Ryan Woodward, founder of Women in Baseball Week & Women’s Baseball Heritage Trail

Increasing awareness of Women’s Baseball

St. Louis Cardinals became the first MLB team to participate publicly in Women in Baseball Week.

Honoring Rockford Peach, Sue Parsons-Zipay of the AAGPBL

Sue continued to promote girls & women in baseball through the American Girls Baseball (AGB) & the All-American Women’s Baseball Classic

Exciting Era for Women’s Baseball

Growth across platforms: Athletes Unlimited Softball, 

WPBL -  women’s professional baseball league

IWBC exhibit at Rockford Public Library running July–August

“Rockford and Beyond”—ties local history to international developments.

Artifacts from the Colorado Silver Bullets 

The 2026 Women’s Baseball World Cup Group Stage in Rockford

6 national teams will compete; IWBC hopes to also host the 2027 finals

• Women’s Heritage Baseball Trail – WBHT.org
• More events are happening year-round—clinics, plays, community outreach.
• Canada’s growth in girls’ baseball participation praised, including Canadian Girls Baseball and recent Hall of Fame inductions.
• Honoring women in baseball history in their own states (e.g., Kentucky’s Ms. Hutchison)

“See Her, Be Her”, a Jean Fruth documentary, showcasing women in baseball worldwide

• Celebrates players like Kelsie Whitmore & Alex Hugo, global outreach in Uganda, Asia, and North America.
• Film tours U.S. theaters with Q&As to drive grassroots interest.
• You can celebrate Women in Baseball Week by doing something—host a panel, spotlight your local pioneers, or share stories on social media.
• Support the 2026 World Cup Group Stage in Rockford—plan a visit and experience history in motion.
• Advocate for the past, present, and future of women in baseball. The movement needs your voice.
• Jean Fruth’s film See Her, Be Her documentary goes beyond the baseball field to humanize the athletes and expand awareness.
• Ryan speaks to the global depth of the stories, praising Japanese pitcher Ayami Sato for her professional play in Canada, her international impact, and her new advisory role with the WPBL.
• Women in Baseball is growing global momentum—from Japan to Australia, Mexico to Canada
• “flip the culture” around baseball's gender legacy

“We’re not just celebrating the past; we’re making history right now. This is about flipping the culture. Women have always been at the center of baseball—you just have to look for it.” – Ryan Woodward

• “this movement is just getting started.”

🔗 Resources & Links:

• Women in Baseball Week: - https://womeninbaseballweek.org/
• Women’s Baseball Heritage Trail Map: wbht.org
• International Women’s Baseball Center (IWBC): iwbc.org
• Rockford Rivets & Byer Stadium Info: rockfordrivets.com
• Film: See Her, Be Her by Jean Fruth – [Available on Amazon Prime Video]

All-American Women’s Baseball Tournament – Durham, NC: https://americangirlsbaseball.org/all-american-womens-baseball-classic/ 

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