It’s not often that I’ll be able to post reviews on consecutive days, but after finishing Magic in the Air, I started this one and not only was it a quick read, it was an excellent book. Here is my review of ”All the Way.”
Title/Author:
“All the Way: The Life of Baseball Trailblazer Maybelle Blair” by Kat D. Williams
Rating:
5 of 5 stars (excellent)
Review:
“A League of Their Own”, the highly successful and popular 1992 movie about the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL), brought attention to women’s baseball and the effects of this movie have been felt ever since. Women are gaining more opportunities in the sport, both in competition against other women and for career opportunities in non-playing roles. There are women in MLB front offices, coaching boxes and manager offices. This is thanks to women like Maybelle Blair, whose life is chronicled in this book by Kat D. Williams.
Williams is a talented writer on women's sports and this book is no exception. Most of the book is really Blair telling the story herself with Williams adding in items from research about people or stories shared by Blair. Blair played only one year in the AAGPBL, in 1948 with the Peoria Red Wings. It should be noted that was the best season for the Red Wings, their only season with a winning record. Leg issues forced Blair to not come back for the 1949 season. However, the book covers Blair’s love for the game, her many years playing softball as both an amateur and a professional, over much of her life.
There aren’t a lot of stories from games on the field shared by Blair, but it’s clear that baseball was an important part of her life. Even though the stories concentrate on Blair’s life off the field, she has many baseball accomplishments in her life. Two of them she is rightly proud of doing is creating baseball and softball teams at Northrop Corporation where she enjoyed a long and successful career. The other, in partnership with longtime friend Shirley Burkovich and the author, opened the International Women’s Baseball Center in 2016 in Rockford, Illinois. The struggles they had in overcoming objections from many fronts showed the dedication Blair had for every aspect of her life.
This includes her personal life and sexuality as while she lived as a lesbian her entire life, she did not officially “come out” until she was 94 (she is now 98) and these stories are fun to read as well. For men’s baseball, there are plenty of stories about some of the shenanigans the men do when not playing - Blair shows that women can also have some fun. Blair shares many stories about her loves, her “episodes” as she call them but mostly about her family and friendships that are all connected in some manner with baseball.
It’s a fairly short book, but it feels just right as if there was much more it really would have been filler material and not about the wonderful life of Maybelle Blair. It’s a perfect blend of baseball and awareness for both women’s issues and those of the LBGTQ+ community.
I wish to thank Rowman and Littlefield for providing a copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.
This review beautifully underscores how A League of Their Own helped shine a light on women’s contributions to baseball, sparking lasting change in sports and careers. It’s inspiring to see women like Maybelle Blair finally getting the recognition they deserve.
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It’s incredible how one movie has had such a cultural and historical impact. By bringing women’s baseball to mainstream attention, it has opened doors for future generations of female athletes and professionals in sports.
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The mention of women taking roles in MLB front offices and coaching staff highlights the progress made in a traditionally male-dominated field. It’s a testament to pioneers like Maybelle Blair, whose influence lives on.
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Although her career in the AAGPBL was brief, Blair’s determination to continue playing softball afterward speaks volumes about her passion for the sport. This resilience is inspiring for readers of all generations.
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Books like this are crucial for preserving women’s sports history. They not only celebrate individual contributions, like Blair’s, but also encourage conversations about equity, opportunity, and recognition in athletics.
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Maybelle Blair’s story sounds fascinating! Despite playing only one season in the AAGPBL, her enduring love for the game and lifelong involvement in softball showcase the dedication and passion of women athletes in history.
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The collaboration between Maybelle Blair’s personal storytelling and Kat D. Williams’ research adds depth and authenticity to the narrative. It’s great when a writer can elevate the voice of a historical figure while adding context.
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