The Girl Who Changed Little League

Written by Maria Pepe and Jean L. S. Patrick · Illustrated by Sarah Green

A girl defies Little League's rules, challenging gender barriers in baseball.

4.2 Goodreads · 54 ratings

48 pages· ~770L

$18.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

In 1972, Maria Pepe, an eleven-year-old with a passion for baseball, faces a daunting challenge: Little League is closed to girls. Undeterred, she tries out and makes the team, only to be barred from playing. Her fight against this injustice sparks a movement, changing the game forever. Can Maria's courage and determination overcome the barriers of her time? This inspiring tale of resilience and bravery unfolds through Maria's eyes, capturing the pivotal moments that opened Little League to girls, forever altering the landscape of youth sports.

From the publisher

Discover the true story of Maria Pepe, an eleven-year-old girl who changed the course of Little League history. Maria Pepe loved baseball. When Little League formed in her hometown in 1972, she was eager to prove herself as a competitor. There was only one problem: Little League was not open to girl players. This didn’t stop Maria. She took her glove and joined her friends, Nicky and Louie, at tryouts. She could hit, pitch, and catch as good as any of the boys–better than many, even, and it was no surprise that Maria made the team. Little did she know, she would make history when the Little League officials refused to let her play because she was a girl. Highlighting resilience and bravery in the face of opposition, this powerful story details the true events that led to girls being able to play Little League–all told from Maria’s first-person perspective as a young athlete.

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