Madonna, Penny Marshall’s A League of Their Own is a certified classic, complete with its own behind-the-scenes lore that continues to reveal itself 30 years after the release.That’s where journalist Erin Carlson’s newest book, No Crying in Baseball: The Inside Story of A League of Their Own: Big Stars, Dugout Drama, and a Home Run for Hollywood, comes in.
Carlson spent countless hours interviewing the cast, crew, executives, and even a surviving member of the original All American Girls Professional Baseball League, for a book that’s packed with on-set drama and a deeper look into the making of this Hollywood home run that continues to be celebrated decades after its release – look no further than last summer’s TV adaptation produced by and starring Abbi Jacobson.We caught up with Erin Carlson to talk about A League of Their Own’s queer legacy, all things Rosie O’Donnell, and Madonna.QUEERTY: Erin, thank you so much for joining us.
How would you summarize A League of Their Own’s impact on pop culture since its release?CARLSON: I feel like it’s immeasurable.
It’s a genre outlier. It’s a baseball movie, but about an all-female team. That was a rarity back then – it’s a rarity now. And I think that’s why it has endured for so long in the culture: it’s deeply original.