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The true story behind Prime Video's A League of Their Own.

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Thanks to our brand partner, Prime Video

Batter up, Prime Video's new show A League of Their Own is here.

Based on Penny Marshall’s popular 1992 comedy film of the same name, the eight-part series follows the formation of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.

Unlike the original film, the new adaptation focuses on a different team than the one featured in the movie, with brand new characters and storylines. 

Watch the official teaser for Prime Video's A League of Their Own. Post continues below.


Video via Prime Video.

Co-created by Will Graham and Abbi Jacobson, who also stars, the series begins with the formation of of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in 1943.

Although the characters themselves are fictional, much of the show's plot is based on the real historical story of how female athletes saved America's favourite pastime.

In the wake of World War II, Major League Baseball executive Philip K. Wrigley founded the women's league to keep baseball in the public consciousness after the majority of the league's male players were drafted into the armed forces.

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As a first of its kind in the sport, the first tryouts for the women's league were held at Wrigley Field in Chicago, with 200 women scouted from amateur softball games to try out. From that group, roughly 60 women were selected for the league.

While the women were selected for their skills, they were also expected to fit the brief on the surface. In order to "attract and retain" fans in a traditionally masculine sport, the players were expected to uphold a "feminine and charming" All-American image.

Unlike the men's league, the female players wore short-sleeved tunic dresses – a practice that often led to severe injuries.

On top of that, players were required to attend Helena Rubinstein's evening charm school classes (many of the women grew up on farms, so etiquette wasn't always in their repertoire) and wear lipstick at all times. 

They were also barred from wearing pants or girls' Oxford shoes, because they were deemed "excessively masculine-looking", and could be fined for smoking, drinking, or stepping out in public while not wearing makeup.

Gbemisola Ikumelo (Clance) and Chanté Adams (Max). Image: Prime Video. 

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Over the years, many historians have suggested that the rules were put in place to prevent the women from being perceived as lesbians.

While many of the players were actually gay, the erasure of lesbians from the team (and the sporting narrative) of that era was entirely commonplace, with some players cut from their teams for simply cutting their hair into a short style.

Although the original 1992 film didn't include a gay character’s story, Prime Video's new series heroes representation in baseball by introducing multiple culturally diverse and LGBTQIA+ characters.

The series also delves deeper into the hidden queer relationships that took place within the sport, while also examining how Black women found other ways to play the sport after being forbidden from playing in the All-American Girls Baseball League.

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As for the cast, co-creator Abbi Jacobson stars in the series as Carson Shaw, a catcher from a small town who heads to Chicago to chase her sporting dreams.

Abbi Jacobson as Carson and D'Arcy Carden as Greta. Image: Prime Video. 

The series also stars Chanté Adams (Roxanne, Roxanne) as pitcher Max, D'Arcy Carden (The Good Place) as first base woman Greta, Gbemisola Ikumelo (Famalam) as upcoming artist Clance, and Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) as the team's coach and team manager Dove.

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Other recurring cast members include Saidah Arrika Ekulona, Roberta Colindrez, Kate Berlant, Kendall Johnson, Alex Désert, Aaron Jennings, Molly Ephraim, Melanie Field, and Dale Dickey. 

Rosie O'Donnell, who starred in the original film as third base player Doris Murphy, also makes a brief appearance in the new show as Vi, a local bar owner who crosses paths with Carson Shaw.

Abbi Jacobson as Carson and D'Arcy Carden as Greta. Image: Prime Video. 

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Abbi Jacobson, best known for her role in Broad City, shines in the series as Shaw.

Alongside co-creator Will Graham, Jacobson has breathed new life into the story that first captivated audiences in 1992.

While the original film, released 30 years ago, did reflect the realities of life in the World War II era, the new series delves even deeper, exploring why queer women were drawn to the league.

The series also captures the same sense of humour and heart that we all loved in the original film, celebrating queer romantic stories and bringing a healthy dose of laughs.

Overall, A League of Their Own is the kind of series that you'll want to devour in a single weekend.

With a captivating storyline and a whole new ensemble of loveable characters, it's an absolute must watch.

Watch all eight episodes of A League of Their Own on Prime Video from August 12th. Prime Video offers a 30-day free trial.

Feature Image: Prime Video.

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Prime Video
Watch A League of Their Own on Prime Video from 12 August.