Sexism Over 150 Years Old
Many Young Women Play Well, But Traditionally, They Haven’t Been Wanted in the Major Leagues
Coral Gables, Florida (VIP-WIRE) – When a Major League Baseball team signs a woman, it will urgently need to expand its seating capacity and, in addition, will be able to demand extra money for her television rights.
Women have been playing baseball for over 155 years, and some have been team executives, umpires, trainers, coaches, commentators, and announcers. But it never occurred to the executives of the Major Leagues to instruct their scouts to follow a player until they signed her to the minor leagues and then elevate her to the highest level if she showed signs of mastering the demands of the best baseball in the world.
“The Resolutes, the all females baseball team from Vassar College, in New York.
Tremendous, inexplicable, and hateful sexism!
The quality of play shown by numerous young women has shown that some have indeed been able to play successfully in the Major Leagues.
No to an All-Women’s League
And they don’t want another all-women’s Major League, but rather to be integrated into the majors, just as so many rookies are signed annually. They believe that a women’s league would be even more discriminatory.
Branch Rickey Was Right
Coincidentally, what Black people dreamed of was having a team from their Negro Leagues accepted into the Major Leagues. But the Dodgers’ general manager in 1947, Branch Rickey, believed that true integration meant, as it turned out, that all baseball organizations had Black players on their major league rosters. It was then, in 1946, that he signed Jackie Robinson and sent him to the Triple-A affiliate in Montreal, before calling him up to Brooklyn the following year.
Since then, we have enjoyed such brilliant stars as Robinson himself, Larry Doby, Don Newcombe, Bob Gibson, Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Vida Blue, Juan Marichal, Elston Howard, Pedro Martínez, César Tovar, Willie Stargell, and Joe Morgan.
The Eternal Dream of the Girls
The history of women’s baseball has been very different, despite their long struggle. When Major League Baseball was founded in 1871, there were already girls’ teams, especially those made up of students.
This is evidenced by a legendary photograph, the first in history of a women’s team, The Resolutes, taken in 1876. The players were students at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. And one of the girls pictured there, Annie Glidden, wrote to her brother, telling him about her baseball activities:
“Vassar College, April 20, 1866.
“My dear brother:
“…They are forming various clubs now for outdoor exercise. They have a flower society, boat clubs, and base-ball-clubs. I belong to one of the latter, and enjoy it hugely, I can assure you. Our ground was measured off this morning. We think that, after we have practiced a little, we will let the Atlantic Club play a match with us. Or, perhaps, we will agree to play a match with the students from College Hill; but we have not decided yet…
“Your loving sister,
Annie.”
Like Vassar College, there were eight others with all-girls teams. It’s reasonable to assume that in such a group, there were players with Major League quality.
The latest experiment has been that of umpire Jen Pawol, who worked two games this year in the Majors, showing she has what it takes; but, in any case, they sent her down to the minors because she wears panties and not briefs.
Thanks to life for giving me so much, including a reader like you.
@juanvene5
(En Español)
Machismo de Más de 150 Años
Muchas Jóvenes Juegan Bien, Pero, Tradicionalmente, No las Han Querido en Grandes Ligas
Coral Gables, Florida (VIP-WIRE) – Cuando a un equipo de las Grandes Ligas contrate a una mujer, necesitará urgente ampliación de sus localidades y además, podrá exigir dinero extra por sus derechos de televisión.
Hace más de 155 años que las damas juegan beisbol, y algunas han sido ejecutivas de equipos, umpires, entrenadoras, coaches, comentaristas, narradoras. Pero jamás se les ocurrió a los empresarios de las Mayores, ordenar a sus scouts seguir a alguna jugadora hasta contratarla para las menores y elevarla después al máximo nivel, si daba muestras de dominar las exigencias del mejor beisbol en el mundo.
¡Tremendo, inexplicable y odioso machismo!
La calidad de juego de numerosas jovencitas, ha anunciado que sí ha habido algunas que pudieron jugar con éxito en Grandes Ligas.
No a Una Liga de Puras Damas
Y ellas no quieren otra Liga Grande de puras mujeres, sino ser integradas a las mayores, como anualmente son firmados tantos novatos. Opinan ellas que una liga femenina sería mayor discriminación.
Branch Rickey en lo Correcto
Casualmente, los negros lo que soñaban era que aceptaran en Grandes Ligas un equipo de sus Ligas Negras. Pero el gerente-general de los Dodgers en 1947, Branch Rickey, opinaba que la verdadera integración era, como fue, que todas las organizaciones del beisbol tuvieran negros en sus rosters mayores. Fue entonces cuando, en 1946, firmó a Jackie Robinson, y lo mandó a la sucursal Triple A, de Montreal, para subirlo el año siguiente a Brooklyn.
Desde entonces se han disfrutado de estelares tan brillantes como el mismo Robinson, Larry Doby, Don Newcombe, Bob Gibson, Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Vida Blue, Juan Marichal, Elston Howard, Pedro Martínez, César Tovar, Willie Stargell, Joe Morgan.
“The Resolutes”, equipo de muchachas del Vassar College, en 1876. Annie Glidden es la tercera, desde la izquierda, en la fila de arriba.
Laaaaargo Sueño de las Muchachas
La historia de las damas ha sido muy diferente, no obstante la larga lucha que han desplegado. Cuando nacieron las Ligas Mayores, en 1871, ya había equipos de muchachas, especialmente estudiantes.
Lo comprueba una legendaria foto, la primera en la historia de un equipo femenino, The Resolutes, que fue captada en 1876. Las integrantes estudiaban en el Vassar College, en Poughkeepsie, Nueva York. Y una de las muchachas que aparecen ahí, Annie Glidden, escribió a su hermano, contándole de sus actividades en el beisbol:
“Vassar College, abril 20 1866.
“My dear brother:
“…They are getting up various clubs, now, for out-door exercise. They have a floral society, boat-clubs, and base-ball-clubs. I belong to one of the latter, and enjoy it hugely, I can assure you. Our ground was measured off this morning. We think that, after we have practiced a little, we will let the Atlantic Club play a match with us. Or, may be, we will consent to play a match with the students from College Hill; but we have not decided yet…
“Your loving sister,
Annie”.
Traducción:
“Mi querido hermano:
“…Están organizando varios clubes para actividades físicas al aire libre. Tienen una sociedad floral, clubes náuticos, y clubes de base-ball. Yo pertenezco a uno de estos, y te puedo asegurar, que lo disfruto en cantidad. Nuestro terreno fue medido esta mañana. Pensamos que, después de practicar un poco, dejaremos que el Club Atlántico se enfrente a nosotros. O, quizás, consintamos en jugar con los estudiantes de College Hill; pero aún no lo hemos decidido…
“Tu querida hermana,
Annie”.
Y como Vassar College, había otros ocho con equipos de jovencitas. Es lógico suponer que en tal conglomerado, había jugadoras con calidad de Grandes Ligas.
El último experimento ha sido el de la umpire, Jen Pawol, quien trabajó en dos juegos este año en las Mayores, demostrando tener con qué; pero, de todas maneras, la enviaron a las menores porque usa pantaletas y no calzoncillos.
Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto, incluso un lector como tú.
@juanvene
