On July 11, 1875, two women’s teams known as the “Blondes” and the “Brunettes” stepped onto a field in Springfield, IL, for what is now recognized as the first official women’s baseball game. Promoters sold tickets by calling it a novelty, but these women blazed the trail for future players to follow them.  At a time when women weren’t even expected to sweat in public, let alone compete, these players challenged the norm. They didn’t just swing bats and steal bases—they made history...