A game of their own : voices of contemporary women in baseball / Jennifer Ring ; designed by N. Putens.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ring, Jennifer, 1948- author.

Contributor:

Putens, N., designer.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Baseball for women--United States.

Baseball for women.

Softball for women--United States.

Softball for women.

Women baseball players--United States.

Women baseball players.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (649 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Lincoln, [Nebraska] ; London, [England] : University of Nebraska Press, 2015.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

In 2010 twenty American women were selected to represent Team USA in the fourth Women's Baseball World Cup in Caracas, Venezuela; most Americans, however, had no idea such a team even existed. A Game of Their Own chronicles the largely invisible history of women in baseball and offers an account of the 2010 Women's World Cup tournament. Jennifer Ring includes oral histories of eleven members of the U.S. Women's National Team, from the moment each player picked up a bat and ball as a young girl to her selection for Team USA. Each story is unique, but they share common themes that will resonate with young female players and fans alike: facing skepticism and taunts from players and parents when taking the batter's box or the pitcher's mound, self-doubt, the unceasing pressure to switch to softball, and eventual acceptance by their baseball teammates as they prove themselves as ballplayers. These racially, culturally, and economically diverse players from across the country have ignored the message that their love of the national pastime is "wrong." Their stories come alive as they recount their battles and most memorable moments playing baseball--the joys of exceeding expectations and the pleasure of honing baseball skills and talent despite the lack of support. With exclusive interviews with players, coaches, and administrators, A Game of Their Own celebrates the U.S. Women's National Team and the excellence of its remarkable players. In response to the jeer "No girls allowed!" these are powerful stories of optimism, feistiness, and staying true to oneself.

Contents:

Cover

Title Page

Copyright Page

Contents

List of Illustrations

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Part 1. Baseball and American Women

1. The Dream and Its Challenges

2. Cary, 2010

3. From Cary to Caracas

Part 2. The Veterans

4. Tamara Holmes

5. Donna Mills

6. Jenny Dalton Hill

Part 3. Softball and Baseball Players

7. Tara Harbert

8. Veronica Alvarez

9. Sarah Gascon

10. Jenna Marston

Part 4. Baseball Girls

11. Malaika Underwood

12. Marti Sementelli

13. Lilly Jacobson

14. Meggie Meidlinger

Part 5. Gender Segregation, Equality, and Women's Baseball

15. America's Team

16. Grassroots Women's Baseball

17. USA Baseball

Appendix A

Appendix B

Notes

Suggestions for Further Reading

Index

About Jennifer Ring.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

0-8032-6994-3

0-8032-6996-X