Anyone who has ever enjoyed the film classic A League of Our Own has heard of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Started during World War II to keep professional baseball alive, the league flourished from 1943 to 1954. Seventy years later, we are about to witness a rebirth.
Some six hundred female baseball players from across the United States and around the world converged on Washington, DC, to try out for the Women’s Pro Baseball League, or WPBL. On August 25, those who made the cut played at Nationals Field to choose who would be eligible for the historic draft in October. Among the noted players vying for a spot will be Savannah Banana pitcher Kelsie Whitmore; Mo’ne Davis, the first girl to pitch a shutout in a Little League World Series; and Canadian phenom Alli Schroder. Ayami Sato, perhaps the greatest living female baseball pitcher, will be on hand.
The passion they bring to the game reminds us there’s something inherently romantic about baseball, perhaps because it’s a sport full of contradictions and conflict and yet contains long pauses in which to ponder and strategize. To celebrate women on the diamond, here are a few of our favorite baseball romances. Novels where a female main character is an actual baseball player aren’t too abundant — yet — but there are plenty with women in the world of pro baseball. Batter up!
The Changeup by Nicole Falls
Geffri Robinson unexpectedly finds herself back in the spotlight thanks to a chance baseball
exhibition. At stake is a chance to return to playing ball, but proving her prowess also invites
online trolls and Noah, a sports blogger determined to show his superiority. Can Geffri triumph over
Noah’s challenge and win her place — and maybe a piece of his heart?
Wild Pitch by Cat Giraldo
Sierra is the first female pitcher on the team; Mateo is the beloved veteran catcher. Despite a
tumultuous year of trying not to choke on the mound, she’s selected for the All-Star Game. On
the field, Mateo is her lifeline. Off the field, their attraction is incendiary. But Mateo has been
chasing a World Series ring for 14 years and his body isn’t getting younger. Will he be gone
before she has a chance to break her rule about dating players?
Playing for First by Chris Paynter
Amy, an all-star first baseman, is on the cusp of breaking into men’s Major League Baseball.
Lisa, a freelance sportswriter has been following her ascent up from the minor leagues. As they
get to know one another, feelings develop but the world seems to be in their way. Men are
reacting badly to Amy trying to break the gender barrier and the stress is reawakening some of
Lisa’s old demons. Can they find a way to overcome what life is throwing at them and put each
other first?
The Secret Hook-Up by Pippa Grant
Pippa Grant doesn’t just write romcom; she writes screwball romcom on the level of the 1930s
classic film, Bringing Up Baby. Addie is one of the few female coaches in professional baseball,
and it’s been an uphill battle all the way. Duncan is the captain of his professional hockey team.
Can fire and ice mix as these two pros consider whether all is fair in love and sports? Put down
your hot beverage before you read their meet-cute; it will have you cringing and laughing in
equal measure.
Playing for Keeps by Jennifer Dugan
This YA novel has the perfect baseball meet-cute: elite high school baseball pitcher June gets
thrown out of the game for grandstanding by student umpire Ivy. After such a confrontational
beginning, the girls slowly become begrudging friends, and then more. Both have dreams of
baseball glory — Ivy wants to forego college to train to become a big-league umpire; June wants
that college baseball scholarship. Can they surmount their differences and expectations as June’s
shoulder starts acting up and rivals threaten to expose a forbidden romance between a player and
an umpire?
Heart of the Game by Rachel Spangler
Baseball sportswriter Sarah Duke only has eyes for the game until she meets single mom Molly
Grettano. There’s a connection, but Molly isn’t sure she wants to expose her boys to potential
heartbreak if things don’t work out. Sarah lives for baseball. Can she learn to open her heart to
more?