Women’s Pro Baseball League Debuts With Historic Game, Forgettable National Anthem

The Women’s Pro Baseball League made its highly anticipated debut Saturday at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois, as the Los Angeles Queens faced off against the New York Heights in what marked the first professional women’s baseball game played in the United States in nearly three decades. The matchup drew significant attention from fans and athletes alike, though the pre-game ceremony proved to be an unexpected source of controversy.

Martha Reeves, the 85-year-old legendary lead singer of Motown group Martha and the Vandellas, performed the national anthem alongside two other women. The rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” drew swift criticism on social media from spectators in attendance and watching players, with many viewing it as a lackluster moment that detracted from the historic occasion.

The game itself proved more memorable. Mo’ne Davis, who gained widespread recognition during her standout performance at the 2014 Little League World Series, started in center field for Los Angeles and scored once during the Queens’ 10-8 victory. Maggie Foxx, who played both left field and pitcher for Los Angeles, went 2-for-2 with two runs batted in and struck out two batters.

New York catcher Denae Benites delivered an outstanding individual performance, finishing 4-for-4 with two RBIs. She highlighted the ceremonial first pitch thrown by 99-year-old Maybelle Blair, a former All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player from the 1943-1954 era that inspired the film “A League of Their Own.”