Maybelle Blair, One of the Inspirations For Film 'A League of Their Own,' to Throw First Pitch at Dedeaux Field
March 24, 2023 | Baseball
LOS ANGELES – Maybelle Blair, who was one of the original members of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League which inspired the hit film A League of Their Own, will throw out the first pitch before Sunday's matchup between the USC baseball team and Washington State at Dedeaux Field.
Blair, who is now 96 years old, was the loose inspiration for the character Mae Mordabito played by Madonna in the 1992 film. Game time for Sunday's contest is 1 p.m., with Blair's first pitch coming shortly before that.
Blair was a pitcher for the Peoria Redwings during the 1948 season, before going on to play professional softball with the Chicago Cardinals and later the Jax Softball Club of New Orleans.
She has been an advocate for women in baseball for many years beyond her playing days, serving on the board of directors of the AAGPBL Players Association since its foundation in 1982. Blair has worked tirelessly with the International Women's Baseball Center, an organization which she helped found, with the ultimate goal of building a world-class museum and a baseball-focused community center in Rockford, Ill. The center's planned location is opposite the original field where the Rockford Peaches played in the 1940's and 50's.
A native of Inglewood, Calif., Blair attended Compton Junior College and then the Los Angeles School of Physiotherapy following her playing days. After her graduation, she worked at a treatment center in Los Angeles before beginning a 37-year career with Northrup Aircraft, where she became the company's first female Manager of Transportation.
USC's matchup with the Cougars will be streamed live on Pac-12+, with links to follow on the baseball schedule page at USCTrojans.com. Tickets are still available for Sunday's contest.
Blair, who is now 96 years old, was the loose inspiration for the character Mae Mordabito played by Madonna in the 1992 film. Game time for Sunday's contest is 1 p.m., with Blair's first pitch coming shortly before that.
Blair was a pitcher for the Peoria Redwings during the 1948 season, before going on to play professional softball with the Chicago Cardinals and later the Jax Softball Club of New Orleans.
She has been an advocate for women in baseball for many years beyond her playing days, serving on the board of directors of the AAGPBL Players Association since its foundation in 1982. Blair has worked tirelessly with the International Women's Baseball Center, an organization which she helped found, with the ultimate goal of building a world-class museum and a baseball-focused community center in Rockford, Ill. The center's planned location is opposite the original field where the Rockford Peaches played in the 1940's and 50's.
A native of Inglewood, Calif., Blair attended Compton Junior College and then the Los Angeles School of Physiotherapy following her playing days. After her graduation, she worked at a treatment center in Los Angeles before beginning a 37-year career with Northrup Aircraft, where she became the company's first female Manager of Transportation.
USC's matchup with the Cougars will be streamed live on Pac-12+, with links to follow on the baseball schedule page at USCTrojans.com. Tickets are still available for Sunday's contest.
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