Women's Pro Ball Starts Aug 1

The WPBL continues to gear up for its inaugural season that begins Aug.1. "August 1st isn't just the WPBL’s Opening Day,” WPBL Commissioner Justine Siegal said. “It’s the day we build on history.”

The four teams set to make that history a reality are the Boston Hunters, Los Angeles Queens, New York Heights and San Fransico Firebells.

A recent presser adds depth to the team names.

The Boston franchise is known as the Hunters to honor Harriot K. Hunt, “the first woman to apply to Harvard Medical School (1847) and establish a successful medical practice in the U.S (1835),” the presser explained. 

It was the Queen of the Diamond, Lizzie Murphy, for whom the LA Queens are named.  Murphy made her mark by being the first woman to compete against major league players on Aug. 14, 1922.

The NY Heights drew their name from the life of Dorothy Irene Height (1912-2010), “a pioneering civil rights and women’s rights leader from New York,” the presser reads.

The San Fran Firebells used Lillie Hitchcock Coit’s nickname “Firebelle.” Coit (1843-1929) was a champion of San Francisco’s volunteer firefighters and benefactor of the Coit Tower.

The quartet will play a 30-game schedule followed by a post-season with round one slated for Sept. 9. All four teams make the playoffs.

The first round is a three-game set pitting the first-place team against the last-place team, while the second and third-place teams duke it out.

The five-game Championship Series begins Sept 16.

All regular season and postseason games will be played at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois.

Robin Roberts seats 5,200, is 320 ft down the lines, and 415 ft to centerfield. The Women's Baseball World Cup is played on fields that are 290 to 330 ft. down the lines and 360 to 400 ft. dead center. I have reached out to the league asking if the WPBL will alter the stadium’s dimensions.

WPBL Notes: The league will have trading cards; players are currently making promotional appearances; the WPBL has chosen the following players as names to know: Kelsie Whitmore in San Francisco, Mo’ne Davis with Los Angeles and on the East Coast, New York’s Denea Benites and Boston’s Lexi Hastings.

A look at the Women's Pro Baseball team logos.

Charles I. Guarria is an author, reporter and host based in the state of Florida, USA, covering any topic, anywhere in the world. His career began in 2009. Mr. Guarria is a three-time winner of Emerald Group Publishing’s Highly Commended Award and host of The Opinion Guy Fun Friendly Informative. He is available for hire to write, research, or beta-read. 

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Photo credits: WPBL

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