One of my favorite baseball memories as a fan...
Hoopster
Posts: 1,169
in Sports Talk
I am sure most have heard of the All Ameircan Girls Professional Baseball League from the WWII era, or have seen the movie a League of Their OWn.
During the 2003 fan fest in Chicago, there were about 10 elderly woman who were former players in that league who had some tables set up at the convention. They were selling items and memorabilia related to the league, including autographs, to raise money for the woman who played(and their families).
My brother and I walked by and I figured I would stop by and get their replica game day poster, and have them all sign it for my daughter(who had just seen the movie for the first time). The cost was $20...in todays world a drop in the bucket for some nice ladies.
We spent some time talking with them, and they were very nice. It was evident that they were athletically inclined, even at their advanced age. No, they weren't grandma's on steroids, but they moved well and had the athlete presence still lingering within them. They were very cordial, and I found myself impressed with them.
The room that the fan fest was held in was enormous...it was the McCormick convention center in Chicago. It was also quite crowded. People were moving around like ants in their own world, brustling by with their own agenda, or simply meandering with no aim.
Then there was my brother and I talking and joking with a couple of the ladies from the All American Girls Baseball League. My brother and I are quite a duo when we get together, with often times anything occuring, but with the respected ladies in our midst we kept it light and clean.
During our conversation we joked with them about their league song from the movie, and if it was real or movie magic. They said it was real indeed! With a little charm we asked them if they could sing it for us. We told them it might draw some more customers for their table. Like most people would be, they were a little reluctant to just start singing in a crowded room.
With a little encouragement from us, the ladies we were talking to summoned the rest of the woman from the tables to gather for the song.
One of the ladies started it out, "Batter Up," then they all joined in, "hear that call, the time has come, for one and all, to play ball."
Right after that every person in the nearby area of this immense room just stopped in their tracks and turned their attention towards these ten lovely elderly woman(who had beautiful voices I might add). It was evident that they cared about their song and league by the way they got together and sang. I was amazed how many people were captivated. The long line of people in line for autographs for the paid celebrities focused their attention to the woman now, forgetting their quest for a moment.
They continued "...we come from cities near and far. We got Canadians, Irish ones and Swedes. Were all for one, were one for all, Were all Americans..."
The ladies continued their glorious song until the end, and received a huge ovation. Every face had a smile on it. We could tell that it brought much joy to them on the response of the crowd.
My brother and I got hugs and kisses from every one of them.
There probably aren't many people alive who have heard the original members of that league sing their theme song, and I was glad to have heard a performance by some of the original members. Sadly, that opportunity won't be available much longer.
-Skinpinch
During the 2003 fan fest in Chicago, there were about 10 elderly woman who were former players in that league who had some tables set up at the convention. They were selling items and memorabilia related to the league, including autographs, to raise money for the woman who played(and their families).
My brother and I walked by and I figured I would stop by and get their replica game day poster, and have them all sign it for my daughter(who had just seen the movie for the first time). The cost was $20...in todays world a drop in the bucket for some nice ladies.
We spent some time talking with them, and they were very nice. It was evident that they were athletically inclined, even at their advanced age. No, they weren't grandma's on steroids, but they moved well and had the athlete presence still lingering within them. They were very cordial, and I found myself impressed with them.
The room that the fan fest was held in was enormous...it was the McCormick convention center in Chicago. It was also quite crowded. People were moving around like ants in their own world, brustling by with their own agenda, or simply meandering with no aim.
Then there was my brother and I talking and joking with a couple of the ladies from the All American Girls Baseball League. My brother and I are quite a duo when we get together, with often times anything occuring, but with the respected ladies in our midst we kept it light and clean.
During our conversation we joked with them about their league song from the movie, and if it was real or movie magic. They said it was real indeed! With a little charm we asked them if they could sing it for us. We told them it might draw some more customers for their table. Like most people would be, they were a little reluctant to just start singing in a crowded room.
With a little encouragement from us, the ladies we were talking to summoned the rest of the woman from the tables to gather for the song.
One of the ladies started it out, "Batter Up," then they all joined in, "hear that call, the time has come, for one and all, to play ball."
Right after that every person in the nearby area of this immense room just stopped in their tracks and turned their attention towards these ten lovely elderly woman(who had beautiful voices I might add). It was evident that they cared about their song and league by the way they got together and sang. I was amazed how many people were captivated. The long line of people in line for autographs for the paid celebrities focused their attention to the woman now, forgetting their quest for a moment.
They continued "...we come from cities near and far. We got Canadians, Irish ones and Swedes. Were all for one, were one for all, Were all Americans..."
The ladies continued their glorious song until the end, and received a huge ovation. Every face had a smile on it. We could tell that it brought much joy to them on the response of the crowd.
My brother and I got hugs and kisses from every one of them.
There probably aren't many people alive who have heard the original members of that league sing their theme song, and I was glad to have heard a performance by some of the original members. Sadly, that opportunity won't be available much longer.
-Skinpinch
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