Women in Baseball Week 2025 was a blast! Mark your calendar for WIBW2026, July 19-25 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 #WIBW2026 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 – Take Me Out to the Ballgame – encourages us all to find ways to support women and girls in baseball this summer. Watch games, donate funds and equipment, read books, attend exhibits and lectures. The Women in Baseball Week Event Calendar and the Women’s Baseball Heritage Trail are here for you to connect with our worldwide baseball family.
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
- Encourage your local library or bookstore to participate
- Spotlight your organization’s materials that document women in baseball
- Share your local history of women in baseball
- Grab a t-shirt from our friends at Bonfire
Share your events and experiences online! Add #WomeninBaseballWeek to share your chapter to the story.
2026 Events
Here are a few of the events scheduled for this year’s celebration!
Events throughout the year will be posted here. If you have a Women in Baseball event to share, contact us at info@womeninbaseballweek.org
2026
Champaign County History Museum: Dorothy Schroeder and the All-American Girls’ Professional Baseball League (Champaign, IL, USA) Through 2027
The Champaign County History Museum is now hosting Dottie Schroeder :All-American Girl which follows the life of Dorothy Schroeder and her time in the All American Girls Professional Baseball League. This terrific exhibit was curated by our Museum Manager Will Best-Weidman. Learn more at Champaign County History Museum.
Old Fort Baseball Co. Support Women’s Baseball Campaign (Online) Winter, 2026
The IWBC is teaming up with Old Fort Baseball Co. in launching the Support Women’s Baseball campaign. From the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League to today’s rising stars, women have always had a place in the game. It’s time more people knew it. A portion of proceeds from every shirt sold goes directly to the IWBC and our mission to preserve the history and advance the future of women’s baseball. Find the right shirt for you and your baseball family at Old Fort Baseball Co.
National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture: ¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues (Chicago, IL, USA) September 6, 2025 – March 15, 2026
Developed in collaboration with the National Museum of American History, the ¡Pleibol! exhibit examines how generations of Latinos/as have helped make the game what it is today. From youth and community teams to the Major League, the exhibition reveals how baseball brings people together regardless of race, class, or gender. These inspirational baseball stories reflect larger themes in American history that connect us all, on and off the diamond. For details, visit Pleibol.
Ani Ramos Catching: Girls Baseball Catching Academy (Wayne, NJ, USA) Sundays, November 1, 2025 – March 7, 2026
Introducing the Ani Ramos Catching FIRST All-Girls Baseball Catching Academy.
• Sundays 12pm-2pm from Nov. 1 to March 7
• Softball catchers ARE WELCOMED! But, will work with baseballs & baseball drills.
Price & registration: contact aniramosbaseball@gmail.com
Bridgewater State University: We learn by doing, leading, and competing: Women in athletics and physical education 1890-1960 Virtual Exhibit (Online) January – March, 2026
The Health and Physical Education major, with the motto “We learn by doing,” was developed as women-only and it remained so until 1972. The longevity of the major program is not only what makes it notable. Rather, it’s the widespread influence of the Bridgewater Physical Education faculty and students in local, national and international spheres spearheaded by Dr. Mary Jo Moriarty’s leadership over a 30 year career. Collections in Maxwell Libraries Archives help to document and preserve this legacy.
This exhibit also highlights items from the Bertrand-Lundin Honoring Women in Sport collection to trace the history of women in baseball and show how their opportunities to compete evolved alongside major social changes and educational movements in the first half of the twentieth century. Bertrand and Lundin’s own words summarize the collection: “the comprehensive collection chronicles Women in Sports from circa 1870’s thru 1970’s and encompasses not only primary resource materials for research but also artifacts, photographs and memorabilia for exhibits and digital content. See the exhibit at Bridgewater.
Women’s Baseball Heritage Project: Black Women in Baseball Reading list (Online) February, 2026
This list highlights both non-fiction and historically inspired books related to Black women and girls in baseball and features a variety of media and reading levels. List creator Ryan Woodward is a member of the Society for American Baseball Research and the International Women’s Baseball Center. To find these books and more in a library near you, visit WorldCat.org.
Philly Girls Baseball: Free Winter Training (Philadelphia, PA, USA) February, 2026
Philly Girls Baseball is pleased to offer FREE indoor winter training during the month of February. Girls ages 8+ who love baseball are welcome, regardless of team affiliation.
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New players and guest players are welcome! All experience levels are welcome!
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Once registered, RSVP for each session on League Apps. Players do not need to attend all sessions.
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Bring your helmet and glove. Wear athletic clothing, baseball hat, and sneakers or turf shoes (no cleats).
Guerreros Youth Baseball Club: Free Girls Baseball Training Session (San Antonio, TX, USA) February 28, 2026
Girls baseball San Antonio! Free training session!
When: February 28
Time: 3-6pm
Where: Towne & Country Optimist Little League
Address: 6493 McCullough Avenue
Register: bit.ly/GirlsBaseballSanAntonio
When: February 28
Time: 3-6pm
Where: Towne & Country Optimist Little League
Address: 6493 McCullough Avenue
Register: bit.ly/GirlsBaseballSanAntonio
Synchronicity Theatre: Catching the Moon: The Story of a Young Girl’s Baseball Dream (Atlanta, GA, USA) February 20 – March 15, 2026
With the crack of a bat, Marcenia Lyle rounds the bases with ease and slides into home. Catching the Moon, a blues-infused musical, tells the spirited story of a young Black girl who grew up to become “Toni Stone,” the first woman to play for an all-male professional baseball team.
As a kid in the 1930s, Marcenia could outrun, outplay, and outshine anyone on the field—but she had to fight for every inning she got. When opportunity knocks in the form of a summer baseball camp run by the legendary Gabby Street, she faces a new challenge: proving she belongs in the game, no matter what the rules say.
Bursting with rhythm, drive, and heart, Catching the Moon celebrates the power of determination, the thrill of the game, and the courage it takes to change it forever.
A MUSICAL FOR ALL AGES – PERFECT FOR KIDS 4+UP! Tickets and more information at Synchronicity.
MLB Grit: Girls ID Tour (Cincinnati, OH, USA) February 21, 2026
Major League Baseball’s “MLB GRIT: Girls ID Tour,” is designed specifically for female athletes (18 and under) to showcase their talent and ability as baseball players. The event format is similar to a pro-style workout where athletes are evaluated on their talent. The top performers from the event will be selected to participate in the Girls Baseball Elite Development Invitational, a one-week program geared toward providing elite training and instruction, as well as the annual Girls Baseball Breakthrough Series.
Major League Baseball and USA Baseball will host five stops on the 2026 MLB GRIT: Girls ID Tour. Female baseball players in the classes of 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030 are eligible.
Additional event details will be provided to all registered participants in advance of the applicable event date.
Have questions about MLB GRIT? Please email mlbdevelopsinfo@mlb.com.
More information and registration at MLB Grit.
Arizona Baseball Museum: Grand Opening Festival (Mesa, AZ, USA) February 21, 2026
The Arizona Baseball Museum, the first permanent baseball museum in the state, opens Feb. 21. A grand opening festival will accompany its debut at the Mesa Historical Museum campus, 2345 N. Horne, on Feb. 21 – two days after Spring Training Season starts in Arizona.The museum traces baseball’s deep roots in Arizona—from the sport’s early days in the Arizona Territory through the birth of Spring Training, the formation of the Cactus League and the generations of fans and players who helped define the game in the state. For more information, visit https://www.arizonabaseballmuseum.org/events
Miami Valley Valkyries: Free Girls Baseball Workout (Middletown, OH, USA) February 22, 2026
Join us for a Free Girls Baseball Workout with pro player Scott Seeker
Sunday, Feb 22 | 1–3 PM at The Yard Sports Development, Middletown OH
Ages 10–16 | Free | No registration
Come train, connect, and celebrate girls in sports! More info at Valkyries.
Upstate Girls Baseball: Girls Baseball Skills Clinic (Colonie, NY, USA) February 22, 2026
Join us for our second free February clinic in the Capital Region of New York on Sunday, February 22.
This clinic will be led by Beth Greenwood and Maddie Tse.
Beth has played for the USA Baseball Women’s National Team and the University of Rochester as a catcher. She is in her second year as an Assistant Baseball Coach for Vassar College and recently signed with WPBL Boston. Maddie grew up playing competitive baseball, participated in the USA Baseball Women’s National Team Development Program, and is currently competing as a college softball player at Springfield College.
Sunday, February 22
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
23A Walker Way, Colonie, NY
Ages 10–14 | All skill levels
Baseball & softball players welcome | FREETo hold your spot, email info@upstategirlsbaseball.com.
Tampa Baseball Museum: Jane Leavy Book Signing (Tampa, FL, USA) February 22, 2026
Join us for a book signing with accomplished writer, Jane Leavy. You do not want to miss the opportunity to meet Jane and learn more about baseball. Books will be on sale at the museum store. Light refreshments available.
Space is limited and reservations are required. 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
MLB Grit: Girls ID Tour (Compton, CA, USA) March 1, 2026
Major League Baseball’s “MLB GRIT: Girls ID Tour,” is designed specifically for female athletes (18 and under) to showcase their talent and ability as baseball players. The event format is similar to a pro-style workout where athletes are evaluated on their talent. The top performers from the event will be selected to participate in the Girls Baseball Elite Development Invitational, a one-week program geared toward providing elite training and instruction, as well as the annual Girls Baseball Breakthrough Series.
Major League Baseball and USA Baseball will host five stops on the 2026 MLB GRIT: Girls ID Tour. Female baseball players in the classes of 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030 are eligible.
Additional event details will be provided to all registered participants in advance of the applicable event date.
Have questions about MLB GRIT? Please email mlbdevelopsinfo@mlb.com.
More information and registration at MLB Grit.
Bridgewater State University: We learn by doing, leading, and competing: Women in athletics and physical education 1890-1960 Conference & Celebration (Bridgewater, MA, USA) March 2, 2026
“We Learn By Doing, Leading, And Competing: Women In Athletics And Physical Education 1890-1960” is a Women’s History Month event scheduled for March 2, 2026, held in the Maxwell Library Heritage Room. It explores the evolution of women’s sports and leadership roles, featuring historical perspectives from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Visit Bridgewater for more details.
NINE Spring Training Conference (Tempe, AZ, USA) March 4 -7, 2026
Join us in Tempe, Arizona for the 33rd Annual NINE Spring Training Conference, March 4-7, 2026. This conference features presentations on a wide range of baseball topics, including history, media analysis, law, statistics, literature, art, architecture, and more. View the schedule and register at NINE.
Midway Village Museum: Sock Monkey Madness (Rockford, IL, USA) March 7, 2026
Get ready to twist, jive, and monkey around—Sock Monkey Madness is back for its 21st year, and this time it’s a full-blown Sock Hop. Bring your favorite sock monkey to the dance floor as the beloved annual festival returns to Midway Village Museum in Rockford.. The WWII Girls Baseball Living History League will be on hand from 12-4pm with information and activities honoring the Rockford Peaches. Tickets and more information available at Sock Monkey Madness.
MLB Grit: Girls ID Tour (Boston, MA, USA) March 8, 2026
Major League Baseball’s “MLB GRIT: Girls ID Tour,” is designed specifically for female athletes (18 and under) to showcase their talent and ability as baseball players. The event format is similar to a pro-style workout where athletes are evaluated on their talent. The top performers from the event will be selected to participate in the Girls Baseball Elite Development Invitational, a one-week program geared toward providing elite training and instruction, as well as the annual Girls Baseball Breakthrough Series.
Major League Baseball and USA Baseball will host five stops on the 2026 MLB GRIT: Girls ID Tour. Female baseball players in the classes of 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030 are eligible.
Additional event details will be provided to all registered participants in advance of the applicable event date.
Have questions about MLB GRIT? Please email mlbdevelopsinfo@mlb.com.
More information and registration at MLB Grit.
North Coburg Rebels Baseball Club: Women’s Baseball Come & Try Sessions (Coburg North, VIC, Australia) March 18 & 20, 2026
Since 1986, the North Coburg Rebels have been building community through baseball.
In 2026, we’re proud to launch something new – women’s baseball.
We’re welcoming women of all skill levels to be part of our inaugural women’s program. Whether you’ve played before or are completely new to the game, you’re welcome here.
Come & Try sessions will be held on Wed March 18 and Sat March 21, with the season starting on April 19.
Click Interested to stay updated as we release more details or head to our website and fill out our Expression of Interest form
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum: Exhibit Encounter: Diamond Dreams: Women in Baseball (Cooperstown, NY, USA) March 20, 2026
Join a Museum educator as we tour Diamond Dreams: Women in Baseball. Come on by and learn about the history of the game’s leading female pioneers, including players in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. This special tour meets at 1 pm in the exhibit, located on the Museum’s second floor, and is free for anyone with paid admission to the Museum. More information at Diamond Dreams.
Froyo Girls Baseball and That’s A Girl Baseball Initiative: Girls Baseball Clinic (MIddletown, MA, USA) March 21, 2026
FREE Girls Baseball Clinic
Date: March 21st, 9am -11 am
Event Address: Extra Innings, Middleton, MA For more information, reach out to cassfroio@gmail.com or 978-905-5083
Register at Girls Baseball Clinic MA.
MLB Grit: Girls ID Tour (Chicago, IL, USA) March 22, 2026
Major League Baseball’s “MLB GRIT: Girls ID Tour,” is designed specifically for female athletes (18 and under) to showcase their talent and ability as baseball players. The event format is similar to a pro-style workout where athletes are evaluated on their talent. The top performers from the event will be selected to participate in the Girls Baseball Elite Development Invitational, a one-week program geared toward providing elite training and instruction, as well as the annual Girls Baseball Breakthrough Series.
Major League Baseball and USA Baseball will host five stops on the 2026 MLB GRIT: Girls ID Tour. Female baseball players in the classes of 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030 are eligible.
Additional event details will be provided to all registered participants in advance of the applicable event date.
Have questions about MLB GRIT? Please email mlbdevelopsinfo@mlb.com.
More information and registration at MLB Grit.
Lansing Historical Society: Women’s Baseball in Illinois & the Midwest (Lansing, IL, USA) March 23, 2026
Anna Sielaff will present “Women’s Baseball in Illinois and the Midwest.” Anna comes to us through the Illinois Humanities Road Scholar Speakers’ Bureau. This presentation offers an exciting opportunity to explore how Illinois played a significant role in forming The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Located in the lower level of the Lansing Library, Community Room.
Rockford University Forum Series: See Her Be Her (Rockford, IL, USA) March 28, 2026
Visit Rockford University, housing host for the 2026 Women’s Baseball World Cup group stage, for a free screening of the documentary, See Her Be Her. Saturday, March 28th in the Maddox Theatre. More information at RU Forum.
Watch the trailer and learn more about the film at See Her Be Her.
MLB Grit: Girls ID Tour (San Francisco, CA, USA) March 29, 2026
Major League Baseball’s “MLB GRIT: Girls ID Tour,” is designed specifically for female athletes (18 and under) to showcase their talent and ability as baseball players. The event format is similar to a pro-style workout where athletes are evaluated on their talent. The top performers from the event will be selected to participate in the Girls Baseball Elite Development Invitational, a one-week program geared toward providing elite training and instruction, as well as the annual Girls Baseball Breakthrough Series.
Major League Baseball and USA Baseball will host five stops on the 2026 MLB GRIT: Girls ID Tour. Female baseball players in the classes of 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030 are eligible.
Additional event details will be provided to all registered participants in advance of the applicable event date.
Have questions about MLB GRIT? Please email mlbdevelopsinfo@mlb.com.
More information and registration at MLB Grit.
The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature: ¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues (Bradenton, FL, USA) April 4, 2026 – June 28, 2026
Developed in collaboration with the National Museum of American History, the ¡Pleibol! exhibit examines how generations of Latinos/as have helped make the game what it is today. From youth and community teams to the Major League, the exhibition reveals how baseball brings people together regardless of race, class, or gender. These inspirational baseball stories reflect larger themes in American history that connect us all, on and off the diamond. For details, visit Pleibol.
Florida Bolts: All-Girls Baseball Clinic (St. Petersburg, FL, USA) April 12, 2026
Open to all ages and skill levels
Players will rotate through hitting, fielding, throwing, and baserunning stations led by experienced coaches in a fun, supportive environment.
First 20 girls registered get a FREE clinic shirt
Lunch provided for all players and volunteers
Register now at www.floridabolts.org
Players will rotate through hitting, fielding, throwing, and baserunning stations led by experienced coaches in a fun, supportive environment.
First 20 girls registered get a FREE clinic shirt Lunch provided for all players and volunteers Register now at www.floridabolts.orgMLB Develops: Trailblazer Series (Vero Beach, FL, USA) April 16 – 19, 2026
In 2017, USA Baseball and Major League Baseball launched a new baseball event for girls built around Jackie Robinson Day in celebration of baseball’s quintessential “trailblazer.” The objective of the event is to provide playing, development and educational opportunities to girls who play baseball.
Have questions about the Trailblazer Series? Please email trailblazerseries@mlb.com.
Froyo Girls Baseball, Slaterettes, and Red Sox Foundation: Play Ball Pawtucket Girls Baseball Clinic (Pawtucket, RI, USA) April 18, 2026
Teaming up with the Red Sox & the Slaterettes, our April Clinic will be AMAZING! Play Ball is a FREE introductory girls’ baseball clinic designed for players ages 5–12 of all skill levels. Mark your calendars! Join us on April 18th at the Slaterettes Complex for an exciting day of baseball!
REGISTER HERE: Pawtucket Girls Baseball
REGISTER HERE: Pawtucket Girls Baseball
BC Girls Baseball: Amanda Asay Jamboree (Surrey, BC, Canada) May 16, 2026
Save the Date! Join us at our upcoming information session! (DateTBT in April 2026). During the session we will discuss details about each division, Team vs Free Agent options, what to expect from the jamboree, and have an open Q&A session to answer all of your questions. Anyone interested is invited to attend session. Stay up to date at BC Girls Baseball.
Midway Village Museum: Peaches Playdate (Rockford, IL, USA) May 23, 2026
Mark your calendar for the annual Peaches Playdate celebration at Midway Village Museum on Saturday, May 23rd. See Rockford’s own Girls of Summer exhibit, meet re-enactors, learn a lot about Peaches history, and much more! IWBC will be on hand to make it a great day. Stay tuned for more information.
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum: The Cooperstown Symposium (Cooperstown, NY, USA) May 27 – 29, 2026
The 37th Cooperstown Symposium on Baseball and American Culture will be held at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum on May 27 – May 29, 2026. Visit Cooperstown for details.
Fort Wayne TinCaps: Tribute to the Daisies (Ft. Wayne, IN, USA) June 5, 2026
The Fort Wayne TinCaps annual tribute to the legendary Fort Wayne Daisies of the AAGPBL is set for June 5th, 2026 at Parkview Field. For more information or to buy tickets, visit TinCaps.
The Maria Pepe Little League Baseball Legacy Series (Williamsport, PA, USA) June 5-7, 2026
Following the success of the second annual event, the “Maria Pepe Little League Baseball® Legacy Series: A Girls with Game Experience”, an all-girls baseball weekend opportunity, is set to return to the home of the Little League Baseball World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on June 5-7, 2026. Applications are now open for girls interested in securing one of the limited spots for this year’s event.
The event will once again be open for a total of 96 female baseball players (League Age 11-12, based on the Baseball Age Determination Date). Applications will be accepted from January 26 through the March 1, 2026 deadline. Once the deadline has concluded, and all submissions are received, Little League staff will evaluate the applications and identify the 96 candidates that will be selected to participate.
Royal York Baseball League: Ontario Mega Girls Tournament (Etobicoke, ON, USA) June 26 – 28, 2026
RYBL is thrilled to host our third annual OMG Tournament for House League All-Star, Development, and Select level – all-girls teams. Join us in Etobicoke for an exciting All-Girls Baseball Tournament taking place from June 26-28, 2026.
3 GAME GUARANTEE
MASSIVE SATURDAY NIGHT BBQ + PARTY FOR ALL TEAMS
EXCLUSIVE PLAYER SWAG + MEDALS
CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY
LOTS MORE EXCITING SURPRISES
Details at OMG Tournament.
Baseball For All: Nationals (Rockford, IL, USA) July 19 – 25, 2026
We are proud to be hosting the 11th annual BFA Nationals, the largest girls’ baseball tournament in the United States, in Rockford, IL: home of the Rockford Peaches and the All-American Girls’ Professional Baseball League.
All players and coaches will also get the extraordinary opportunity to watch the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Qualifiers, hosted by the International Women’s Baseball Conference, which will also be held in Rockford, IL during the same week. For updates, stay tuned to BFA Nationals.
WBSC: Women’s Baseball World Cup Group Stage (Rockford & Loves Park, IL, USA) July 22 – 26, 2026
The WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup is an international tournament for women’s national baseball teams, sanctioned by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC). The 2026 group stage will be hosted right here in Rockford, Illinois, by the IWBC. Stay tuned to iwbc.org/worldcup/ for updates on schedules, hotels, and tickets.
AAGPBL Players Association: 2026 Reunion (Rockford, IL, USA) July 22 – 26, 2026
Our 2026 AAGPBL Reunion will be held in Rockford, IL. Save the date! July 22nd – 26th! More information to follow! First step, register as an associate member on our website to receive VIP emails and updates. We can’t wait for you to join us!
Dirt in the Skirt: Barrie Tournament (Barrie, ON, Canada) July 31 – August 1, 2026
Dirt in the Skirt started in 2024 as a women-focused slo-pitch charity tournament and community event rooted in respect for the women who came before us and the women playing today. Inspired by the trailblazing athletes of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League of the 1940s, Giving back is a core part of every Dirt in the Skirt tournament. In each city, a local charity or organization is chosen annually as the donation recipient, allowing every event to make a meaningful local impact while bringing people together around a shared cause, and of course, our love for the game!
For information on the Barrie Tournament at Barrie Sports Complex, visit Dirt in the Skirt.
Women’s Pro Baseball League: Season Opener (Springfield, IL, USA) August 1, 2026
History is coming to Springfield, Illinois. The Women’s Pro Baseball League launches in 2026, with the entire first season set to be played at Robin Roberts Stadium. Join us and become a part of this once-in-a-lifetime moment in sports history as a founding fan of the Women’s Pro Baseball League.
The season will run From August 1st, 2026 through mid September and consist of 30 regular season games followed by playoffs. For season ticket information, visit WPBL.
Portland Sea Dogs: Women in Sports Night (Portland, ME, USA) August 21, 2026
In honor of Women in Sports Night, the first 1,000 fans to enter the ballpark will receive a talking bobblehead of Sea Dogs broadcaster Emma Tiedemann, who has made history as part of the first all female team to call a Boston Red Sox game. The bobblehead features one of Tiedemann’s historic Sea Dogs radio calls. | Presented By Planet Fitness Tickets at Sea Dogs.
Dirt in the Skirt: Barrie Tournament (Niagara Falls, ON, Canada) October 3 – 4, 2026
Dirt in the Skirt started in 2024 as a women-focused slo-pitch charity tournament and community event rooted in respect for the women who came before us and the women playing today. Inspired by the trailblazing athletes of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League of the 1940s, Giving back is a core part of every Dirt in the Skirt tournament. In each city, a local charity or organization is chosen annually as the donation recipient, allowing every event to make a meaningful local impact while bringing people together around a shared cause, and of course, our love for the game!
For information on the Niagara Falls Tournament at Patrick Cummings Memorial Sports Complex, visit Dirt in the Skirt.
MLB Breakthrough Series: Girls Baseball (Vero Beach, FL, USA) November 6 – 7, 2026
Have questions about the Breakthrough Series? Please email mlbdevelopsinfo@mlb.com.
Community Champions
The 2023 theme – Community Champions – celebrated those pioneers who leveled the playing field in their own communities. From grassroots efforts through the creation of national and international programs, we honor the champions of our communities by sharing their stories and learning from their example.
Aurora B.
Aurora is a Community Champion. She loves baseball and loves sharing that with others. She always takes the time to help other female players feel more comfortable coming out to play. At the start of this season, while playing catch, she noticed a female opponent at the plate was so scared she was almost in tears. Aurora stopped the game to stand up, look that young lady right in the eye and tell her she deserves to play just like everyone else. She helped calm her opponent and got right back into the game. Aurora hasn’t had it easy without female players in our league to look up to but she has dedicated time to helping other younger females learn to play and stay.
Robbin M.
During a family picnic in the Spring of 1974, Robbin heard loud cheers and boos coming from across the park. As a curious 9-year-old, third-grader, Robbin ran over to observe a game of little league baseball being played. After watching the game for a few minutes, Robbin’s interest was piqued to learn how to baseball. The rest is history as Robbin’s first year of playing little league baseball is told as a memoir in her chapter book for girls.
Breaking Barriers: A Girl’s Dream to Play Baseball with Boys follows Robbin’s journey from a spectator to a team player. Through her struggles to fit in, gain respect, and prove her worth, Robbin learns the true meaning of hard work and dedication. With a strong supporting cast of characters, this book is a heartwarming tale of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity during a time when societal expectations for girls were set in stone without question.
To learn more about Robbin’s story, read Breaking Barriers: A Girl’s Dream to Play Baseball with Boys.
Shirley Burkovich
Shirley Burkovich was a former AAGPBL player, who for decades, supported and advocated 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 and was instrumental in bringing countless events and playing opportunities back to Rockford, where she played professionally in 1951. Everyone who knew her loved her and misses her.
Learn more about Shirley’s life and career in her own words in a 2017 interview with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum: Shirley Burkovich – Sports Stories Baseball
Madalynne Dittmar
Madie grew up watching baseball. Then once in high school as a freshmen joined the baseball team as the first girl student manager. In the first year learned how to take care of the field to doing the players stats. While only entering sophomore year helped lead the boys to the first conference win which had not happened in over 5 years. With two more years left is studying so she can apply to manage a college baseball team while still over the summer helping manage a travel baseball team.
Bonnie Hoffman
Bonnie is a leader at every level for girls and women in baseball. She is the driving force behind the Eastern Women’s Baseball Conference and the Director of the Diamond Classic women’s baseball tournament every year in Virginia. Bonnie is also a Head Coach at DC Girls Baseball, running the 10u and 12u programs. Bonnie volunteers with Nationals Youth Academy and is active in the Aspen Institute for Sports and is a key participant in the Diversity initiative at the American Baseball Coaches Association. Bonnie is a one of a kind leader who has left her mark at all levels of baseball.
Sarah Langs
“She’s a super stats geek in a great way!” Langs grew up in New York, went to the University of Chicago, interned at the New York Daily News and CSN Chicago and then joined ESPN in 2015 as a sports content researcher. She was promoted to senior sports content researcher in 2018 and joined MLB the following year.
Bethany Morlan
Bethany goes above and beyond to bring baseball to the young girls in our community. Making an all girls team “Lil Peaches” who go head to head against boys at every game. Bethany teaches courage and confidence alongside the game. Letting the girls know they can do anything a boy can do! She gives them a team to feel comfortable on and be themselves. Without Bethany there wouldn’t be an all girls team available to my daughter and for that we are so thankful.
Mary Dobkin
“Aunt” Mary Dobkin, a physically handicapped woman living in Baltimore in the 1940s. Dobkin was concerned that juvenile delinquency was destroying her neighborhood. She organized the “Dobkin Dynamiters,” a baseball team comprised of disadvantaged and minority children. A loving but strict coach, she was responsible for several firsts in the coaching industry: the first woman to coach little league in Baltimore, the first coach to integrate a baseball team (1950), and the first to put a girl on an all-boys team (1960).
Josephine Morhard
Josephine established the first boys’ baseball league in America. Her city—and the country—was watching. Beyond all expectations, the Cleveland Indians rallied behind her project. Indians legends Bob Feller, Jeff Heath, and Roy Weatherly helped hone the boys’ skills; renowned sports reporter Hal Lebovitz became an umpire; and they were given permission to play in historic League Park. All the while, as Josephine’s Little Indians graduated into the Junior American and Junior National Leagues, and finally a Little World Series, she instilled in her boys strong values, good sportsmanship, and an unprecedented sense of accomplishment. Some of them, like Ray Lindquist and Jack Heinen, would become Minor League players. Not one of Mrs. Morhard’s boys would ever forget her. Read more about Josephine’s extraordinary work in Mrs. Morhard and the Boys.
Toni Stone
Seeing the new play of Toni Stone and watching her character reflected in A League of Their Own’s Max Chapman gave me a whole new appreciation for what this woman accomplished and endured in her time. An American hero if there ever was one, I salute Toni Stone during Women in Baseball Week for embodying the true spirit of Community Champion and inspiring girls decades later.
Abbi Jacobson & Will Graham
A League of Their Own not only told a great baseball story, but did so in a more honest and historically accurate way. This led to the birth of a whole new community and family for me. I thank Will Graham and Abbi Jacobson for that.
Maybelle Blair
Maybelle Blair is such an inspiration. She means so much to so many of us. Probably more than she will ever realize. Dirt in the skirt, Maybelle!
Po Chun Liu
Po Chun Liu is a great example of a female pioneer in baseball. She deserves every award possible and every day changes the landscape for women athletes, particularly in baseball, ESPECIALLY for umpires, all around the world.
Cami Kidder Divine
She has been the main fuel behind my constant engagement in the game of baseball and most especially girl baseball in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana-Africa. I can confidently say am the only trainer in my country with a girls baseball players in schools and the communities and these girls can play very well. She has not given up in seeking opportunities to have some of the girls display their talent on the international platforms.
SARA ROSE THIBAUT
Being the only female on the field has always been a part of Sara Rose’s baseball journey. With 24 years in the game, she’s still trying to normalize and shatter the stereotypical vision many people still have of who wears a uniform and what they are contributing to the game. Sara Rose moved into an all men’s league after high school and quickly started her own team in that league with true coed goals for her team. Her 1st female recruit was Tamara Holmes, who still plays for her team and after 5 years, they now have 4 female players and a female GM. Sara Rose has also been a baseball Coach at the local high school for 3 years where she has been shaking up the game by being the winning coach for the entire freshman league. Her presence on the field has created the conversation among fans and coaches alike, all asking her questions about her career on the field and how excited they are to see her out there. Normalizing the vision of females on the field, shattering stereotypes and encouraging other females to follow their dreams is everyday business for Sara Rose THIBAUT, a true leader for females in the game.
Doris Hocking
Doris Hocking is the creator of Women’s Baseball-UK, which promotes more women into the sport across the United Kingdom. She is responsible for this organization growing into a multi-team league nationwide and the creation of Great Britain’s first women’s national team, which now competes in international tournaments. Overall, she is known worldwide for being a trailblazer and as someone who has given tirelessly of herself to make baseball more inclusive.
Philly Girls Baseball
Thank you for giving more opportunities to local girls to pursue any sport they want to play and encouraging them to be whatever they want to be. Learn more about this extraordinary program at Philly Girls Baseball.
Barbara Gregorich
Barbara’s books, particularly Women at Play: The Story of Women in Baseball, opened up a whole world to me. She is a gifted writer whose talent for researching and crafting historical narrative is both accessible and motivation to her readers. Ultimately, her writing has set me on a lifelong journey I never anticipated, but I am so grateful for it.
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.