A baseball legend has come out of the closet.
Famed baseball player Maybelle Blair reported she was coming out of the closet at the age of 95.
Blair, the legendary pitcher that partially inspired the 1992 sports film A League of Their Own, was speaking at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival in New York on Monday when she made the announcement.
She declared she was a lesbian during the premiere of the A League of Their Own series set to stream on Amazon Prime.
She said:
“I think it’s a great opportunity for these young girl ball players to come to realize that they’re not alone, and you don’t have to hide."
"I hid for 75, 85 years and this is actually basically the first time I’ve ever come out.”
Blair, also known as "All the Way Mae," served as pitcher for the Peoria Redwings in 1948 and was a member of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, an organization that existed from 1943-1954.
Amazon Prime filmed the moment and shared it on the A League of Their Own Twitter account.
Watch the video here:
\u201cFor the majority of her life, sports legend 95-year old @AAGPBL player, Maybelle Blair felt like she had to hide her authentic self. Today she came out publicly for the first time. We couldn't be happier for her, and continue to push for love and acceptance on and off the field.\u201d— A League of Their Own (@A League of Their Own) 1655178066
The new series, like the original 1992 movie, will take place in 1943 and follow the baseball team The Rockford Peaches.
Earlier this year, a teaser for the new series dropped that suggested a flirtatious relationship between two of the team's players.
The possibly sapphic relationship features Carson, played by series creator and Broad City star Abbi Jacobson, and Greta, played by D'Arcy Carson of The Good Place fame.
Twitter users are celebrating Blair for officially coming out.
\u201cMaybelle is a legend. She's been a smart, strong, hilarious advocate for women in sports & women in baseball since playing in the AAPGBL in '48.\n\nThis feels joyful but it's also heartbreaking. To wait 95 years to come out reveals a society that let her down. So much work to do.\u201d— Sarah Spain (@Sarah Spain) 1655261315
\u201cAmazing. You rule, Maybelle.\u201d— Graig Kreindler (@Graig Kreindler) 1655292615
\u201cMaybelle\u2019s message for queer girls in baseball: You are loved\u2014and you are not alone. \n\nTHANK YOU, Maybelle, for continuing to be an advocate and example for our players and for always showing that baseball is truly a game for all \u2764\ufe0f\ud83e\udde1\ud83d\udc9b\ud83d\udc9a\ud83d\udc99\ud83d\udc9c\u201d— Baseball For All (@Baseball For All) 1655317474
\u201c@LeagueOnPrime @AAGPBL Maybelle is a great ambassador for baseball and life. She continues to live her dream and enjoy life at 95.\u201d— A League of Their Own (@A League of Their Own) 1655178066
\u201cthis is the only thing that matters today actually\u201d— Char \u2728\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\udf3b (@Char \u2728\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\udf3b) 1655375871
\u201c@LeagueOnPrime @AAGPBL Maybelle is a national treasure.\u201d— A League of Their Own (@A League of Their Own) 1655178066
\u201c@LeagueOnPrime @AAGPBL I consider myself a very supportive ally. Congrats on feeling comfortable enough to be your true authentication self.\u201d— A League of Their Own (@A League of Their Own) 1655178066
\u201c@LeagueOnPrime @AAGPBL I got to meet Maybelle some years back at MLB Fanfest. I know i have the picture with her somewhere still. She was so funny and sweet. I was blessed to have met her.\u201d— A League of Their Own (@A League of Their Own) 1655178066
\u201c@LeagueOnPrime @AAGPBL Never too late to come out.\u201d— A League of Their Own (@A League of Their Own) 1655178066
\u201cCongrats on living your truth, Maybelle! \n\nAnd it\u2019s past time for a queer A League of Their Own movie. Give these players the story they deserve.\u201d— Ali (@Ali) 1655293628
The series will differ by taking “a deeper look at race and sexuality, following the journey of a whole new ensemble of characters as they carve their own paths towards the field, both in the league and outside of it" according to press notes.
Jacobson said:
“A door opens for a lot of White women and White-passing women that get on the league that we all know from the film."
"But what about the Black women who were not allowed to try out and who had to sort of carve their own path to play baseball? It’s also a really queer story.”
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