Maybelle Blair, ALOTO Inspiration, Throws 1st Pitch at Dodgers Game
Maybelle Blair, the former professional baseball player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before a game at Dodger Stadium on Sunday as part of the team’s Women’s Day celebration.The 95-year-old Blair, whose character was one of the inspirations for the 1992 movie and new Amazon series entitled A League of Their Own, later joined broadcasters Joe Davis and legendary Hall of Fame Dodger pitcher Oral Hershiser in the broadcasting booth to reminisce about the game.“I grew up loving baseball and I’ll die loving baseball,” Blair told Hershiser and Davis.
She also revealed she became a fan of the Dodgers while growing up in her nearby Inglewood, Calif., even though the team played in Brooklyn, New York, at the time.
Blair, who was known as “All the Way Mae” during her career, played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League as a pitcher for the Peoria Redwings.
She had primarily played second base until then. An injury prevented her from reaching her full potential with the Redwings, though, and she was eventually released.
