This book was a real eye-opener! I had no idea that so many women had played baseball -- not softball, but the real thing -- for over a century. I had heard of Amanda Clement, who umpired semi-pro ball in South Dakota beginning in 1904, because our library has a children's book about her. But I knew little about most of the women featured in this book, and their teams, and their league.

Author Barbara Gregorich does a fine job of introducing the reader to baseball's women pioneers. The book is divided into sections corresponding to the different eras of women's baseball. In each section, there are chapters about individual players (and umpires) of note, and about women's teams.

From the "Bloomer teams" of the early 20th century, to the women of the AAGBL (featured in the movie "A League of Her Own"), the books shows us that countless women have played baseball with skill and dedication, the best of them demonstrating ability comparable to male pro baseball players.

Of course, Gregorich reminds us, playing baseball is one thing; having access to playing in the Major Leagues -- or MLB minors -- is another thing. For many years Major League Baseball kept African-Americans out of baseball with a "gentlemen's agreement" that was never put into writing. But as of the time this book was written, there was actually a written piece of the baseball regulations PROHIBITING the hiring of women as players, even in the minor leagues. Of course, I remember the battle to allow girls into Little League, and read some articles about women fighting to umpire in the major leagues. But this book spells out the many levels the fight has taken over the years -- Little League, high school, and college levels -- and gives us a glimpse of the overt hostility so many of the powers-that-be and rank-and-file players in the "national pastime" have expressed toward women in their game.

Gregorich also lets us know about those sympathetic to the women atheletes' cause -- people like Henry Aaron, the great slugger who insisted that women could and would, someday, play in the big leagues; former Atlanta Braves executive Bob Hope (not the comedian) who tried to organize a minor league franchise of women players (blocked by the higher-ups); and others who have championed the cause of women with genuine baseball talent and skills.

I would like to read an "update" as to how women have fared in the almost 20 years since this book was written. I daresay author Barbara Gregorich, who clearly hoped that women would be in the majors by now, must be disappointed in whatever progress women have made.

A thought-provoking book. ( )