professional Girls Baseball League. The league was started during WW II t0o help entertain people while the war was going on. The Girls got famous and well known in the towns they played in. League folded in the 1950's.
September 11, 2011
I don't like baseball but A League of Their Own is one of my favorite movies. Macy describes the history of women's baseball and the cultural factors that brought it about and shut it down.
July 1, 2017
Interesting. informative, and enjoyable reading.
November 26, 2012
Picked this up at the school library. An easy, informative overview of the history of women's professional baseball.
April 15, 2016
I very much enjoyed reading about the All-American Girls Baseball League.
September 25, 2025
There had to be gay women but there was no gay women in this book
April 6, 2016
It was a good book I love the topic
April 19, 2017
A Whole New Ball Game is a non-fiction book by Sue Macy that chronicles the lives of those in and around the AAGPBL. (All American Girls Professional Baseball League). The book starts out talking about Rosie the Riveter and women's place in society during World War Two, the time the AAGPBL was thriving. It then moves on to talk about the league during it's primetime, when thousands of people would show up for a morale-boosting game of fine baseball during a war. The book then takes a more negative look at the time in history, of all of the inequality the women faced and all of the extra rules they had to follow, all of the expectations the players in this league had to meet, on top of just being a good ball player. This book ends on a happier note then the rest, it tells of what could come to be for women ball players, and talks about how the AAGPBL players made it to the Hall of Fame in the "Diamond Dreams" exhibit. I really enjoyed this book. I thought that the balance of World War Two and AAGPBL history was perfect, giving the book a nice flow. I found it incredibly surprising some of the "etiquette" rules they had to follow existed. I would recommend this book to whoever likes World War Two books about Women. Four Stars.
May 14, 2018
Interesting stories. I could see the real life inspiration stories behind the "A League of Their Own" movie.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews