Women's Pro Baseball Returns After 70 Years

Maybelle Blair wasn't going to miss this moment, even with four broken ribs. The 99-year-old wheeled onto the diamond in Springfield, Illinois, to throw the ceremonial first pitch for something she thought she'd never see again: professional women's baseball.

Seventy years after the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League disbanded, the new Women's Professional Baseball League launched its inaugural season on August 1. Four teams—including the LA Queens and NY Heights—are making history at Robin Roberts Stadium, where Maybelle once played for the Peoria Redwings in 1948.

The opening game delivered drama worthy of the occasion. New York's Denae Benites went 4-4 at the plate, hitting the league's first home run and adding three stolen bases. But the Queens rallied with four runs in the final inning to win in comeback fashion.

"I feel incredibly grateful and happy that I can finally stand on the stage I once only dreamed about," said Japanese pitcher Ayami Sato, who took the mound for the Queens. She's joined by players from around the world, including Mo'ne Davis, who made history in 2014 as the first girl to pitch a shutout in the Little League World Series.

Maybelle, who inspired Madonna's character in the 1992 film "A League of Their Own," serves on the league's advisory board. She even met the league mascot named in her honor—perhaps the only time someone has been introduced to their mascot self.

The Ripple Effect

This 30-game season running through September represents more than just baseball's return. Documentary filmmaker Jean Fruth, creator of "SEE HER, BE HER" about women baseball players worldwide, sees the broader impact. The league shows young girls they belong in this sport and can achieve anything they dream of.

The WPBL plans to expand with more teams next year as support grows. For Benites and her teammates, they're walking the path Maybelle paved decades ago.

"This is the happiest day of my life," Maybelle said through tears at the stadium. After 70 years, women finally have their field of dreams back.