By: Berlyn Shore

Date: 11/7/25

Photo Credit: The Philadelphia Inquirer

Baseball is often regarded as America’s favorite pastime; ironically, half of America wasn’t always allowed to play it. For over 120 years, women were unable to partake in a sport that is so deeply rooted in American culture. But all of that changed in 1973 when Maria Pepe, an 11-year-old pitcher from Hoboken, called for reform. Pepe was discouraged after being discriminated against due to her gender. This sparked a legal battle that eventually led New Jersey to become the first state to allow girls to play and try out for Little League teams. On November 7th, 1973, the law was passed. Today, women’s baseball is fairly common, especially with the creation of the WPBL (Women’s Professional Baseball League). So next time you see a girl step onto the field, remember that we have an 11-year-old to thank for that.