There was definitely no crying in baseball for the women of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). Serving as the inspiration for the hit movie “A League of Their Own,” these women were pioneers in the male-dominated sport. More than 35 former players visited the USS Midway Museum on Oct. 21, offering autographs, holding a Q&A session and reuniting with fellow players while enjoying their emblematic flick. The fear of ticket sales falling due to the large number of young male baseball players drafted into military service during World War II was the catalyst for Philip Wrigley of the Chicago Cubs to explore alternative solutions. A committee proposed a women’s league to help fill the stadiums that sat empty 50 percent of the time. AAGPBL players were recruited from across the U.S. and Canada, some praised for their flexible wrists as a result of milking cows on their home farm and others having only ever had the chance to shag balls while their older brothers practiced the sport. Rookie players were paid about $50 per week, with an additional $3 per day to eat while on the road. Wearing pants in public was strictly prohibited — a skirt or dress was required to get off the tour bus, even in the middle of the night. Of the more than 600 women to play in the now-defunct league during its heyday in 1943 to 1954, only about 200 are still alive today. Mostly in their 80s and 90s now, the women are an extremely close-knit group of friends that still recount their memories of playing baseball at an unprecedented level, while living a luxurious life of travel and often earning higher salaries than their fathers. “The most meaningful aspects were the friendships and the competitive spirit of the sport,” said Maybelle Blair, former pitcher for the Peoria Redwings. “The whole point is to win, after all.” Blair is a sprightly 84-year-old who claims she “grew up teething on a baseball.” She idolized her older brothers who played the sport, but judging from her freshly-painted magenta nails and snazzy sunglasses, she felt right at home playing the potentially rough game while wearing a dress. Aboard the Midway, hundreds of fans — many star-struck young girls — waited in long lines to have their baseballs, bats, trading cards and jerseys autographed by the living legends of the AAGPBL. “We paved the way for Title IX and women being able to receive scholarships through athletics,” said Blair. After a panel discussion with a few of the players, audience members watched the feel-good movie with admiration, alongside the real-life celebrities who relished in the splendor of their glory days. Behind-the-scenes Hollywood secrets were uncovered during the Q&A discussion, revealing the baseballs used on set were actually tennis balls covered in horsehide to protect the actresses’ hands; Geena Davis’ famous catch while doing the splits were actually the legs of her male stunt double; and Madonna’s grandiose catch in the outfield was actually caught by a man behind her, and subsequently dropped directly into her glove. The women praised Madonna for her toughness while doing take after take of sliding head first into third base and defended coach Jimmie Foxx (on whom Tom Hank’s character was largely based) for his professionalism and fairness both on and off the field. All the movie characters were based on composites, but the players worked closely with director Penny Marshall to develop the story. About 50 women were actually featured in the film, but only a few were given minor speaking parts. The women were flown to Sony Pictures for the movie premiere, having no idea what to expect of the finished product. “The story will never grow old because it’s baseball,” said Blair. “It’s history.” When asked about the highlights of their baseball careers, many women answered with sentiments reflective of the progressive opportunity the league presented them, the remarkable talent seen on the ball field, the avenue in which to carry out their professional dreams and the treasured experience of meeting lifelong friends. The women of the AAGPBL hold annual reunions and attend the Major League Baseball All-Star FanFest. For more information, visit www.aagpbl.org.