Fastpitch : The Untold History of Softball and the Women Who Made the Game

If you think softball is just a "womens version" of the great American pastime of baseball well, think again. Fastpitch softball is one of the most widely played sports in the world, with tens of millions of active participants in various age groups. But the origins of this beloved sport and the charismatic athletes who helped it achieve prominence in the mid-twentieth century have been largely forgotten, until now. Fastpitch brings to life the eclectic mix of characters that make up softballs vibrant 129-year history. From its humble beginnings in 1887, when it was invented in a Chicago boat club and played with a broomstick, to the rise in the 1940s and 1950s of professional-caliber company-sponsored teams that toured the country in style, softballs history is as diverse as it is fascinating. Though its thought of today as a womans sport, fastpitch softballs early years featured several male stars, such as the vaudeville-esque Eddie Feigner, whose signature move was striking out batters while blindfolded. But because softball was one of the only team sports that women were allowed to play competitively, it took on added importance for female athletes. Top fastpitch teams of the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, such as the New Orleans Jax Maids and Connecticuts Raybestos Brakettes, gave women access to employment and travel opportunities that would have been unavailable to them otherwise. At a time when female athletes had almost no prospects, softball offered them a chance to flourish. Women put off marriage and moved across the country just for a shot at joining a strong team. Told from the perspective of such influential players as Bertha Ragan Tickey, who set strikeout records and taught Lana Turner to pitch, and Joan Joyce, who struck out baseball legend Ted Williams and helped found a professional softball league with Billie Jean King, Fastpitch chronicles softballs rich history and its uncertain future (as evidenced by its controversial elimination from the 2012 Olympics and the mounting efforts to have it reinstated). A celebration of this unique American sport and the role it plays in our culture today, Fastpitch is as entertaining as it is inspiring. -- Provided by publisher " A League of Their Own for the softball set" (Lily Koppel, bestselling author of The Astronaut Wives Club ), Fastpitch is hidden history at its most intriguing—the tale of the forgotten beginnings of one of the most popular and widely played sports today. Softball is played by tens of millions in various age groups all around the world, but the origins of this beloved sport (and the charismatic athletes who helped it achieve prominence in the mid-twentieth century) have been shrouded in mystery...until now. Fastpitch brings to vivid life the eclectic mix of characters that make up softball's vibrant 129-year history. From its humble beginnings in 1887, when it was invented in a Chicago boat club and played with a broomstick, to the rise in the 1940s and 1950s of professional-caliber, company-sponsored teams that toured the country in style, softball's history is as varied as it is fascinating. Though it's thought of today as a female sport, fastpitch softball's early history is full of male stars, such as the vaudeville-esque Eddie Feigner, whose signature move was striking out batters while blindfolded. But because softball was one of the only team sports that also allowed women to play competitively, it took on added importance for female athletes. Women like Bertha Ragan Tickey, who set strikeout records and taught Lana Turner to pitch, and her teammate Joan Joyce, who struck out baseball star Ted Williams, made a name—and a life—for themselves in an era when female athletes had almost no prospects. Softball allowed them to flourish, and they in turn inspired a whole new generation of athletes. Featuring eight pages of captivating, vintage photos and compelling, well-researched historical commentary, this "fun and entertaining read" (Billie Jean King) chronicles softball's unique history as well as its uncertain future (as evidenced by its controversial elimination from the 2012 Olympics, and the mounting efforts to have it reinstated). A celebration of this distinctively American game and the role it plays in our culture today, Westly has written "a must-read for anyone who loves the sport" (Jonathan Fader, author of Life as Sport ). A real-life A League of Their Own meets The Girls of Atomic City : the first fascinating history of fastpitch softball from its beginnings as an industrial worker?s game to an Olympic sport with millions of fans and players worldwide, and the incredible, larger-than-life women?and men?who popularized the game. Softball is the largest team participation sport in the US with millions of people in all age groups actively playing the game, and increasing TV coverage of the sport on ESPN. Many people think softball was developed as a women?s version of baseball, but that isn?t so. In fact, softball?s early history is full of male stars, such as the vaudeville-esque Eddie Feigner, whose signature move was striking out batters while blindfolded. Because softball was one of the earliest team sports that also allowed women to play, it evolved from a coed, indoor pastime to an elite sport played primarily by young women. It wasn?t like other women?s sports that tended to be watered-down versions of the men?s sports?it became its own game for women. As a result, softball created some of America?s first celebrated female athletes: Bertha Ragan Tickey, who set the strikeout and no-hitter records and taught Lana Turner to swing a bat, and her teammate Joan Joyce, who struck out baseball stars Hank Aaron and Ted Williams with her signature rise ball. Fastpitch brings to vivid life the eclectic mix of characters that make up softball?s vibrant 127-year history. From its humble beginnings in 1887 when it was invented in a Chicago boat club and played with a broomstick, to its prominently sponsored women?s leagues in the 1940s and 50s, Fastpitch chronicles softball?s popularity in the 1960s as a mainstream sport through its controversial elimination from the 2005 Olympics, exploring its present-day status as solely a women?s sport. Featuring sixteen pages of gorgeous, vintage photos and compelling, well-researched historical commentary about this popular sport, Fastpitch is a home run "A history of fastpitch softball from its beginnings as an industrial worker's game to an Olympic sport with millions of fans traces the larger-than-life stories of the women and men who popularized it, profiling some of its most famous athletes in a chronicle complemented by 16 pages of vintage photos, "--NoveList