1 00:00:00,640 --> 00:00:02,759 Speaker 1: Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're watching 2 00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:05,840 Speaker 1: a league of their own again and bawling at the 3 00:00:05,960 --> 00:00:09,639 Speaker 1: end again when the players reunite and the scenes feature 4 00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:11,879 Speaker 1: real women who played in the All American Girls Professional 5 00:00:11,880 --> 00:00:12,640 Speaker 1: Baseball League. 6 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:15,560 Speaker 2: Ough, somehow every year this hits harder. 7 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:18,479 Speaker 1: It's Monday, December fifteenth, and on today's show, we'll be 8 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:20,159 Speaker 1: skipping the need to know and getting straight to my 9 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:23,160 Speaker 1: interview with Justine Siegel and Assia Grazzio la Vinier of 10 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:23,920 Speaker 1: the Women's Pro. 11 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:26,000 Speaker 2: Baseball League aka the WPBL. 12 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:28,240 Speaker 1: I caught up with them last Thursday to discuss them 13 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:30,760 Speaker 1: behind the scenes process of getting the league up and running, 14 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:32,880 Speaker 1: the decision to play in the middle of the country 15 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:35,960 Speaker 1: despite having four coastal teams, and the emotions they feel 16 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 1: in bringing back women's pro baseball after seventy years, plus 17 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:43,440 Speaker 1: the blood simmering return of what the fact. But first, 18 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:46,239 Speaker 1: it's my conversation with Justine and Assia that's coming up 19 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:46,959 Speaker 1: right after this. 20 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:55,680 Speaker 2: Joining us. 21 00:00:55,720 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 1: She's the co founder of the WPBL, the new Women's 22 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:00,280 Speaker 1: Professional Baseball League, and the founder of the nonprofit or 23 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:02,560 Speaker 1: Baseball for All, the first woman to coach in the 24 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:05,920 Speaker 1: MLB and throw MLB batting practice. She's an accidental pioneer 25 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 1: who just wanted to play baseball. She's been a baseball 26 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:11,199 Speaker 1: coordinator for TV and film, including the amazing Amazon series 27 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 1: A League of Their Own, formerly the Associate Director of 28 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:16,240 Speaker 1: Sports Partnerships at Northeastern University and former chair of the 29 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 1: WBSC Women's Baseball Commission. She's got her PhD from Springfield College, 30 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:22,960 Speaker 1: her MA from Kent State, and her BA from Saint Oloff. 31 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:28,880 Speaker 1: Inspired by the iconic peppermin Patty, It's doctor Justine Siegaal Hi, Justine, Hi, Are. 32 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:30,039 Speaker 2: You going to go to any more schools? Or are 33 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:31,240 Speaker 2: we done? We're done? 34 00:01:31,319 --> 00:01:31,640 Speaker 3: For sure? 35 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:33,720 Speaker 2: Okay okay? Joining her. 36 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:35,840 Speaker 1: She's the co founder of Muse Capital and chair of 37 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:38,959 Speaker 1: the WPBL. News Capital is an early stage venture capital 38 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:41,200 Speaker 1: fund investing in the future of how people care, live, 39 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:45,199 Speaker 1: and play, focus on underserved and overlooked opportunities. It's sport 40 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 1: investment and advisory portfolio. Meuse Sport includes the WPBL, Washington 41 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 1: Spirit Thera Body, Just Women's Sports, the Italian Sale GP 42 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 1: Team Sequel, and Sports Innovation Lab. 43 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 2: A New York transplant. 44 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 1: Born in Rome, she spent time at Spotify, Ministry of 45 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:02,360 Speaker 1: Sound flypaper and was the first woman and youngest board 46 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 1: member of Italy's Uventus football club, where she served a 47 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 1: full nine year term. Her sweet little son Luca was 48 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:10,160 Speaker 1: blessed as a baby by the dude Jeff Bridges. And 49 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 1: she's always got a killer blowout, including today on an 50 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:18,920 Speaker 1: audio podcast. It's Ossia Grazziola vanir hi Assia, thanks for 51 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 1: having me. The blowouts are always great, always always envious 52 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:24,639 Speaker 1: signature blowouts. 53 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:27,680 Speaker 2: If you will, Justine, I want. 54 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:30,079 Speaker 1: To start with you and your background in baseball and 55 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 1: how you started out playing it and when you were 56 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:34,680 Speaker 1: told to quit at age thirteen in favor of softball. 57 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 1: It sort of inspired your entire life's mission to create 58 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:39,640 Speaker 1: opportunity for yourself and others. 59 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:42,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean I loved baseball. I played baseball with 60 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:45,919 Speaker 3: my brother, but I was the one who was told 61 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:49,760 Speaker 3: that I should quit, and I just remember thinking like, 62 00:02:49,919 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 3: this doesn't sound right. I'm gonna play forever, and so 63 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 3: I did. And it was an uphill battle, it really was. 64 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 3: But when you really love something, you just can't let 65 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:03,360 Speaker 3: it go. And I was like fifteen sixteen when I 66 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 3: decided I wanted to be a coach, and my coach 67 00:03:06,919 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 3: at different coaches than the other one. But my coach 68 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:12,680 Speaker 3: just laughed at me and he said, man would never 69 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 3: listen to a woman on a baseball field, And of 70 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:18,120 Speaker 3: course I was able to prove him wrong. But now 71 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 3: we have dozens of women who approved him wrong. So 72 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:24,240 Speaker 3: it's great to see the progress that's happened for women 73 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 3: in leadership positions have been pro baseball. 74 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:28,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, tell me about Baseball for All? 75 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:30,840 Speaker 1: When did you start it and what are some of 76 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:32,519 Speaker 1: its biggest accomplishments so far. 77 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 3: I officially started it when I was twenty four. It 78 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 3: turns now, what is Baseball for All? Right, you have 79 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:43,600 Speaker 3: to figure out the right formula, but Baseball for All 80 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 3: is a national organization that creates access for girls to 81 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 3: play baseball because some just like how I was told 82 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:54,240 Speaker 3: that I should quit baseball because I'm a girl. You know, 83 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:58,160 Speaker 3: that's still happening even though it's twenty twenty five. It's 84 00:03:58,160 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 3: happening less, which is great. But now when a girl 85 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 3: is told she can't play, she has a whole community 86 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 3: behind her showing that she can. And so we help 87 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 3: community start girls baseball team. So all of our girls 88 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:11,000 Speaker 3: play with the boys. But then they have that real 89 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 3: magical moment where they get to play with other girls, 90 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:18,039 Speaker 3: and in that they become just ballplayers, you know, not 91 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:21,359 Speaker 3: the girl who plays baseball, but just ball players, and 92 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:24,360 Speaker 3: there's so much love and fun and community in that. Yeah. 93 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:26,360 Speaker 1: I ended up covering Baseball for All in a couple 94 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:28,760 Speaker 1: of the tournaments back with the SPNW years ago, and 95 00:04:28,839 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 1: it was really interesting to talk to parents and players 96 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:35,719 Speaker 1: about how much BS there is in local baseball leagues, 97 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:38,840 Speaker 1: with parents trying to sabotage the girls who play, or 98 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 1: putting them very very last off the bench, even if 99 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:42,919 Speaker 1: they're one of the better players, being. 100 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:45,480 Speaker 2: Insulted or offended by them wanting to play. So it's 101 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:47,920 Speaker 2: still really difficult for a lot of girls to. 102 00:04:47,880 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 1: Find opportunities and to continue to play as they get 103 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 1: to the high school and upper levels. 104 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:54,880 Speaker 2: So you've been at this for a very long time, Justine. 105 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:57,400 Speaker 1: This has been your life's mission, and so it's really 106 00:04:57,400 --> 00:04:59,720 Speaker 1: incredible it's becoming this professional league now. 107 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:02,560 Speaker 2: I want to ask when you first heard about Justine 108 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:04,440 Speaker 2: and her work in girls and women's baseball. 109 00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:07,839 Speaker 4: I heard about it actually at the very beginning of 110 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:11,480 Speaker 4: my maternity leave, pretty much almost exactly a year ago. 111 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:13,839 Speaker 4: There was an announcement that had been made that this 112 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:18,440 Speaker 4: was something in the works, and I immediately called everyone 113 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:20,360 Speaker 4: I knew to try to figure out how I could 114 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 4: get access on a phone call with Justine or Keith, 115 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 4: and I did. I just had to get involved. It 116 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 4: was clear as day that this was something that was 117 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 4: missing when I started looking under the hood and I 118 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:35,040 Speaker 4: found out just how crazy it was that baseball, our 119 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:39,960 Speaker 4: national pastime, didn't have a women's entity while every other 120 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:42,400 Speaker 4: sport did. It just was definitely something I had to 121 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 4: get involved. And then of course when I met Justine, 122 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 4: I was blown away when I started looking under the 123 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:48,840 Speaker 4: hood and looking at all the stats as well, and 124 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:52,600 Speaker 4: also just baseball for all isn't just a nice thing 125 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:55,560 Speaker 4: that is being built out for social good. It's actually 126 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:59,480 Speaker 4: the talent pipeline that is driving the entire growth of 127 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 4: what is and will be WBPL. So yeah, it was 128 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 4: love it first, sec. 129 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:07,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, there's a lot of investment opportunities in women's sport. 130 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:11,040 Speaker 1: Why women's baseball for you in this particular project, especially 131 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 1: as an Italian who maybe you said, you said our 132 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:17,160 Speaker 1: national pastime. So I appreciate that you find yourself being. 133 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 2: You know, an American now, But like what drew you 134 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:21,120 Speaker 2: to this particular. 135 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 4: Project so much drew me. So yeah. My my husband, 136 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:27,400 Speaker 4: who's a Yankee fan, kind of was shocked at first 137 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 4: when I wanted to get involved, because you know, as 138 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 4: a core Italian, it was just not a game that 139 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 4: I really understood. But actually, as I started looking under 140 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:38,160 Speaker 4: the hood and being trained by him into really appreciating 141 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:40,680 Speaker 4: the sport, then I realized that there was an opportunity 142 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:43,600 Speaker 4: for the women's game to not just play baseball, but 143 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:48,800 Speaker 4: do it better and actually answer to entertained sort of, 144 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:52,039 Speaker 4: and create an entertainment product which is the same but 145 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 4: different and better, and to really cater to an audience 146 00:06:56,320 --> 00:06:59,640 Speaker 4: also like me, who maybe isn't one hundred percent into 147 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:02,359 Speaker 4: men's baseball but wants to get it, but he is 148 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:05,599 Speaker 4: more curious about getting involved in and and following the 149 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 4: women's game. But what what really drew me to it 150 00:07:08,839 --> 00:07:12,000 Speaker 4: is the numbers. But Justine started telling me that like 151 00:07:12,440 --> 00:07:15,960 Speaker 4: more than forty percent of MLB fans are women. I 152 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:19,960 Speaker 4: mean that that alone was really quite striking. When I 153 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:23,400 Speaker 4: realized that the talent is there also on a global scale, 154 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 4: that there's national teams from Japan, Korea, Australia, Canada, so 155 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 4: there's extraordinary talent. When I started seeing that there were 156 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 4: fundamentally athletes who were being told excellent athletes were being 157 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:42,720 Speaker 4: told that they couldn't play their favorite game because girls 158 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:46,560 Speaker 4: don't do that, and we're funneled into that'll fire you up, 159 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:49,120 Speaker 4: that'll fire me up, I was like, there's no way 160 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:52,120 Speaker 4: that's going to happen on my watch. And so yeah, 161 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:58,440 Speaker 4: now was there the the the unmet desire for a 162 00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 4: fan base to be given a product that they really 163 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:02,560 Speaker 4: want And we're seeing that over the course of the 164 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:05,760 Speaker 4: last year, as our social media is growing and our 165 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 4: teams are being announced, you're starting to see sort of major, 166 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 4: major growth and engagement without even having a product live. 167 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:15,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, Justine, you've been pushing for a league like this 168 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 1: for years. What were the keys to getting the WPBL 169 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:21,440 Speaker 1: to this point, getting the teams established, a draft done. 170 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 1: You know, games are months away from being played. It's 171 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:27,400 Speaker 1: almost here. What was the big pivot point or moment 172 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:29,840 Speaker 1: that made this push for it actually work? 173 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:33,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, Well, it was very fortunate that my co founder 174 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:38,320 Speaker 3: Keith Stein found me. And Keith this was two octobers ago, 175 00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:41,320 Speaker 3: so twenty four, and he said, I got this idea, 176 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:43,040 Speaker 3: but I want your help, you know, I want your 177 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:46,360 Speaker 3: expertise on the baseball side, and of course I said yes. 178 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:49,080 Speaker 3: It's very exciting to know that the league is going 179 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 3: to be part of the systemic solution to girls being 180 00:08:51,880 --> 00:08:54,240 Speaker 3: told they can't play, because now they do have a future, 181 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 3: just like their brothers do. They won't get paid as 182 00:08:57,000 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 3: much at the moment, but they have a future to 183 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:03,600 Speaker 3: be a professor show baseball player, and that's really really important. 184 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:07,520 Speaker 3: So starting a new team in a new league, right 185 00:09:07,520 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 3: with starting four teams for the new league, it's everything. 186 00:09:11,040 --> 00:09:14,880 Speaker 3: It's funding investors, it's team names, it's where are we 187 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:18,200 Speaker 3: going to play? Holding our tryouts, we had over six 188 00:09:18,360 --> 00:09:23,080 Speaker 3: hundred women registered for our trouts, representing ten countries. Our 189 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:27,000 Speaker 3: social media, we're gaining fifty thousand followers a month between 190 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 3: TikTok and Instagram. We have two million visitors a month 191 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:33,920 Speaker 3: on Instagram and we haven't played a game yet. So 192 00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:36,199 Speaker 3: it's you know, telling the story that Sarah, you and 193 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:39,120 Speaker 3: I already know that women can play baseball and they 194 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:42,560 Speaker 3: play really, really well, but we're now we're broadcasting that 195 00:09:42,640 --> 00:09:45,360 Speaker 3: to the world, and so it's super exciting and I 196 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:47,400 Speaker 3: can't wait for the fans to come out on a 197 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 3: summer night and get a hot dog and just enjoy themselves. 198 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:53,559 Speaker 1: You mentioned your co founder, Keith Stein, CEO of the 199 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:55,960 Speaker 1: Toronto Maple Leafs of the Canadian Baseball League, not the 200 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:57,319 Speaker 1: other Toronto Maple Leafs. 201 00:09:58,440 --> 00:10:01,280 Speaker 2: He it sounds like, was a big part of driving this. 202 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:04,480 Speaker 1: So what was his initiative or where does he come 203 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:06,000 Speaker 1: from and why is this something he wanted to start. 204 00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:07,840 Speaker 1: He obviously went to the right person to get it going. 205 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:10,520 Speaker 1: But what's his background in terms of thinking that this 206 00:10:10,559 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 1: is the time to launch a women's pro baseball league. 207 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:17,600 Speaker 3: Well, he does that background in professional sport, including that 208 00:10:17,679 --> 00:10:22,240 Speaker 3: he started the paddleball league that's just growing and growing. Actually, 209 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:25,640 Speaker 3: you know he did with Assia did He looked around 210 00:10:25,640 --> 00:10:29,160 Speaker 3: and said, wait, what, there's no women's baseball. There's there's 211 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:31,840 Speaker 3: women's everything else, but there's no women's baseball. And so 212 00:10:31,920 --> 00:10:35,120 Speaker 3: he really wanted to make a meaningful impact and so 213 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:38,160 Speaker 3: he started. You put all the plants together to create 214 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 3: women's professional baseball league. It's it's passion, it's business, and 215 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:43,559 Speaker 3: it's just the right thing to do. 216 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:48,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, outside of news Sport Asia, who else is helping 217 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:48,960 Speaker 1: fund this league? 218 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:50,080 Speaker 2: Where's the money coming from. 219 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:52,839 Speaker 4: So we're going to be announcing pretty soon actually where 220 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:57,680 Speaker 4: we closed the first rays today actually, which is really exciting, 221 00:10:57,720 --> 00:11:00,920 Speaker 4: and we're going to be announcing. We did a friends 222 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:02,960 Speaker 4: and family around where really I got to bring in 223 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 4: some of my favorite people, many of them that you know, Sarah. 224 00:11:06,520 --> 00:11:07,760 Speaker 2: I guess Jewels and Die. 225 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:09,600 Speaker 4: Oh I wonder. 226 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:14,960 Speaker 1: Yes, Jewels and Die seemingly have an endless supply of 227 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:17,640 Speaker 1: money just to give to every single women's sports league 228 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:20,320 Speaker 1: that exists. And I couldn't be happier that that's where 229 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:22,719 Speaker 1: they put their money. So shout out to Jewels and Die, 230 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:23,720 Speaker 1: who I'm sure are listening. 231 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:30,200 Speaker 4: Yes, and they also invested in the SALGP, the Italian 232 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:34,839 Speaker 4: which which use sport owns and uh and so yeah, no, 233 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:37,920 Speaker 4: they're amazing. But the idea for this strategic raise was 234 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:41,840 Speaker 4: to get of course key names in our industry, but 235 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 4: also a majority women. I wanted to make sure this 236 00:11:44,520 --> 00:11:48,200 Speaker 4: was a female they led ownership an investment group. We 237 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:50,720 Speaker 4: often get pushed out of these kind of opportunities, and 238 00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:54,600 Speaker 4: to be able to invest at a league level early on, 239 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:58,199 Speaker 4: really at the ground floor is a huge commercial opportunity. 240 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:00,920 Speaker 4: I want to make sure that that that our crew 241 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:04,560 Speaker 4: got in, but also strategically, people who we know, once 242 00:12:04,559 --> 00:12:06,360 Speaker 4: we get them into a room together, are going to 243 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:10,280 Speaker 4: be able to bring in their best in class expertise 244 00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:14,960 Speaker 4: and network from launch from different sports across women's but 245 00:12:15,040 --> 00:12:17,720 Speaker 4: also different cities, and there's a lot of people. We 246 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:21,720 Speaker 4: announced four cities, Boston, New York, La, San Francisco, so 247 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:24,560 Speaker 4: we have investors in all four of those cities who 248 00:12:24,640 --> 00:12:27,920 Speaker 4: are going to act as sort of champions for us 249 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:31,080 Speaker 4: at those cities and help us build out those those 250 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 4: teams individually and across the league. And I couldn't be 251 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:37,320 Speaker 4: more excited. It really is a dream team. And one 252 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:40,640 Speaker 4: thing I can say about Keith is he has he 253 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:43,160 Speaker 4: has many talents, but one of his greatest talents is 254 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:46,760 Speaker 4: surrounding himself with best in class people and starting off 255 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:52,520 Speaker 4: with bringing Justine on board, which is the end of brainer, 256 00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:55,840 Speaker 4: but really everyone that he has, from the commercial team 257 00:12:56,000 --> 00:13:01,280 Speaker 4: to communication, marketing, branding, and now with this investor base, 258 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:04,600 Speaker 4: I think I think we are really ready to roll Justine. 259 00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:07,199 Speaker 1: Let's talk about the first season and what folks can expect. 260 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:09,559 Speaker 1: Tell me about the four teams and the neutral site 261 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:11,760 Speaker 1: where you'll be hosting all the games. 262 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:12,440 Speaker 4: Sure. 263 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:17,080 Speaker 3: So as Asia mentioned, we have four teams will be 264 00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:20,800 Speaker 3: playing in Springfield, Illinois, in one single site for our 265 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 3: first year, but our four teams will will be representing 266 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:28,280 Speaker 3: La New York, San Francisco, and Boston and then you know, 267 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:30,640 Speaker 3: in the second third year they will go into those cities. 268 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:37,000 Speaker 3: So it's roughly a thirty six game season. It's seven 269 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:40,640 Speaker 3: weeks plus an All Star Game, so there's going to 270 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:43,440 Speaker 3: be plenty of baseball. And it begins August first, so 271 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:47,920 Speaker 3: you know it's coming up, it's coming up quick. 272 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:48,839 Speaker 2: But we're ready. 273 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:51,080 Speaker 3: We'll be ready for them. And you know, we have 274 00:13:51,840 --> 00:13:54,880 Speaker 3: there are twenty five countries with national teams, and so 275 00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:58,360 Speaker 3: we really have a global roster of the best players 276 00:13:58,360 --> 00:14:01,080 Speaker 3: from around the world. I love that we're going to 277 00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:03,559 Speaker 3: be able to reach audiences everywhere. 278 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:05,559 Speaker 2: Do our sport. 279 00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:08,760 Speaker 1: Ascia, How did you decide on the four initial cities 280 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:11,480 Speaker 1: and placing them on the coasts with no teams in 281 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:13,760 Speaker 1: the middle, but then playing in the middle, So. 282 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:17,040 Speaker 4: We were really focusing on sports densities, so teams that 283 00:14:17,080 --> 00:14:20,200 Speaker 4: are really cities that are really heavy sports cities and 284 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:23,440 Speaker 4: where there's been really good reception of women's teams and 285 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:27,800 Speaker 4: sports and also local investor interests, so really getting people 286 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:31,320 Speaker 4: in a community there who really want to support. These 287 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:33,960 Speaker 4: are cities also that have best in class storytelling and 288 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:37,480 Speaker 4: there's real history with these cities. We also have the 289 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:41,440 Speaker 4: East and West kind of competition already started from day one, 290 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:44,120 Speaker 4: but we're all excited about bringing on new teams and 291 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:49,320 Speaker 4: it's probably worth mentioning that from a commercial perspective. I 292 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 4: don't know sort of how many people know this, but 293 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:54,960 Speaker 4: there's sort of two ways of building out the league. 294 00:14:55,560 --> 00:15:00,520 Speaker 4: One is to sell teams already from day one. Strategy 295 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:04,040 Speaker 4: is actually a single entity model, so whereby the league 296 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:07,040 Speaker 4: owns all of the teams. As we build these out 297 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:11,160 Speaker 4: and we set the standard for play, branding, storytelling, everybody 298 00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:15,040 Speaker 4: will have their own individualized feeling, but they are so 299 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:17,800 Speaker 4: they're separate but together, and we're really going to be 300 00:15:17,840 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 4: building out that quality on and off the field. And 301 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 4: the idea is over the years to start selling all 302 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:29,400 Speaker 4: or parts of these teams to best in class ownership groups, 303 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:32,680 Speaker 4: and a lot of that revenue goes back to the league, 304 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:34,800 Speaker 4: which is great and it kind of sort of fuels 305 00:15:34,840 --> 00:15:37,560 Speaker 4: the fire and allows us to keep building. But it's 306 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:40,400 Speaker 4: also a great opportunity to make sure that quality of 307 00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 4: play stays up and then we can really pick and 308 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:46,720 Speaker 4: choose who we want to come and own each of 309 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:47,400 Speaker 4: those cities. 310 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:48,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, it makes sense. 311 00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 1: We've seen that with the PWHL for newer leagues to 312 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:57,560 Speaker 1: have that solid base, that certainty of capital at the core, 313 00:15:57,720 --> 00:16:00,440 Speaker 1: and so there aren't teams that are dropping often not 314 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:03,000 Speaker 1: investing the same way, or not producing what the rest 315 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:05,200 Speaker 1: of the league expects, you know, justin when we look 316 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:07,160 Speaker 1: at the history of other women's pro leagues, they are 317 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:10,680 Speaker 1: built to fill a demand that already existed, you know, 318 00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:14,480 Speaker 1: women's hockey, volleyball, softball. Until recently those sports, you know, 319 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:17,120 Speaker 1: athletes had to call it quits after college unless they 320 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:18,200 Speaker 1: were on a national team. 321 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:20,560 Speaker 2: So pro leagues and those sports sort. 322 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:23,480 Speaker 1: Of helped continue an already robust pipeline of athletes. But 323 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 1: in baseball, the NCAA database has just seven women playing 324 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:30,000 Speaker 1: across all divisions last year, and in high school there's 325 00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:32,640 Speaker 1: only about thirteen hundred girls playing. So why do you 326 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:35,040 Speaker 1: think women's pro baseball league is so important? Even if 327 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:37,640 Speaker 1: the pipeline isn't developed as it is in other sports, 328 00:16:37,640 --> 00:16:39,480 Speaker 1: and even though there isn't as directive a college to 329 00:16:39,600 --> 00:16:40,600 Speaker 1: pro path. 330 00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:44,400 Speaker 3: So what happens is with those a thousand women, it's 331 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:47,480 Speaker 3: a thousand plus playing justin in the US. It doesn't count, 332 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:52,320 Speaker 3: you know the thirty five tournament that just happened in 333 00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:57,360 Speaker 3: Japan this summer. So these girls play with men, right, 334 00:16:57,720 --> 00:16:59,800 Speaker 3: like they played with high school and then they play 335 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:02,360 Speaker 3: even if they're not playing college baseball, they're playing in 336 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:07,120 Speaker 3: men's leagues. So they kind of are sharper, right. They're 337 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:09,840 Speaker 3: the survivors of a system that tried to oppress them 338 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:12,320 Speaker 3: and they kept going it, which means they're very very good. 339 00:17:12,359 --> 00:17:12,520 Speaker 1: Right. 340 00:17:12,520 --> 00:17:15,520 Speaker 3: Olivia Pachados on eighty five and she's playing D one 341 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:19,440 Speaker 3: baseball right. So our pipeline in many ways doesn't need 342 00:17:19,520 --> 00:17:23,040 Speaker 3: to be as broad based where there's an average talent, 343 00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:27,760 Speaker 3: because our talent is creating an elite pipeline. Now, as 344 00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:30,399 Speaker 3: the years progress, there'll be more and more girls that 345 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:32,480 Speaker 3: just stay in the game and there will become a 346 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:36,840 Speaker 3: bigger base of girls playing. But of our six hundred 347 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:39,240 Speaker 3: women who played who tried out for the league, eighty 348 00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:43,080 Speaker 3: percent of them had baseball experience. They just moved to 349 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:45,199 Speaker 3: Many of them moved to softball because they ran out 350 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:48,760 Speaker 3: of opportunity. We also have a parallel pipeline with softball 351 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:51,520 Speaker 3: because many of those women either they wanted to play 352 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:54,600 Speaker 3: baseball or they started in baseball and we're told to switch. 353 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:58,560 Speaker 3: So I think it can it can get foggy when 354 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:02,000 Speaker 3: you just sort of look at individual stat versus really 355 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:05,560 Speaker 3: a bat and ball sport. All the major league fans 356 00:18:05,560 --> 00:18:09,960 Speaker 3: that are women and around the world perspective that there's 357 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:14,199 Speaker 3: plenty of women to come out and fill it, you know, 358 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:18,680 Speaker 3: a twelve team plus league in the next five six years. 359 00:18:19,119 --> 00:18:21,640 Speaker 1: Right and while we are still waiting for trickle down 360 00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:25,399 Speaker 1: economics to work, we do potentially see trickle down pipeline 361 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 1: work where because there is an existence of a pro 362 00:18:27,680 --> 00:18:30,639 Speaker 1: league that then offers more girls and young women the 363 00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:32,960 Speaker 1: chance to keep playing baseball, for more of them to 364 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:35,919 Speaker 1: start playing baseball instead of moving to softball, and then 365 00:18:35,960 --> 00:18:39,879 Speaker 1: eventually fill in that space that is more robust across 366 00:18:39,920 --> 00:18:42,200 Speaker 1: other sports. Right now, you know, Ossio, We've seen how 367 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:45,159 Speaker 1: important it is in other sports for fans of college 368 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:47,720 Speaker 1: teams to sort of carry over and become fans of 369 00:18:47,720 --> 00:18:50,359 Speaker 1: pro teams because they want to watch those players keep playing. 370 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 1: So without a number of big names or a lot 371 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:53,960 Speaker 1: of people that. 372 00:18:53,920 --> 00:18:55,040 Speaker 2: Folks are familiar with. 373 00:18:55,280 --> 00:18:57,240 Speaker 1: The athletes won't have a built in fan base. How 374 00:18:57,280 --> 00:18:59,320 Speaker 1: do you kind of find the fans and make sure 375 00:18:59,359 --> 00:19:01,480 Speaker 1: they still want to and watch players that they've probably 376 00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:02,280 Speaker 1: never seen play before. 377 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:05,000 Speaker 4: I mean, the fan base, as Justine was saying, is 378 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:08,359 Speaker 4: there already inherently. These are sort of these men and 379 00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:11,440 Speaker 4: women who have basically been waiting for something like this 380 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:13,880 Speaker 4: to come along, and they just have never had anything 381 00:19:14,160 --> 00:19:16,639 Speaker 4: like it to be able to dive into. So the 382 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:20,560 Speaker 4: fan base is already much more there than anyone even realizes. 383 00:19:20,560 --> 00:19:22,640 Speaker 4: And we're starting to really see that with our own 384 00:19:22,680 --> 00:19:26,240 Speaker 4: social media and our own engagement. But obviously we're gonna 385 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:29,399 Speaker 4: have to do some real grassroots community building and every city, 386 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:31,640 Speaker 4: and I think that's the most exciting thing. We're gonna 387 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:35,680 Speaker 4: be doing pub crawls and we'll be doing really trying 388 00:19:35,720 --> 00:19:38,120 Speaker 4: to go into the communities of all of these four 389 00:19:38,160 --> 00:19:40,560 Speaker 4: cities and do it right and just start educating and 390 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:46,840 Speaker 4: bringing these athletes like Kelsey Whitmore and Money Davis into 391 00:19:47,119 --> 00:19:50,080 Speaker 4: the room of these of the fan base and really 392 00:19:50,119 --> 00:19:54,080 Speaker 4: just keep telling their stories, keep educating the communities that 393 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:56,960 Speaker 4: baseball is here, and women's baseball is here to stay. 394 00:19:57,520 --> 00:19:59,639 Speaker 4: And also, and one thing I should probably mention is 395 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:02,520 Speaker 4: we we're very early. So at the very beginning of 396 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:06,080 Speaker 4: our journey, we ended up striking a fantastic deal with Fremantle, 397 00:20:06,160 --> 00:20:09,240 Speaker 4: which is a three sixty degree deal that is not 398 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:13,560 Speaker 4: just covering sort of sponsorship, but more importantly storytelling and narrative. 399 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:16,800 Speaker 4: And so we had a full Sweet crew come during 400 00:20:16,840 --> 00:20:21,080 Speaker 4: our tryouts in August, and there were crews and all 401 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:24,760 Speaker 4: of the different draft announcement parties that were happening and 402 00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:27,199 Speaker 4: telling the stories of these women, many of them that 403 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:29,080 Speaker 4: we know, many of them we don't know. And so 404 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:32,200 Speaker 4: the idea here is really to lead telling these stories 405 00:20:32,280 --> 00:20:36,600 Speaker 4: and educating the world on is incredible these incredible talent. 406 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:39,320 Speaker 3: Oh. I was just going to say, I promise you 407 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:42,080 Speaker 3: come to a game, you watch us streaming, You're gonna 408 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:45,560 Speaker 3: fall in love with these athletes. I promise you had 409 00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:49,760 Speaker 3: the passion, the skill level, and it's baseball. If you're 410 00:20:49,760 --> 00:20:52,080 Speaker 3: a baseball fan, you're going to fall in love. Well. 411 00:20:52,080 --> 00:20:53,760 Speaker 1: And the cool thing about women's sports is that, of 412 00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:56,359 Speaker 1: course you'll go to the baseball folks in a city, 413 00:20:56,400 --> 00:20:58,480 Speaker 1: the softball fans in a city, but also there's so 414 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:01,720 Speaker 1: much crossover interest from anyone who is a fan of 415 00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:04,040 Speaker 1: women's sport to give a chance to and to want 416 00:21:04,040 --> 00:21:06,840 Speaker 1: to go check out and support other women's sports, even 417 00:21:06,880 --> 00:21:08,960 Speaker 1: something they might not be super familiar with yet. So 418 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:10,959 Speaker 1: you have a lot of spaces to go into to 419 00:21:10,960 --> 00:21:13,600 Speaker 1: try to cultivate a fan base for your new league. 420 00:21:13,680 --> 00:21:15,240 Speaker 1: You know, justin and you were just at the MLB 421 00:21:15,359 --> 00:21:18,080 Speaker 1: Winter meetings. Is there any relationship or plans to have 422 00:21:18,119 --> 00:21:19,439 Speaker 1: a relationship with the MLB. 423 00:21:20,160 --> 00:21:22,800 Speaker 3: We don't have a formal relationship at the moment, but 424 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:26,760 Speaker 3: we just had Commissioner Manfred introduce our draft, which was fantastic. 425 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:29,280 Speaker 3: MLB dot com has been covering us. We held our 426 00:21:29,320 --> 00:21:33,040 Speaker 3: trouts at Nationals Park, so we are receiving a lot 427 00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:37,000 Speaker 3: of Major League Baseball support. Funding or an official partnership 428 00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:40,800 Speaker 3: is possible in future, but we're feeling good and the 429 00:21:40,880 --> 00:21:43,959 Speaker 3: independence allows us to grow in a way that pushes 430 00:21:44,080 --> 00:21:47,800 Speaker 3: us towards the strength and make sure that everything you know, 431 00:21:47,920 --> 00:21:51,640 Speaker 3: competitive play and a storytelling is our storytelling. 432 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:54,520 Speaker 2: You know, the ones driven by players you mentioned. 433 00:21:54,520 --> 00:21:58,040 Speaker 1: In August, six hundred players participated in tryouts at Nationals Park. 434 00:21:58,040 --> 00:22:00,560 Speaker 1: One hundred and thirty of them were eligible for the REEF. 435 00:22:00,960 --> 00:22:02,720 Speaker 1: Can you tell us how it was justine that the 436 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:05,040 Speaker 1: players were assigned to the initial four teams. 437 00:22:05,840 --> 00:22:09,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, so our player development staff went through and made, 438 00:22:09,320 --> 00:22:12,840 Speaker 3: you know, decisions of who should be drafted first, a 439 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:15,040 Speaker 3: competitive play it was, you know, it just sort of 440 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:18,359 Speaker 3: a number one fought because no one wants a landslide 441 00:22:18,359 --> 00:22:23,159 Speaker 3: when it's a single entity league. And then also this 442 00:22:23,320 --> 00:22:27,080 Speaker 3: diversity around the around the teams, right, we want a career, 443 00:22:27,119 --> 00:22:29,840 Speaker 3: We have Korean players, we have Japanese players. We want 444 00:22:29,880 --> 00:22:34,360 Speaker 3: to be able to have everybody represented around the four teams, 445 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:37,760 Speaker 3: so obviously skill level, and then looking at it into 446 00:22:37,840 --> 00:22:40,640 Speaker 3: how do we create the most competitive teams together. 447 00:22:41,359 --> 00:22:43,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, we saw something similar from the Unrivaled DIG when 448 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:47,880 Speaker 1: it launched last actually this year in January. Was sort 449 00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:51,679 Speaker 1: of a group of people assigned to pick the most 450 00:22:51,800 --> 00:22:54,840 Speaker 1: equal teams without them necessarily knowing which one would be theirs, 451 00:22:54,920 --> 00:22:58,119 Speaker 1: the gms and coaches of the different teams. So I 452 00:22:58,160 --> 00:23:00,439 Speaker 1: know some fans were surprised that the draft wasn't a 453 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:02,920 Speaker 1: live event. It was like taped segments with players pre 454 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:05,520 Speaker 1: recording their answers depending on which team selected them. So 455 00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:07,040 Speaker 1: they gave a little speech for each of the four 456 00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:09,160 Speaker 1: teams and then the one that they ended up getting 457 00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:11,800 Speaker 1: selected to random. What was the reason to have that 458 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:14,920 Speaker 1: format as opposed to having players you know, videoed live 459 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:16,120 Speaker 1: while they were being selected. 460 00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:18,560 Speaker 3: What we what we wanted to make sure was that 461 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:21,000 Speaker 3: you know, the draft with our players from all over 462 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:24,080 Speaker 3: and us being in our inaugural year one, we want 463 00:23:24,080 --> 00:23:28,440 Speaker 3: to be you know, economically for frugal so to speak. 464 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:30,040 Speaker 3: We want to get the job done and we want 465 00:23:30,480 --> 00:23:32,440 Speaker 3: to bet. We want to be able to share the stories. 466 00:23:32,680 --> 00:23:35,040 Speaker 3: And so we had draft parties all around the country, 467 00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:37,560 Speaker 3: so there was live video going on. It was just 468 00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:41,080 Speaker 3: in different draft parties, Like I was at Monee Davis's party, 469 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:44,159 Speaker 3: CNN was there, like it just you know, there was 470 00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:47,679 Speaker 3: five or six different news outlets. So we decided to 471 00:23:48,119 --> 00:23:50,440 Speaker 3: the best way to do was to stream it. And 472 00:23:50,600 --> 00:23:52,880 Speaker 3: even though the players didn't know who they might get drafted, 473 00:23:53,119 --> 00:23:54,679 Speaker 3: or some of the players of course didn't know they 474 00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:58,159 Speaker 3: were getting get drafted at all or to who, we 475 00:23:58,200 --> 00:23:59,760 Speaker 3: just thought this was the best way to tell our 476 00:23:59,760 --> 00:24:04,080 Speaker 3: story and to keep it in the most organized fashion rate. 477 00:24:04,320 --> 00:24:06,920 Speaker 3: No one wants a five hour draft when you can 478 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:09,879 Speaker 3: get to it, and I think it works beautifully and 479 00:24:09,920 --> 00:24:11,400 Speaker 3: I still have people come up to me and say 480 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:14,280 Speaker 3: how much they loved watching the draft and the storytelling, 481 00:24:14,359 --> 00:24:16,760 Speaker 3: and then of course the videos of the women so 482 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:20,640 Speaker 3: excited they're standing on their couches, cheering, their friends, their 483 00:24:20,680 --> 00:24:23,640 Speaker 3: family mobbing them so fantastic. 484 00:24:24,600 --> 00:24:26,520 Speaker 2: We got to take a quick break more with Justine 485 00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:27,639 Speaker 2: and Assia right after this. 486 00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:37,280 Speaker 1: Also, you're the chair of the wpbl mewsed Sport as 487 00:24:37,280 --> 00:24:39,760 Speaker 1: an advisory partner. What do those roles look like as 488 00:24:39,800 --> 00:24:42,560 Speaker 1: this lead up to the first season is ongoing. 489 00:24:43,119 --> 00:24:46,119 Speaker 4: Yeah, So, I mean kicking off from the very beginning 490 00:24:46,240 --> 00:24:49,440 Speaker 4: is just generally sort of strategic advisory and thinking about 491 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:51,840 Speaker 4: the roadmap of what we need to build out to 492 00:24:52,200 --> 00:24:55,600 Speaker 4: get to that first season. It started off really thinking 493 00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:57,679 Speaker 4: about the structure of the league, so really kind of 494 00:24:57,680 --> 00:25:01,119 Speaker 4: defining what that commercial design is and deciding on that 495 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:04,640 Speaker 4: single entity model that I was talking about. But then 496 00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:08,520 Speaker 4: it's also thinking through our talent that we're going to hire, 497 00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:12,879 Speaker 4: so the CEO role and other operators that we have 498 00:25:12,920 --> 00:25:16,080 Speaker 4: to bring on board to execute. So I always say 499 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:17,760 Speaker 4: I'm not the smartest person in the room, but I've 500 00:25:17,800 --> 00:25:20,159 Speaker 4: made a career of surrounding myself with smartest people in 501 00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:22,120 Speaker 4: the room. Keith is the same, and so it's really 502 00:25:22,119 --> 00:25:23,680 Speaker 4: about like, who are we going to get on board 503 00:25:23,720 --> 00:25:28,320 Speaker 4: to execute over the course of this year and next. Obviously, 504 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:30,840 Speaker 4: the fundraise is essential. That's been something that I've been 505 00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:33,719 Speaker 4: working on all year and really getting that right, and 506 00:25:33,880 --> 00:25:37,560 Speaker 4: like I said before, really thinking through strategics and making 507 00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:40,880 Speaker 4: sure that we can execute. And then what I'm even 508 00:25:41,119 --> 00:25:44,359 Speaker 4: more excited about as we kind of pull through obviously 509 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:49,920 Speaker 4: all this storytelling, narrative, thinking through commercials, strategy around sort 510 00:25:49,920 --> 00:25:53,120 Speaker 4: of sponsorship. Of course that's an essential component that I'm 511 00:25:53,160 --> 00:25:56,080 Speaker 4: working on with Keith and the team. But what I'm 512 00:25:56,119 --> 00:26:00,439 Speaker 4: really excited about is also thinking through this future whenever 513 00:26:00,480 --> 00:26:02,280 Speaker 4: that is of selling some of these teams, and I 514 00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:04,480 Speaker 4: think you have to start even though it's a few 515 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:08,040 Speaker 4: years ahead. It's something that we're starting to think already now, 516 00:26:08,119 --> 00:26:10,159 Speaker 4: and the people that we have sitting around the table 517 00:26:10,320 --> 00:26:12,160 Speaker 4: now and over the course the next year will start 518 00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:15,200 Speaker 4: to really paint a picture of what that future ownership 519 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:18,200 Speaker 4: group can start to look like and what future cities 520 00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:21,520 Speaker 4: will start to look like. And yeah, just Dane was 521 00:26:21,560 --> 00:26:24,680 Speaker 4: saying about being scrappy, I think that's the other thing 522 00:26:24,760 --> 00:26:28,600 Speaker 4: is really making sure that this league continues to scale 523 00:26:29,880 --> 00:26:32,480 Speaker 4: in a really cost effective way, but at the same 524 00:26:32,520 --> 00:26:34,480 Speaker 4: time also making sure that we go out with a 525 00:26:34,520 --> 00:26:37,520 Speaker 4: bang and that it has real impact. So this isn't 526 00:26:37,680 --> 00:26:40,399 Speaker 4: just something that needs to exist. It needs to thrive. 527 00:26:40,480 --> 00:26:43,520 Speaker 4: It needs to be a platform that investors want to 528 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:45,080 Speaker 4: be part of. I want to continue to be a 529 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:47,800 Speaker 4: part of. So it has to be run efficiently and effectively. 530 00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:50,360 Speaker 1: What do you think the biggest drivers of revenue are 531 00:26:50,440 --> 00:26:52,160 Speaker 1: going to be for the league, either in year one 532 00:26:52,440 --> 00:26:54,080 Speaker 1: or as you project out a couple of years. 533 00:26:54,560 --> 00:26:58,280 Speaker 4: So we're hoping that sponsorship will ramp up. Obviously, that'll 534 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:00,520 Speaker 4: take some time to really get to the level that 535 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:03,120 Speaker 4: we wanted to do, and that that comes with also 536 00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:06,040 Speaker 4: showcasing the kind of talent and product that we have 537 00:27:06,280 --> 00:27:09,359 Speaker 4: on the field. Merch I actually think is going to 538 00:27:09,400 --> 00:27:12,119 Speaker 4: be excellent. I think, Justine, you may have the latest 539 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:14,160 Speaker 4: numbers more than I do in terms of how many 540 00:27:14,680 --> 00:27:17,080 Speaker 4: how much we've sold so far, but without even having 541 00:27:17,200 --> 00:27:22,160 Speaker 4: to go really hard on the merch strategy, we have 542 00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:25,320 Speaker 4: sold out every single T shirt and hoodie and and 543 00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:29,320 Speaker 4: hat that we had on the website, and so I 544 00:27:29,359 --> 00:27:31,440 Speaker 4: feel like really taking that to the next level will 545 00:27:31,480 --> 00:27:36,560 Speaker 4: be will be great. As I said before, selling teams 546 00:27:36,600 --> 00:27:40,320 Speaker 4: or part of teams will be a significant sort of 547 00:27:40,400 --> 00:27:43,479 Speaker 4: influx of capital into the league. So how we do that. 548 00:27:43,520 --> 00:27:45,320 Speaker 4: When we do that will be somebody that will decide 549 00:27:45,359 --> 00:27:49,080 Speaker 4: on a board level. Yeah, so I think those are 550 00:27:49,119 --> 00:27:52,719 Speaker 4: the are the core. Obviously, Eventually we'll have TV broadcast 551 00:27:52,800 --> 00:27:57,960 Speaker 4: deals that will come as usually happens with nascent and 552 00:27:58,040 --> 00:28:01,360 Speaker 4: emerging leagues. It usually happens once you've gotten those eyeballs. 553 00:28:01,359 --> 00:28:04,040 Speaker 4: So right now our priorities to get as many eyeballs 554 00:28:04,040 --> 00:28:06,320 Speaker 4: as possible and be on as many platforms as we can. 555 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:08,320 Speaker 2: So it'll be streaming for this first season will be 556 00:28:08,320 --> 00:28:09,520 Speaker 2: how fans will be able to watch. 557 00:28:09,760 --> 00:28:13,760 Speaker 4: We'll definitely have streaming as the easiest way to just 558 00:28:13,800 --> 00:28:16,119 Speaker 4: click and watch. That's for sure. We have to have that. 559 00:28:17,480 --> 00:28:19,720 Speaker 4: And we'll also have some other partners. We might test 560 00:28:19,720 --> 00:28:23,639 Speaker 4: partners because we have a seven weeks play, so we'll 561 00:28:23,680 --> 00:28:25,560 Speaker 4: be able to test a few partners and to see 562 00:28:25,560 --> 00:28:26,639 Speaker 4: what works and what doesn't. 563 00:28:26,840 --> 00:28:29,840 Speaker 1: I anticipate some announcements around where we'll stream and watch 564 00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:34,199 Speaker 1: coaches gms, maybe some logos. Are we going to have 565 00:28:34,280 --> 00:28:35,800 Speaker 1: names for these teams or are we sticking with the 566 00:28:35,840 --> 00:28:37,760 Speaker 1: city names for the first year, We're. 567 00:28:37,440 --> 00:28:41,360 Speaker 4: Gonna go out to the community and ask them names 568 00:28:41,760 --> 00:28:44,680 Speaker 4: we should be calling our teams. We will fans to 569 00:28:44,840 --> 00:28:50,120 Speaker 4: be very involved here. And I already have so many 570 00:28:50,240 --> 00:28:54,120 Speaker 4: dms of young girls who are sending me messages all 571 00:28:54,120 --> 00:28:57,360 Speaker 4: the time on Instagram instead of not just suggesting names, 572 00:28:57,400 --> 00:29:00,800 Speaker 4: but also wanting to get involved. And so yeah, we're 573 00:29:00,840 --> 00:29:02,200 Speaker 4: gonna get there input on all of that. 574 00:29:03,160 --> 00:29:04,520 Speaker 2: Well, lots more to come. 575 00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:06,640 Speaker 1: Just a couple ask questions for you, because I know 576 00:29:06,680 --> 00:29:08,440 Speaker 1: there are things that are still yet to be rolled 577 00:29:08,440 --> 00:29:11,360 Speaker 1: out that we'll have to be patient about. But a 578 00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:13,959 Speaker 1: couple of things I read about Justine. So the players 579 00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:16,880 Speaker 1: will stay in Springfield during the season, and is the 580 00:29:16,960 --> 00:29:19,320 Speaker 1: league still planning to provide housing then during the stretch 581 00:29:19,320 --> 00:29:20,000 Speaker 1: of the season. 582 00:29:19,760 --> 00:29:22,880 Speaker 3: There, Yes, we'll provide the housing and meals and meal 583 00:29:22,960 --> 00:29:26,160 Speaker 3: money and travel to and from, you know, the basic 584 00:29:26,440 --> 00:29:29,320 Speaker 3: things that you need as a ballplayer. We're a player 585 00:29:30,360 --> 00:29:33,360 Speaker 3: focused league and so we want to make sure what 586 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:35,280 Speaker 3: your needs are that we are able to meet them. 587 00:29:36,120 --> 00:29:40,120 Speaker 2: And then salary structure. Is a straight pay for this 588 00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:40,800 Speaker 2: first year. 589 00:29:40,680 --> 00:29:43,360 Speaker 1: With any bonuses or incentives or anything, or is it 590 00:29:43,440 --> 00:29:47,560 Speaker 1: just guaranteed? Is there a guaranteed pay for every player 591 00:29:47,600 --> 00:29:48,360 Speaker 1: for this first season. 592 00:29:48,840 --> 00:29:52,400 Speaker 3: We do have a guaranteed based on games played versus 593 00:29:52,400 --> 00:29:55,760 Speaker 3: the whole season, as well as some bonuses like if 594 00:29:55,800 --> 00:29:58,280 Speaker 3: you make the All Star team and so on. So 595 00:29:58,840 --> 00:30:02,800 Speaker 3: we are we're we know the players deserve more, but 596 00:30:02,840 --> 00:30:05,360 Speaker 3: we're doing all we can to make them comfortable and 597 00:30:05,440 --> 00:30:07,960 Speaker 3: be pro players in their first year. Get an ideals, 598 00:30:08,080 --> 00:30:11,440 Speaker 3: match them up so that they can really flourish and 599 00:30:11,480 --> 00:30:15,160 Speaker 3: build their brand and be baseball players professional baseball players. 600 00:30:15,240 --> 00:30:16,120 Speaker 3: Is the best you can be. 601 00:30:16,920 --> 00:30:20,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, I understand being frugal off the top, but does 602 00:30:20,600 --> 00:30:22,280 Speaker 1: that mean if they're on a bench for a game 603 00:30:22,280 --> 00:30:23,720 Speaker 1: but they don't go in, they don't get paid for 604 00:30:23,760 --> 00:30:24,040 Speaker 1: that game? 605 00:30:24,120 --> 00:30:26,960 Speaker 3: Oh? No, if they're on the roster Okay, Okay. 606 00:30:26,880 --> 00:30:28,960 Speaker 1: I was gonna say that would make things real complicated 607 00:30:28,960 --> 00:30:30,920 Speaker 1: with your coach if you're like, coach, put me in 608 00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:34,720 Speaker 1: for one bunt that money. 609 00:30:35,480 --> 00:30:39,360 Speaker 3: No, we want our players to feel comfortable. That's very 610 00:30:39,360 --> 00:30:40,120 Speaker 3: important to us. 611 00:30:40,240 --> 00:30:42,560 Speaker 2: Okay, so on the roster, got it? And then what 612 00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:43,440 Speaker 2: about injuries? 613 00:30:43,480 --> 00:30:45,680 Speaker 1: Is there any injury protection in place for players in 614 00:30:45,680 --> 00:30:46,360 Speaker 1: this first season? 615 00:30:47,840 --> 00:30:50,840 Speaker 3: Well, I mean as far as injury you know, is 616 00:30:50,880 --> 00:30:52,800 Speaker 3: that we want to take care of our players who 617 00:30:52,840 --> 00:30:55,400 Speaker 3: may get injured. But we do have you know, we 618 00:30:55,560 --> 00:30:57,680 Speaker 3: as you mentioned, we drafted over hind your own players, 619 00:30:57,720 --> 00:31:00,760 Speaker 3: So we have a reserved list that the coaches will know, 620 00:31:00,840 --> 00:31:03,600 Speaker 3: you know, of Hey, if we're someone gets hurt, who's 621 00:31:03,640 --> 00:31:05,800 Speaker 3: our next catcher that we want to call up? Right, 622 00:31:06,960 --> 00:31:10,360 Speaker 3: So we do have a reserve possibility, like a minor 623 00:31:10,440 --> 00:31:13,200 Speaker 3: leagues of sorts to pull people to the big leagues. 624 00:31:13,520 --> 00:31:16,200 Speaker 4: I would add to that that obviously many people know 625 00:31:16,320 --> 00:31:19,000 Speaker 4: that my fund us capital two thirds of our capital 626 00:31:19,080 --> 00:31:21,360 Speaker 4: goes into women's healthcare. So we have sort of top 627 00:31:21,400 --> 00:31:24,360 Speaker 4: of the line, best in class women's healthcare innovation that 628 00:31:24,440 --> 00:31:26,920 Speaker 4: we're going to be offering. And that's we're going to 629 00:31:27,000 --> 00:31:29,840 Speaker 4: have an official announcement, but I guess you're here at first, 630 00:31:30,520 --> 00:31:32,520 Speaker 4: but we're going to be offering our full suite of 631 00:31:32,600 --> 00:31:36,000 Speaker 4: tech too, not just the athletes, but the female executives 632 00:31:36,040 --> 00:31:39,120 Speaker 4: at the at the league, because that is essential to us, 633 00:31:39,240 --> 00:31:41,720 Speaker 4: even our hormone testing company, for example, if we can 634 00:31:41,760 --> 00:31:44,360 Speaker 4: try and avoid some of those injuries happening at a 635 00:31:44,360 --> 00:31:47,280 Speaker 4: certain moment in time by kind of getting ahead of 636 00:31:47,280 --> 00:31:50,600 Speaker 4: our of that data, we're going to try and make 637 00:31:50,600 --> 00:31:53,840 Speaker 4: sure that we get innovation to help us take care 638 00:31:53,840 --> 00:31:55,960 Speaker 4: of our athletes as best as possible. 639 00:31:55,960 --> 00:31:58,960 Speaker 1: And I imagine physical therapists and all the other stuff 640 00:31:59,000 --> 00:32:02,840 Speaker 1: will be on site for you know, to keep players 641 00:32:03,120 --> 00:32:07,040 Speaker 1: ready to go in games. All right, justin last question 642 00:32:07,120 --> 00:32:09,400 Speaker 1: for you, this is going to be the first women's 643 00:32:09,440 --> 00:32:13,160 Speaker 1: professional baseball league in seventy years, and I wonder when 644 00:32:13,160 --> 00:32:15,040 Speaker 1: you take a minute to think about what that means 645 00:32:15,080 --> 00:32:17,640 Speaker 1: for players today, for girls who are going to grow 646 00:32:17,720 --> 00:32:20,240 Speaker 1: up with a dream to aspire to maybe even for 647 00:32:20,320 --> 00:32:23,400 Speaker 1: someone like Maybel Blair, who's ninety eight years old now, 648 00:32:23,480 --> 00:32:26,160 Speaker 1: former player in the All American Girls Professional Baseball League, 649 00:32:26,880 --> 00:32:30,000 Speaker 1: seeing this opportunity for young people after she was one 650 00:32:30,040 --> 00:32:31,760 Speaker 1: of the ones who paved the way all those years ago. 651 00:32:32,080 --> 00:32:34,040 Speaker 1: What are the emotions, What are the feelings? What do 652 00:32:34,080 --> 00:32:36,160 Speaker 1: you think it's going to feel like come August when 653 00:32:36,200 --> 00:32:37,160 Speaker 1: the games actually start. 654 00:32:37,480 --> 00:32:40,840 Speaker 3: Well, my eyes might get a little lottery, but all. 655 00:32:41,000 --> 00:32:44,200 Speaker 2: The wins, I assume it's obviously. 656 00:32:43,760 --> 00:32:46,200 Speaker 3: The wind, the sun, it's you know, everything, hey fever. 657 00:32:48,320 --> 00:32:51,160 Speaker 3: It's it's very meaningful to be able to be a 658 00:32:51,200 --> 00:32:56,240 Speaker 3: part of this and to launch the WPBL at a 659 00:32:56,280 --> 00:32:58,680 Speaker 3: time when we still have some of the original all 660 00:32:58,720 --> 00:33:05,200 Speaker 3: Americans with us. It's there's a piece to it, and 661 00:33:05,440 --> 00:33:07,800 Speaker 3: you know, it's it's really beautiful when we go to 662 00:33:07,840 --> 00:33:10,440 Speaker 3: the tryouts and a woman comes up to me and says, hey, 663 00:33:10,520 --> 00:33:12,479 Speaker 3: you remember me. You coached me when I was twelve, 664 00:33:13,120 --> 00:33:16,120 Speaker 3: you know. So it's definitely full circle and it's what 665 00:33:16,200 --> 00:33:19,240 Speaker 3: should be happening. And I want not just this generation, 666 00:33:19,360 --> 00:33:22,080 Speaker 3: but the jet next generation to know that they have 667 00:33:22,120 --> 00:33:23,160 Speaker 3: a future in baseball. 668 00:33:23,560 --> 00:33:26,560 Speaker 1: And Maybell is an ambassador for the league right Absolutely, 669 00:33:26,760 --> 00:33:30,920 Speaker 1: she's the best those sunglasses. Still bopping around the country, 670 00:33:30,960 --> 00:33:34,160 Speaker 1: showing up everywhere she can, inspired by the US and 671 00:33:34,240 --> 00:33:35,560 Speaker 1: inspiring them so great. 672 00:33:35,760 --> 00:33:38,160 Speaker 2: Well, thank you both for coming on. I learned a ton. 673 00:33:38,280 --> 00:33:40,160 Speaker 1: I'm getting very excited for the start of all this. 674 00:33:40,600 --> 00:33:43,920 Speaker 1: It's not quite in my neighborhood, but you know, I'm 675 00:33:43,920 --> 00:33:47,000 Speaker 1: about as close to southern Illinois as anyone is, so 676 00:33:47,120 --> 00:33:49,280 Speaker 1: I'm excited for it all to get started. Thanks so 677 00:33:49,360 --> 00:33:53,800 Speaker 1: much for the time. Thank you, Thanks again to Justine 678 00:33:53,840 --> 00:33:56,520 Speaker 1: and Asia for taking the time. Also, something interesting we 679 00:33:56,600 --> 00:33:58,560 Speaker 1: chatted about after the interview was the fact that the 680 00:33:58,640 --> 00:34:02,920 Speaker 1: WPBL benefits from baseball stadiums already existing all across the country, 681 00:34:02,920 --> 00:34:05,400 Speaker 1: from Major League to minor and college kind of a 682 00:34:05,440 --> 00:34:07,440 Speaker 1: leg up that they've got on other nascent leagues. 683 00:34:07,200 --> 00:34:09,560 Speaker 2: Who might struggle to find stadiums to host their games. 684 00:34:09,760 --> 00:34:11,920 Speaker 1: I'm excited to hear more about Season one of the 685 00:34:12,000 --> 00:34:15,120 Speaker 1: WPBL as it nears. We got to take another break 686 00:34:15,160 --> 00:34:20,960 Speaker 1: when we return, the return of What the Fact? 687 00:34:24,680 --> 00:34:25,800 Speaker 2: Welcome back slices. 688 00:34:25,920 --> 00:34:30,960 Speaker 1: After a little hiatus, it's time for another What the Fact? 689 00:34:31,440 --> 00:34:33,720 Speaker 1: Have you ever wondered why it's become the norm across 690 00:34:33,719 --> 00:34:36,160 Speaker 1: this country for boys to play baseball and girls to 691 00:34:36,160 --> 00:34:39,080 Speaker 1: play softball? Well, the reason for that divide has some 692 00:34:39,120 --> 00:34:42,280 Speaker 1: pretty sexist roots. Let's go back to the year nineteen 693 00:34:42,320 --> 00:34:45,600 Speaker 1: seventy two in the town of Hoboken, New Jersey. At 694 00:34:45,600 --> 00:34:48,080 Speaker 1: the time, girls weren't allowed to play Little League Baseball, 695 00:34:48,280 --> 00:34:50,480 Speaker 1: a rule that was enacted back in nineteen fifty one, 696 00:34:50,800 --> 00:34:53,120 Speaker 1: but that didn't stop twelve year old Maria Pepe from 697 00:34:53,160 --> 00:34:55,920 Speaker 1: signing up and pitching three games with her local team. 698 00:34:56,560 --> 00:34:58,319 Speaker 1: When the National Office found out that there was a 699 00:34:58,320 --> 00:35:01,960 Speaker 1: girl playing in Hoboken, the organization threatened to revoke Hoboken's 700 00:35:01,960 --> 00:35:04,839 Speaker 1: Little League license, and in response, Pepe was dropped from 701 00:35:04,880 --> 00:35:08,320 Speaker 1: the roster. But Pepe had an unknown ally in her corner. 702 00:35:08,600 --> 00:35:11,200 Speaker 1: Upon learning about her experience, the New Jersey chapter of 703 00:35:11,239 --> 00:35:15,359 Speaker 1: the National Organization for Women Now filed a sex discrimination 704 00:35:15,440 --> 00:35:18,800 Speaker 1: suit against Little League's national organization. The New Jersey Division 705 00:35:18,800 --> 00:35:21,400 Speaker 1: on Civil Rights ruled in Pepe's favor, with the hearing 706 00:35:21,400 --> 00:35:24,120 Speaker 1: officer writing quote, the institution of Little League is as 707 00:35:24,160 --> 00:35:27,080 Speaker 1: American as the hot dog and apple pie. There is 708 00:35:27,120 --> 00:35:29,680 Speaker 1: no reason why that part of Americana should be withheld 709 00:35:29,719 --> 00:35:30,280 Speaker 1: from girls. 710 00:35:30,640 --> 00:35:31,280 Speaker 2: End quote. 711 00:35:31,680 --> 00:35:34,640 Speaker 1: That decision was later upheld by the New Jersey Appellate Court. 712 00:35:34,840 --> 00:35:36,359 Speaker 1: And while the men in charge of the Little League 713 00:35:36,400 --> 00:35:39,080 Speaker 1: initially wanted to continue to fight, they finally decided to 714 00:35:39,160 --> 00:35:42,759 Speaker 1: nix their boys' only rule in nineteen seventy four. But 715 00:35:42,880 --> 00:35:45,280 Speaker 1: of course that didn't mean girls were welcomed with open 716 00:35:45,400 --> 00:35:48,200 Speaker 1: arms instead. The same year the Little League Baseball changed 717 00:35:48,239 --> 00:35:52,080 Speaker 1: its rules, the organization created a new program, Little League Softball. 718 00:35:52,640 --> 00:35:54,880 Speaker 1: The result was that instead of signing up for baseball, 719 00:35:55,120 --> 00:35:58,000 Speaker 1: most girls and said, got funneled into softball. And while 720 00:35:58,040 --> 00:36:00,279 Speaker 1: we've loved seeing the growth of women's softball and all 721 00:36:00,280 --> 00:36:03,520 Speaker 1: the experiences and successes along the way, that move also 722 00:36:03,560 --> 00:36:06,560 Speaker 1: resulted in thousands, maybe millions, of girls getting turned away 723 00:36:06,560 --> 00:36:10,000 Speaker 1: from the sport they really wanted to play baseball, which 724 00:36:10,040 --> 00:36:13,200 Speaker 1: has us saying, what the fact. If you want to 725 00:36:13,239 --> 00:36:15,239 Speaker 1: learn more about the history of women's baseball, you could 726 00:36:15,280 --> 00:36:17,800 Speaker 1: check out a story producer Alex wrote back in twenty twenty. 727 00:36:17,960 --> 00:36:19,280 Speaker 2: We'll link to it in the show notes. 728 00:36:19,760 --> 00:36:21,400 Speaker 1: We always love that you're listening, but we wanted to 729 00:36:21,400 --> 00:36:23,160 Speaker 1: get in the game every day too, So here's our 730 00:36:23,160 --> 00:36:26,080 Speaker 1: good game play of the day. Follow the wpbl on 731 00:36:26,160 --> 00:36:28,520 Speaker 1: social media. We'll link to the league' accounts in the 732 00:36:28,560 --> 00:36:30,920 Speaker 1: show notes. And we always love to hear from you, 733 00:36:30,920 --> 00:36:33,400 Speaker 1: so hit us up on email Good game at wondermedianetwork 734 00:36:33,440 --> 00:36:35,719 Speaker 1: dot com or leave us a voicemail at eight seven 735 00:36:35,760 --> 00:36:39,040 Speaker 1: two two four fifty seventy, and don't forget to subscribe, 736 00:36:39,160 --> 00:36:44,080 Speaker 1: Rate and review. It's easy watch work Holiday Parties, rating 737 00:36:44,400 --> 00:36:48,560 Speaker 1: two out of two cups of liquid Courage review. Props 738 00:36:48,560 --> 00:36:51,120 Speaker 1: to the holiday season for offering up the chance to 739 00:36:51,200 --> 00:36:53,040 Speaker 1: let loose with the folks you spend most of your 740 00:36:53,080 --> 00:36:56,200 Speaker 1: waking hours with but know absolutely nothing about outside the. 741 00:36:56,200 --> 00:36:57,400 Speaker 2: Four walls of your office. 742 00:36:57,760 --> 00:37:00,480 Speaker 1: And props to the Eggnog forgiven that quiet guy at 743 00:37:00,480 --> 00:37:03,319 Speaker 1: the corner desk enough courage to actually open up and 744 00:37:03,400 --> 00:37:06,399 Speaker 1: prove that he has a personality, thereby improving your work 745 00:37:06,440 --> 00:37:09,520 Speaker 1: relationship going forward and giving you a new office friend. 746 00:37:10,360 --> 00:37:13,400 Speaker 1: Now it's your turn, y'all rate and review, Thanks for listening, 747 00:37:13,560 --> 00:37:14,320 Speaker 1: See you tomorrow. 748 00:37:14,600 --> 00:37:17,080 Speaker 2: Good game, Justine, Good game, Assia. 749 00:37:17,760 --> 00:37:21,080 Speaker 1: You work holiday parties and the eggnog that gave the 750 00:37:21,120 --> 00:37:23,359 Speaker 1: quiet guy at the corner desk enough courage to hit 751 00:37:23,440 --> 00:37:26,120 Speaker 1: on you near the deviled eggs, thereby destroying your work 752 00:37:26,120 --> 00:37:29,160 Speaker 1: relationship going forward and giving you a new office dude 753 00:37:29,239 --> 00:37:33,520 Speaker 1: to avoid. Good Game with Sarah Spain is an iHeart 754 00:37:33,600 --> 00:37:37,000 Speaker 1: women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. 755 00:37:37,280 --> 00:37:40,160 Speaker 1: You can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or. 756 00:37:40,160 --> 00:37:41,520 Speaker 2: Wherever you get your podcasts. 757 00:37:41,680 --> 00:37:45,040 Speaker 1: Production by Wonder Media Network, our producers are alex Azie, 758 00:37:45,160 --> 00:37:49,120 Speaker 1: Grace Lynch, Taylor Williamson, and Lucy Jones. Our executive producers 759 00:37:49,160 --> 00:37:52,600 Speaker 1: are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rudder. 760 00:37:52,840 --> 00:37:56,200 Speaker 1: Our editors are Emily Rudder, Britney Martinez and Gianna Palmer. 761 00:37:56,480 --> 00:37:59,960 Speaker 1: Production assistants from Avery Loftus and I'm Your Host Sara 762 00:38:00,080 --> 00:38:00,520 Speaker 1: Urspaine