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A Little League of Their Own
By Elisa Ast All
Remember the 1992 film A League of Their Own, starring Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Madonna, Rosie O'Donnell and Lori Petty? It was based on the true story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) that was started in 1943 in response to concerns over men's baseball collapsing because of World War II. Backed by Philip Wrigley, owner of the Chicago Cubs, the AAGPBL flourished until 1954 and gave more than 600 women baseball players an unparalleled opportunity to play in the "Big Leagues."
One of those women was Lou Arnold, a pitcher for the South Bend Blue Sox from 1948 to 1952 (the Blue Sox won the league championship in 1951 and 1952). Arnold is "aunt" to close family friend Carly Callans, 12, an all-American girl baseball player in her own right. Callans has been playing baseball since she was 5, despite often being the only girl on the team. Like Arnold, Callans also pitches, and the two bond about their love of the game.
"The years I played baseball were the best years of my life!" Arnold says, noting that her uniform was No. 13, a perfect fit since she was the 13th child in her family.
Right now, Callans is starring in what could be an updated, younger-cast version of A League of Their Own: She and nine teammates, ages 10 to 14, from all different backgrounds and neighborhoods in the Chicago area, are on a quest to participate in Disney's Sunshine Showdown, an international girls' baseball tournament to be held at Disney World in Orlando, Fla., October 6-9.
"Carly has always loved baseball and never minded playing with all boys," says her mother, Judy Callans. "Because she could hold her own ... she was not treated different than any of the other players. She's most enjoyed having competitive coaches that take the game seriously."