Hello EMS!
Today I’ll be talking about softball and the amazing people who play it!
Softball has been around since 1887 and became an official sport in 1926, when Walker Hakanson coined the name at a National Recreation Congress. Before that, softball had gone by many names, including kittenball, lightning ball, night ball, and more.
The first known softball game happened when a Yale fan threw a boxing glove at a Harvard fan, who then used a broomstick as a bat! Softball grew in popularity during World War II, especially as a women’s sport while many men were overseas fighting. The first All-American Girls Professional Softball League was founded by Phillip K. Wrigley and lasted from 1943–1954. It began as a mix between softball and baseball, but it resembled baseball more closely. Sadly, the league ended because officials didn’t want to take attention away from Major League Baseball.
Women’s softball wasn’t formally recognized until 1974 by the ASA (Amateur Softball Association of America).
I asked some of the players on our softball team a few questions, and here are their responses:
Audrey Palomo
“I started playing softball when I was 9 years old and I learned to love it. My favorite part about softball is batting, taking the field, and spending time with my teammates. I do know a lot of people who play softball, but I wouldn’t have tried it until my best friend Lauren Brandt introduced me to it. My aunt also played college softball!”
Faith Follmer
“I have played softball for a really long time too. I find it fun and enjoyable. My favorite thing about softball is batting, since it always feels great to get a good hit and run the bases! I also love the whole team—everyone is so supportive and cheerful, and I’m glad I’ve got such a great group to play with.”
