Women in Baseball Week 2022 is coming! Join in July 24-30, 2022 wherever you are, anytime during the week. How? That’s up to you! If you are involved with baseball yourself, post on your favorite social media site using #WomeninBaseballWeek and #WIBW2022 in your posts. If you are part of a team, museum, library, historical society, or other group that have local women who have left their mark on baseball in your region, share their contributions with the world.
About
Women in Baseball Week is an annual, worldwide event recognizing the value, diversity, and cultural significance of women in baseball. Women play a vital role in all aspects of the sport north, south, east and west–-help us celebrate each one! Tournaments, teams, libraries, museums, and individuals will join the International Women’s Baseball Center to recognize women’s contributions to baseball around the globe.
This year’s theme – A Year to Hustle – is dedicated to Shirley “Hustle” Burkovich, a champion, inspiration, and friend to the worldwide baseball community. A Year to Hustle reminds us all to stay active, to follow through on goals, create more opportunities, and make up for recents years of lost time. Let’s work smart, play hard, and dedicate a Year to Hustle.
While recent years have seen more women on the field, behind the plate, and in the broadcast booth, this momentum can only be sustained with everyone’s investment in working together, all around the world. By joining forces and supporting those with similar goals, we create more opportunities, expand youth participation, and encourage a culture that places women at the center of the world’s best sport. This is the week to celebrate those efforts! Share your story and join those worldwide who step up to the sport for a stronger tomorrow.
How you can participate:
- Promote your team and playing opportunities
- Highlight your participation in baseball with a photo or story
- Learn about the history of women in baseball
- Spotlight your organization’s materials that document women in baseball
- Share your local history of women in baseball
Share your events and experiences online! Add #WomeninBaseballWeek and #AYeartoHustle to share your chapter to the story.
2022 Events
Here are a few of the events scheduled for this year’s celebration!
Events throughout the summer will be posted here. If you have a Women in Baseball event to share, contact us at info@womeninbaseballweek.org
The Ohio Village Diamonds (Columbus, OH, USA) April 16, 2022
1:00pm Club Match at the Ohio Village 800 E 17th Ave Columbus Oh. For more information visit Ohio Village Diamonds.
Pawtucket Slaterettes: Miya Brophy-Baermann Dedication (Pawtucket, RI, USA) April 23, 2022
As the Slaterettes celebrate their 49th season and the acquisition of a new complex, join them to celebrate the life of Miya Brophy-Baermann. It is without hesitation that we humbly dedicate this season to such an incredible soul, who epitomized what it meant to be a Slaterette.
Australian Women’s Baseball Showcase (Geelong, Victoria, Australia) May 4-7, 2022
Geelong will host an expanded Australian Women’s Baseball Showcase in May, bringing together Australian Emeralds stars and some of the country’s top female prospects for an action-packed four-day event. Watch every game at Baseball Australia.
Meet the Filmmaker: Ashleigh B. Curry (Raleigh, NC, USA) May 14, 2022
Northeast Regional Library hosts Ashleigh B. Curry, who wrote, directed, starred in and produced the short film Toni. Mamie. Connie. The film depicts the journey of three Black women in the 1950s Negro baseball leagues. This UNC-Chapel Hill grad discusses the true story behind the film and her industry experience. For more information, visit Northeast Regional Library.
The Ohio Village Diamonds (Lancaster, OH, USA) May 21, 2022
2:00pm vs local club Lancaster Campgrounds Sesquicentennial 2151 W Fair Ave Lancaster Oh (Double Header with the The Ohio Village Muffins 3:30). For more information visit Ohio Village Diamonds.
Fort Wayne TinCaps: Fort Wayne Daisies Throwback (Fort Wayne, IN, USA) May 21, 2022
TinCaps Game vs. West Michigan Whitecaps. Fort Wayne Daisies Throwback and Postgame Fireworks. For more information visit TinCaps.
The Ohio Village Diamonds (Utica, OH, USA) May 28, 2022
2:00pm vs local club at Velvet Ice Cream Festival 11324 Mt Vernon Rd Utica Oh (double header with Ohio Village Muffins 3:30). For more information visit Ohio Village Diamonds.
Baseball For All: Penny Marshall Invitational (Encino, CA, USA) May 28-30, 2022
This new three day event will welcome players ages 7–16 from the greater Los Angeles area who are currently playing or are interested in playing baseball. To encourage the growth of the game in Southern California, all players will register as individuals and will be placed on teams with coaches. For more information, visit Baseball For All.
British Columbia Girls Baseball: Girls Baseball Jamboree (Surrey, BC, Canada) June 4, 2022
The BC Girls Baseball Jamboree is coming up on June 4th! We have teams and players coming from around the province and couldn’t be more excited to spend a day with all of you! We currently have space for more teams and players in both age divisions. Please email stacy.fournier22@gmail.com if your team is interested in joining the jamboree. Individual players are also welcome – we will place you on a team!
The Details:
Saturday, June 4th
9:00am – 4:00pm
Lionel Courchene Park, Surrey
Ages 6-8 & 9-12
2 games each
Skills sessions
Autographs from Team BC & Canada players
The Ohio Village Diamonds (Columbus, OH, USA) June 4, 2022
12:00pm vs Grove City Greyhounds at Century Village Fryer Park 3899 Orders Rd Grove City (double header with Ohio Village Muffins 1:30). The Diamonds are a group of women who play 1860’s base ball. We wear 1860’s period dresses, use wooden bats, and wear no gloves. For more information visit Ohio Village Diamonds.
Baseball For All: Toni Stone Invitational (St. Paul, MN, USA) June 11-12, 2022
The Toni Stone Invitational will be held June 11 and 12 at Dunning Sports Complex in St. Paul and registration is now open for girls ages seven through 14. Girls who participate will be divided into teams into four age groups, 8-and-under, 10-and-under, 12-and-under and 14-and-under. All teams will play three guaranteed games.
British Columbia Girls Baseball: High Performance ID Camps (See locations below) May 26 – June 15, 2022
Attending an Identification Camp is your first step in representing our beautiful province at Westerns or Nationals. From there, athletes are invited to attend the Provincial Selection Camp, from which teams will be selected in the 14U, 16U, and 21U age categories.
Athletes must attend ONE of the following dates to be considered for the Provincial Camp:
May 26 – Burnaby
May 28 – Kelowna
May 29 – Kamloops
June 1 – Victoria
June 9 – Burnaby
June 15 – Duncan
Head to https://baseball.bc.ca/highperformance for registration and full details.
Baseball For All: Bay Area Girls Baseball Clinic (Livermore, CA, USA) June 18, 2022
Bay Area girls baseball clinic scheduled for Saturday, June 18th for 2 age groups. For more information or to register, visit Girls Baseball Camp.
Canadian Girls Baseball: Annual Tournament (Ajax, ON, Canada) June 17-19, 2022
Canadian Girls Baseball Annual Tournament consists of at least 3 Games, tournament giveaways & prizes. 9U – 16U; individual players welcome. For more information, visit CGB Annual Tournament.
Boston Red Sox: Girls of Summer (Boston, MA, USA) June 21, 2022
This all-day event will include clinics with the coaches, behind the scene tours of Fenway Park, Q&A with players and coaches, and much more! Each guest will also receive lunch along with a ticket for the game that evening between the Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers. Click here for more information.
SABR & IWBC Women in Baseball Conference: Call for Papers Deadline June 27, 2022
This year’s conference theme is “Title IX and Women’s Baseball: Where We’ve Been, Where We Are and Where We’re Headed.” Topics can focus on anniversaries such as: Title IX (50th), Marie Pepe (50th), umpires (Bernice Gera 50th), A League of Their Own (30th), the Colorado Silver Bullets (25th anniversary of final season); or any other ideas related to women’s baseball are welcome for individual oral and poster presentations. Please submit abstracts of approximately 200 words, along with contact information and a short biography, by June 27, 2022, to Leslie Heaphy at Lheaphy@kent.edu.
Kenosha Kingfish: A League of Their Own Night (Kenosha, WI, USA) June 28, 2022
Join the Kenosha Kingfish at historics Simmons Field as they celebrate A League of Their Own and their very own hometown Kenosha Comets. Visit Kingfish for more information.
A League of Their Own Celebration Night at City Market (Rockford, IL, USA) July 1, 2022
Vendors, events, and baseball fun at Rockford’s City Market as part of the A League of Their Own 30th Anniversary. 3:30 PM to 9:00 PM, City Market Pavilion and Indoor Market, 116 Market St, Rockford, IL. Free to the public. For more information visit Rockford City Market.
NINE Online Virtual Conference: Call for Papers Deadline (online event) July 1, 2022
The 9 ONLINE Virtual Baseball Conference invites original unpublished papers that study all aspects of baseball, with particular emphasis on history, literature, and social policy implications. Abstracts only, not to exceed 300 words, should be submitted by July 1, 2022, to co-director Willie Steele (wdsteele@lipscomb.edu) for the abstract committee’s consideration. Presentations will be limited to 15 minutes. For more information visit 9 ONLINE.
The Suds Bucket Bash (Rockford, IL, USA) July 1, 2022
Guests can partake of appetizers and desserts catered by Greenfire, as well as a full cash bar and Signature Drinks from bars on both floors. The evening includes live and video entertainment and autograph and photo opportunities with Megan Cavanagh as well as players from the original Rockford Peaches and the AAGPBL. 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at The Standard, 214 E. State St., Rockford, IL. $100 per person / 400 person capacity. Ticket info at Eventbrite.
Friday Night Flix: A League of Their Own (Rockford, IL, USA) July 1, 2022
Friday Night Flix hosts a special showing of A League of Their Own, voted one of the top ten sports movies of all time. Pre-movie entertainment includes 1940s-era swing dancers recreating scenes from the movie at the Suds Bucket, along with students from The Studio performing songs from their upcoming original musical “Girls of Summer.” Begins at 7:00 PM at Davis Park, Rockford, IL. Free to the public. More info at Friday Night Flix.
Celebrity Softball Game at Beyer Park (Rockford, IL, USA) July 2, 2022
Celebrity Softball Game at Beyer Park, home of the original Rockford Rockford Peaches. 12 Noon to 1:30 PM, at Seminary St. and 15th Ave., Rockford, IL. Free to the public. More info at Beyer Park.
The Ohio Village Diamonds (Mechanicsburg, OH, USA) July 9, 2022
3:30pm vs Mechanicsburg Indians at Goshen Memorial Park S Parkview Rd Mechanicsburg Oh (double header with the Ohio Village Diamonds 5:00). The Diamonds are a group of women who play 1860’s base ball. We wear 1860’s period dresses, use wooden bats, and wear no gloves. For more information visit Ohio Village Diamonds.
Baseball For All: Nationals 2022 (Windsor, CO, USA) July 20-24, 2022
7th annual BFA Nationals, the largest girls baseball tournament in United States history, will be hosted in partnership with the Future Legends Complex in Windsor, CO.
Since 2015, we’ve welcomed girls from all over the U.S., Canada, Australia, France, and South Korea to compete in this one-of-a-kind tournament—a unique opportunity for girls in baseball to be surrounded by hundreds of others who love the game just as much as they do.
We are proud to provide our players both with state of the facilities and experiences are unique to the BFA Nationals, including:
5 game guarantee (for 12U – 18U)
Exclusive player swag
Opening Ceremonies
Official meet and greets with former All-American Girls Professional Baseball League players
Over 70% female representation in umpiring crew
In 2022, we will also be adding another age division and are excited to offer even more girls an opportunity to continuing playing:
10U (46/60), 12U (46/60), 12U (50/70), 14U (54/80), 14U (60/90), 16U (60/90), 18U (60/90)
NEW: College Division
Registration is now OPEN for BFA Nationals 2022. All players must register individually.
Baseball Canada – USA Baseball: Women’s Baseball Friendship Series (Thunder Bay, ON, Canada) July 28 – August 1, 2021
Baseball Canada and USA Baseball announced today plans for a five-game Women’s Baseball Friendship Series set to take place from July 28 – August 1 in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The series will mark the first time that both nations have played in international competition since the COPABE Women’s Pan-American Championships in 2019.
A schedule for the five-game series and additional event detail will be announced at a later date.
The Ohio Village Diamonds (Baltimore, OH, USA) August 6, 2021
12:30pm vs Queen Bees at Baltimore Johnson Park 220 Summers Choice Dr Baltimore Oh (double header with the Ohio Village Muffins 5:00). The Diamonds are a group of women who play 1860’s base ball. We wear 1860’s period dresses, use wooden bats, and wear no gloves. For more information visit Ohio Village Diamonds.
Rochester Honkers: A League of Their Own Night (Rochester, MN, USA) August 6, 2021
The Rochester Honkers are teaming up with The Hormel Institute in Austin, MN for “A League Of Their Own Night”. The Honkers and Hormel Institute are celebrating the 1992 film’s 30th anniversary, in addition to the impact it had on women in baseball. The Honkers will bring in special guests for the night, including Megan Cavanagh. Cavanagh played Marla Hooch in the Penny Marshall directed classic. For more information visit Rochester Honkers.
The Ohio Village Diamonds (Blanchard, OH, USA) August 27, 2022
2:00pm vs local club 2:00 Mt Blancard Island Park 100 Park St Mt Blanchard Oh (double header with Ohio Village Muffins 3:30). The Diamonds are a group of women who play 1860’s base ball. We wear 1860’s period dresses, use wooden bats, and wear no gloves. For more information visit Ohio Village Diamonds.
NINE Online Virtual Conference (online event) September 29-30, 2022
The organizers of the NINE Spring Training Conference are proud to announce the inaugural 9 ONLINE Virtual Baseball Conference. Like our annual spring meeting, this inter-disciplinary conference will feature presentations on a wide range of baseball topics–but conveniently brought to you online. This conference is an opportunity for researchers, especially graduate students, to present and receive feedback on works-in-progress. Registration is $40. Student Registration is $25. For more information visit 9 ONLINE.
DC Girls Baseball: DMV Girls Baseball Series (Ellicott City, MD, USA) October 8-9, 2022
Join DCGB for the third annual DMV Girls Baseball Series to be held October 8-9 in Ellicott City, Maryland! 10u,12u,14u, 16u and 18u divisions! Check DC Girls Baseball regularly for updates on information and registration.
Rainbow Sandals AAGPBL and AGB Present: All-American Women’s Baseball Classic Tournament (Sarasota, FL, USA) November 19-22, 2022
Showcasing 60 of the Top Women Baseball Players in the U.S. at Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota, Florida. For more information, visit American Girls Baseball.
Shirley “Hustle” Burkovich
Shirley Burkovich was a former infielder, outfielder and pitcher who played from 1949 -1951 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She was signed to play at age 16 and was nicknamed “Hustle” for her boundless intensity on the field, as she filled in at every position except catcher. After baseball she worked for Pacific Bell Telephone for 30 years and was an active collaborator in different projects of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Players Association.
For the past 30 years, it would be hard to miss Shirley supporting and advocating for girls and women in baseball at events like the Women’s Baseball World Cup, Baseball For All Nationals. or the Red Sox Women’s Fantasy Camp. She was a founding member of the International Women’s Baseball Center, served as its Treasurer, and was instrumental in bringing countless events and playing opportunities back to Rockford, where she played professionally in 1951.
This year’s theme – A Year to Hustle – is dedicated to Shirley “Hustle” Burkovich, a champion, inspiration, and friend to the worldwide baseball community. A Year to Hustle reminds us all to stay active, to follow through on goals, create more opportunities, and make up for recents years of lost time. Let’s work smart, play hard, and dedicate a Year to Hustle.
More Resources – Celebrate Shirley’s amazing and get inspired to continue her important work by learning from the following recommendations.
Books:
The Women of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League: A Biographical Dictionary by W. C. Madden (1997) ISBN-13: 978-0786403042
The All-American Girls After the AAGPBL: How Playing Pro Ball Shaped Their Lives by Kat D. Williams (2017) ISBN-13: 978-0786472352
The Sweet Spot Presents Baseball Pioneers: True Stories of Guts and Glory As Told By Pioneering Men and Women of the Game by Jon Leonoudakis, Kelly Holtzclaw (2018) ISBN-13: 978-0998919317
Interviews / Oral Histories:
Grand Valley State University: All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Collection: Shirley Burkovich (2009)
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum: Shirley Burkovich – Sports Stories Baseball (2017)
MassHistorical: Panel Discussion: The All-American Girls: Women in Professional Baseball (2018)
Hall of Very Good: Women in Baseball Week Shirley Burkovich (2019)
Coach Baseball Right! Episode 7: Interview with Shirley Burkovich former All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (2019)
Tributes / Articles:
Shirley Burkovich Family Celebration of Life (2022)
Films:
A League of Their Own (1992)
The Sweet Spot – A Treasury of Baseball Stories: Episode 6 Maybelle Blair & Shirley Burkovich: Baseball Pioneers from “A League of Their Own” (2016)
A Team of Their Own: The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (2018)
Hardball: The Girls of Summer (2019)
Contact
Women in Baseball Week, developed by Ryan Woodward, is a project of the International Women’s Baseball Center. Contact Ryan at info@womeninbaseballweek.org.