New Women's Baseball League Appoints 97-Year-Old AAGPBL Alum as Honorary Chair
The WPBL has named 97-year-old AAGPBL alum Maybelle Blair as the honorary chair of its advisory board. Set to launch in 2026 with six teams, the league aims to honor women's baseball history while creating new opportunities for the sport.
Published on April 6, 2025
In an historic move for women's baseball, the Women's Professional Baseball League (WPBL) has named 97-year-old Maybelle Blair—a former All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) player and the inspiration behind the film A League of Their Own—as the honorary chair of its advisory board. The league, set to launch in 2026 with six teams, will be the first professional women's baseball league since the AAGPBL dissolved in 1954.
Co-founded by Justine Siegal and Keith Stein, the WPBL is committed to building a lasting legacy for the sport in the United States. As part of its buildup, the league has scheduled a scouting camp and player draft for 2025. Notably, Blair is set to throw the inaugural pitch at the season opener, underscoring the league’s dedication to honoring its historical roots while paving the way for future generations. This announcement was reported on December 3, 2024, and includes contributions from sports and business leaders such as Ayami Sato, Laura Gentile, and Dr. Kat Williams.