Maybelle Blair, ‘A League of Their Own’ inspiration, comes out at 95
18.06.2022 - 12:15
/ qvoicenews.com
“I hid for 75, 85 years and this is actually basically the first time I’ve ever come out,” said Maybelle Blair, 95, who came out publicly for the first time during the Tribeca Festival premiere of the Amazon Studios series “A League of Their Own.” Blair was a member of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League that the 1992 film and the new series are based. Photo: Screenshot from Instagram page of Amazon Studios series “A League of Their Own.”
Maybelle “Mae” Blair, 95, recently came out publicly for the first time during the Tribeca Festival premiere of the Amazon Studios series “A League of Their Own.” She was a member of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League that the 1992 film and the new series are based.
At a panel discussion, Blair — also known as “All The Way Mae” — said she was happy to see players not having to hide their sexual orientation any longer and the acceptance found in the sport.
“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,” Blair shared. “I hid for 75, 85 years and this is actually basically the first time I’ve ever come out.”
A video of her coming out during the panel was posted to “A League of Their Own”’s Instagram account.
The post reads, “For 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, acceptance, and education on and off the field.”
Maybelle Blair pitched for the Peoria Redwings in 1948. She then went on to play for the National Women’s Softball League in Chicago during the 1950s. Blair