IWBC - Mission for Women in Baseball with Kat Williams & Leslie Heaphy -

rebroadcast from Sept 2024

Guests: Leslie Heaphy & Kat Williams  from the International Women’s Baseball Center share their stories and the mission of the IWBC
MLB Develops - Trailblazer Series event at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex. Young girls learned from national champion players, followed by an engaging presentation by Leslie and Kat on the history and future of women in baseball.

IWBC’s Vision & Mission

• Kat Williams: The IWBC, founded in 2014, aims to preserve and protect the legacy of women in baseball across the world. 
• Leslie Heaphy: Education is key to the IWBC’s mission—educating not only about past women in baseball but also future possibilities for young girls. It is about empowering them to see themselves as influencers and advocates, both on and off the field.

Engagement with Young Athletes

• The importance of making young girls realize that they have the power to influence others. Encouraged the girls to think about how they can be influencersWomen’s Sports Influence
• Using sports icons like Caitlin Clark (basketball) to engage girls shows how women's influence extends across sports. 

IWBC's Goal is not only to build a physical space in Rockford, IL, near the historic home of the Rockford Peaches but also to create ongoing education and action. 

MLB Develops & Women’s Baseball Growth provides opportunities for young girls in baseball

Baseball for Women Collaboration

• Discuss the need for greater cooperation between organizations promoting women’s baseball. Although the IWBC collaborates with other groups like Baseball for All, they continue striving for even more unified efforts to magnify their impact.

Women in Baseball Progress:

Moving past celebrating “firsts” like Rachel Balkovec becoming the manager of the Tampa Tarpons. The focus should shift toward ongoing representation and recognition of talent in women's baseball.

Disappointment over Kim Ng’s departure from the Miami Marlins and how women in leadership roles still face obstacles in MLB.

Women’s Baseball World Cup - praised for showcasing incredible talent and dedication, with young players like Naomi Ryan being examples of the rising stars.

Veronica Alvarez’s role as a mentor and leader for the U.S. Women’s National Team fosters a positive team culture.

Encouraging Local Support for Women’s Baseball:

The importance of local initiatives, like the Rockford Little Peaches team, and how supporting girls' involvement in baseball at the grassroots level is crucial for the sport's growth.

The ongoing struggle for girls to continue playing baseball without being pushed into softball was also discussed.

Support women’s baseball at all levels, from Little League to professional tournaments, noting that these games often feature top-notch talent.

Learn more at the IWBC website / or on Facebook 

All-American Women’s Baseball Classic being held in Durham, October 11-13Several of the players will be from the WBSC women baseball champions will be there to play. 

Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music “Rocking Forward"

Transcript

Transcript IWBC Kat Williams & Leslie Heaphy – 257 BaseballBiz On Deck

[00:00:00] Mark Corbett: As part of BaseballBiz On Deck's advocacy for women's baseball, we've had authors like Jennifer Ring, Mary Fiedler, Erin Carlson on the show, you know, then down again, we've had people from the field, like Perry Barber, you know, the empire from the behind the plate from ladies from the U S women's national baseball team, like Tamara Holmes, Veronica Alvarez, and Maggie Meidlinger.

[00:00:22] Mark Corbett: Well, and also some ladies from the young Americans, Sue Zipay, the Rockford Peaches, and Lois Youngen, who had been with the Fort Wayne Daisies and South Bend Blue Sox. Today. We have two more women visiting baseball biz on deck to share their stories and how they are working to advance the game for women.

[00:00:41] Mark Corbett: So let's get started. Welcome to baseball biz on deck. I am Mark Corbett your hosts. And with me today, I have Leslie Heaphy and Kat Williams, and I hope I said both of those names, right? From the International Women's Baseball Center, these two women are central parts of cataloging and sharing great stories of women at baseball and also sharing the vision of women in the future of the game.

[00:01:08] Mark Corbett: Welcome ladies. 

[00:01:09] Leslie Heaphy: Thank you so much. 

[00:01:11] Mark Corbett: Oh my gosh. I got it. I had. The great opportunity, the first time to meet you all, or actually see you, I may have said hello, but to see you all at work, and it was at the Jackie Robinson Center, I think it was Jackie Robinson Day at Vero Beach, was a Trailblazer series. And I walk into this, this large practice area, I guess, looks like an airplane hangar.

[00:01:34] Mark Corbett: And it's us, and all these ladies, young ladies have been in there working, they've been playing, they're being coached by some of the most fantastic women in the game. We're talking national champions who are showing these young ladies parts of the game. But then, Then I see that there's a pause and the pause is to take time and breathe and learn a little more.

[00:01:53] Mark Corbett: And you two, Kat Williams and Leslie Heaphy, you two gave a presentation these young ladies I thought was very engaging. I was wondering if you could tell us a little bit about that. 

[00:02:03] Leslie Heaphy: Sure. Sure. So, we wanted to talk to them about both the history of the game, and sort of where, so that they could see where they fit in, and that there are those who came before and that they're not alone in what they are doing.

[00:02:18] Leslie Heaphy: Um, we wanted to talk a little bit about some of the, just some of those women just to give them some ideas about who some of these ladies are some, sometimes some of them know more about the history than others and, um, But really, it was with the intent of then bringing it forward and talking about their place, um, and their role and what they can do to advocate for both themselves and for others, um, in becoming what we call an influencer themselves, um, that they have that opportunity.

[00:02:46] Leslie Heaphy: They may not, while they may not realize it at that moment, but that they have ways that they can also influence others through, um, their work. their play, through their actions, through their telling of their own stories, and even in learning the stories of others, um, to be able to push the game forward for all of them and for those in the future.

[00:03:10] Mark Corbett: I like the way you engage them. I mean, there was one piece where there was practically a roar from all those seated while listening to the presentation, and that's when you brought up Caitlyn Clark on the screen. It's like, yes! Not baseball, but my gosh, a woman sports hero. 

[00:03:30] Kat Williams: Yeah. And, and, you know, that's some of, um, that's some of what this is about too.

[00:03:35] Kat Williams: It's of course, we're focused on baseball. We're focused on girls and women in all aspects of the game, not just playing. Um, but we can't overlook where we are in this moment in women's sport history. And, um, well, certainly Caitlin Clark is not the only fantastic women's. Basketball player to ever take the court.

[00:03:58] Kat Williams: What what is happening around her, um, is is just incredible. And and it, it, it gives an opening to all of us to say, you know, what, maybe we're not all going to be Caitlin Clark, uh, but. We need to have an opportunity to try and look how cool it is that you get that. And these girls do get it. They absolutely get it.

[00:04:24] Mark Corbett: Well, she's kind of the T Swift of women's sports, I think.

[00:04:31] Mark Corbett: I mean, she's got the biggest, brightest, most media attention most of the time, but But there are so many other folks out there that they're looking to, but I thank you for, for capturing your attention. And I was curious, Leslie, about the whole idea of them being influencers because they know a whole lot more about social media than I ever will.

[00:04:53] Leslie Heaphy: Yeah, me too. But it was the idea that by, by thinking about what they are doing, by thinking about who they are, realizing that Others are looking to them while they may not know that there's a little girl down the street who's watching them playing or the, you know, they encounter a classmate in school who wonders what they are doing, that they have that opportunity to do more than just be.

[00:05:21] Leslie Heaphy: A ballplayer on the field that there that that in and of itself is amazing, but that there is so much more to what they are doing and getting them to. And so 1 of the things we wanted them to do is really think about who has influenced them and how that has happened. And then to think about how they themselves are also going to be able to influence others.

[00:05:46] Kat Williams: And using the length, their language, I mean, that was, you know, when Leslie and I sat down to talk about, okay, so what are we going to do when we get down there? You know, it is, uh, it is a different world and a different language. And I think that was, I think that was a big part of it. Um, you know, be an influencer, be, be someone who.

[00:06:07] Kat Williams: You know, not only are you advocating for yourself, but as Leslie said, you're abdicating, you may be 12, but you might have a sister that's six. And, and so, you know, it's partly your responsibility too. 

[00:06:21] Mark Corbett: I think that's reasonable. I mean, the expectation, it's so easy to look at the younger generations. Oh, they're taking so much for granted.

[00:06:31] Mark Corbett: Oh, they don't know anything. What are they going to do next? And I get that. I mean, I think every one, every one of us, as we age, we think that the younger ones don't necessarily buy into 

[00:06:41] Kat Williams: it, you know, 

[00:06:43] Mark Corbett: but, uh, you all are doing so much with that. And if I didn't introduce this correctly in the beginning, I should now.

[00:06:50] Mark Corbett: Both of these women are spearheading with an organization called the International Women's Baseball Center. And it's more than a museum. It's an idea, just like we were talking about, they're out there in the field, if you will, you know, communicating what women can do in sports and what opportunities should still be evolving.

[00:07:12] Mark Corbett: So thank you for that. Tell me a little bit about that, uh, either one of you, Kate or Leslie, about the mission of IWBC. 

[00:07:23] Leslie Heaphy: Go ahead, Kat. 

[00:07:24] Kat Williams: Um, well, when we founded the IWBC, uh, in 2014, it came out of several of us being, uh, you know, for a long time having conversations about, you know, there's no home for women's baseball.

[00:07:37] Kat Williams: There's no place where it's preserved. There's no, you know, the National Baseball Hall of Fame, um, does a good job of including women, but it is the National Baseball Hall of Fame, right? It is. It is. That is what it is. Um, Little League has Williamsport. There is no home for girls and women in baseball. And so we sat down on a February afternoon and about eight of us said, okay, well, if no one else is going to do it, then we have to do it.

[00:08:12] Kat Williams: And we intentionally came up with the name, the International Women's Baseball Center, because as you said, it is more than a museum. It's an idea. It's, uh, it's a goal. It's a quest. It's a mission. Um, and so we are 10 years old and our primary mission is to preserve and protect, uh, the, the history and the legacy of girls and women in all aspects of baseball internationally.

[00:08:40] Kat Williams: This is not just about the US. It's not just about the All American Girls Professional Baseball League. It is about all of it. Um, and so, you know, fast forward, um, a few years and Rockford, Illinois stepped up and said, Hey, we have some old buildings over here. Uh, and they happen to be across the street from Bayer Stadium where the peaches originally played.

[00:09:05] Kat Williams: Um, and the rest, as they say is history. We've been in Rockford since then. Um, we now, uh, uh, take care of and run Bayer Stadium, and we also are campaigning or are about to launch a capital campaign to build that building. Um, but primarily it's about preserving the history, but not just putting it in a museum.

[00:09:30] Kat Williams: Not just putting it under glass or in acid free folders, but it's about pulling it out and showing girls and women, Hey, you stand on the shoulders of greatness. You're not the only one to love baseball. You're not the only one to love this or any other sport. Um, so, so it's about using that history. And it's, it is quite literally the intersection of history.

[00:09:56] Kat Williams: And action and and what that ultimately does for girls and women. And we know those statistics. We know that when girls are involved in sports, they become leaders. They become more confident, more independent. Um, and so it's not about making major league ballplayers, right? That's not that's not the point that it is about access and opportunity and preserving that history for.

[00:10:23] Kat Williams: All generations. And again, lastly, I want to point out, um, or emphasize that it is international. Uh, women's baseball internationally is huge. And, and this is, uh, Rockford, Illinois is the home. And, and so that's the, uh, long winded. 

[00:10:43] Leslie Heaphy: Well, and I would just add 1 thing. I mean, to cat's point, it's all about educating people.

[00:10:48] Leslie Heaphy: Education is 1 of the words in our very 1st line of our mission statement. And we're educating people about the past, the present and the possibilities of the future. And that it's that it's all 3 of those pieces. Um, and I would reiterate. It's also about making sure people realize it's not just about.

[00:11:07] Leslie Heaphy: Um, The ballplayers, it's not just about playing. It's about any participation from the writer to the announcer to the groundskeeper that these are all options for women to participate. The female fan, right? They're all, we want to make sure that women have those opportunities. The same as anybody else does 

[00:11:29] Mark Corbett: let me pause here for a minute.

[00:11:31] Mark Corbett: I am going to share a screen with you. I can figure out how to do this properly. And yeah, tell me about it. 

[00:11:41] Kat Williams: We live with this every day. So we understand. 

[00:11:45] Mark Corbett: Can you see this image? 

[00:11:46] Kat Williams: Not yet. 

[00:11:47] Mark Corbett: Okay. Oh, well, let's see. Try one more time. Now we'll skip that part. Basically, what I was going to say, I'll come back to what you said, hang on.

[00:12:02] Mark Corbett: Well, that's it, isn't it? I mean, it's looking forward, it's looking for the people that are here, the ones that have come from the past, internationally as well. And the U. S. doesn't have a league of their own for women. You know, we're seeing a crack with some division one schools and a player here. They're coming in.

[00:12:20] Mark Corbett: Is it? I think it's Olivia Picard. I can't tell you. Probably. Yeah, she's coming in. I think to Brown University, right? But I've had Jennifer Ring on here a while back and I said, who, who's written up stealing bases and is also writing some jokes about women in baseball. And we both were saying, well, dang on it.

[00:12:41] Mark Corbett: You know, we saw, uh, Rachel Balcovek come on as the manager for the Tampa Tarpons, the Yankees single lay team here a couple of years back. And then, Well, the whole idea of having to celebrate her is the first woman. When I see that go away, I want to see that the talent is there that that woman, yes, indeed is there.

[00:13:05] Mark Corbett: But the first, I want the first to kind of dissolve away. I want the talent and women to, to be shown, but not necessarily keep, Oh, let's come on down for one week here. It would say, Hey, here's the first woman. And then they disappear for the next two years. Right. You know, and I know also, uh, it disheartens me to see somebody like Kim Ng, who I actually loved her when she was a Yankees organization.

[00:13:31] Mark Corbett: And I thought, Oh, good. The Marlins are actually going to get somebody to come in and make things work. And no, they, I don't think they gave her, you know, the keys to the car. 

[00:13:41] Kat Williams: And 

[00:13:44] Mark Corbett: you know, what, I don't know that anybody said, let's set up somebody to fail, but I also don't feel like there's being enough to advance.

[00:13:52] Mark Corbett: I mean, uh, going back to Rachel Balkovec for a moment. I know that she is now funny enough with the Marlins organization and doing player development. Yeah. Sorry, Marlon's don't mean to slam you, but Hey, it's, it's part of it. I'm kind of bounced around here a bit. I guess the thing I'm looking for is there are some real protagonists, some real folks, activists, if you will, for women in baseball, people like yourselves and your organization with a WBC, by the way, where can they find you all online?

[00:14:26] Mark Corbett: Well, as we're talking about that, I 

[00:14:27] Kat Williams: IWBC. org. 

[00:14:29] Mark Corbett: Okay. Simple enough. Um, but I, I see you all, I see some of the women still with the all Americans girls, professional baseball league. I see the, um, all American women's. Classic coming up here was a rougher teacher self. Sue Zipay pay kind of started that a couple of years ago, uh, see baseball for all.

[00:14:49] Mark Corbett: And there's other ones. I'm not thinking of the moment and I'm thinking are, are these organizations coming together? I mean, cause each of you have some strength. Is there a way to, to crystallize those organizations to even maybe even magnify the power, you know, combined. To, to, to bring baseball to women in a lot of different capacities.

[00:15:14] Leslie Heaphy: Yeah. Um, I mean, it's that, that standard saying there's strength in numbers, right? The idea that, and, and so the cooperation that does exist between the organizations is something that we continue to work on and we continue to support one another in our efforts, and I think we can always do more. In that respect, in terms of making sure that each of us is acknowledging and supporting and promoting what other, the others groups are doing, whether that's baseball for all, whether that's the all American, the classic that's coming up, whether that's the slate or rats that are playing, um, on a regular basis, every, I mean, that, that group's been around for over 30 years, um, you know, and so it's all a matter of making sure that we are communicating with one another and using that.

[00:15:57] Leslie Heaphy: Power in numbers, which, um, you know, we do, but we could always do better. Well, 

[00:16:03] Mark Corbett: yeah, I think that's a true of anything. So, but I'm glad to see you guys are working together and I'm hopefully that force is going to get stronger and stronger and be able to do. All right. Time for me to get off my high horse.

[00:16:19] Mark Corbett: Okie dokie. I do want to say one last thing. I was really impressed again with what you all did at Jackie Robinson, the Jackie Robinson center, and also with MLB develops what they're doing to help with young girls, whether it be the, what the grit series or some of the other things they're doing. And then the women that are coming in and work with that.

[00:16:37] Mark Corbett: I mean, seeing some of the women from the national team. Yeah. Yeah. They're amazing. 

[00:16:43] Kat Williams: Aren't they? I mean, They are. They are truly amazing. Leslie and I have been, um, at the Women's Baseball World Cup two years now. Last year at the qualifying in Thunder Bay and this year at the finals. And not that we have a lot of time to hang out with the players.

[00:17:03] Kat Williams: They're kind of busy, but you do, you do get a sense of it. I mean, that just incredible energy and pride and talent. And, um, and those young women also get it. They get that. They are very lucky. Yes, it's their talent and their determination, but they are also very lucky to stand on the shoulders of some pretty amazing, um, uh, former players and, and they, they understand that the girls coming behind them really rely on them.

[00:17:35] Kat Williams: And, and it's just. It's wonderful to see, and they're just a lot of fun too, 

[00:17:42] Leslie Heaphy: and just some really great baseball. Exactly here, just across the board from every team that we've gotten to see over the last couple of years. It's been it's been a lot of fun. 

[00:17:52] Mark Corbett: I mean, I got the opportunity to see some of them in Sarasota last year.

[00:17:56] Mark Corbett: With the all American women's baseball classic, but then I was glued to the TV because I couldn't make it to watch these women perform, you know, I'm just hoping the sands get filled in Durham because if you're missing a, this, if you haven't seen that folks shame on you because. It is some of the best baseball you ever see.

[00:18:19] Mark Corbett: And you know, another component about component I'd like about it is here are 20 elite baseball players representing the USA, you know, in these women, they're not, they're not a, uh, rubber stamp. You look across that age wise, you know, diversity wise, and, you know, You see that veterans who've been playing this for a while, they're, they're engaging the younger ones as well.

[00:18:45] Mark Corbett: Oh yeah, 

[00:18:45] Kat Williams: of course. Yeah. It's fun to watch. And, um, you know, it's, um, it is fun to see what we consider the old guard, you know, what are they in their, I don't know, early thirties or something, but they've, they've been playing for a little while, but then these younger, there were a couple of young women this year that were.

[00:19:08] Kat Williams: quite young and I, their names have escaped me. Naomi Ryan 

[00:19:11] Leslie Heaphy: being one of them. That's right. Was 16 last year when we saw her in the qualifiers. And then obviously, I mean, and to watch the difference in her from last year to this year was pretty incredible. Um, as the last year's youngest player on the team this year, there were two 16 year olds.

[00:19:28] Leslie Heaphy: So, and some of the other teams have 16 year olds. Oh yeah. 18 year olds all playing along with the Along with 40 year olds. Yeah. And so it, it runs the gamut. And, uh, it's, yeah. It's, it's fun. It's inspiring 

[00:19:43] Kat Williams: to watch them. It's, it's fun. Yeah. And, and you know, let's not forget Veronica Alvarez, I mean Oh, yeah.

[00:19:51] Kat Williams: Um, and the other coaches too. I mean, I'm not trying to, you know, say that they are unimportant, but Veronica brings an incredible, um. Winning attitude, a, uh, it's a, it's, it's more than just about winning though. It is a, I watched those young women, uh, interact with one another and with other folks like me, you know, and they are just, and, and that's Veronica.

[00:20:21] Kat Williams: She sets that tone. And, and, uh, so, uh, we're lucky to have her managing the national team. 

[00:20:29] Mark Corbett: I was fortunate enough to have her on the show. Uh, a few weeks before the tournament and man, you talk about positive energy. She feels it with it. Oh gosh. I could just sense that if you were in a locker room with her as one of her players, you know, there's bound to be a boost of positive energy.

[00:20:50] Mark Corbett: But I also got, I also got set the mindset that if you weren't doing everything you're supposed to. You'd hear about that as well. 

[00:20:58] Kat Williams: I would imagine. Yes. 

[00:21:00] Leslie Heaphy: Yeah, you got 

[00:21:01] Kat Williams: to do both. 

[00:21:02] Mark Corbett: Right? Yeah, 

[00:21:05] Leslie Heaphy: she's all about. I mean, she's all about mentoring and teaching. Um, and that's very clear and our other coaches and the way they interact both with her and the players.

[00:21:13] Leslie Heaphy: It's it's about passing down what they have learned to those. And expecting the, those that they are mentoring to listen to and to take to heart the things that they're telling them. And that is clearly happening. 

[00:21:29] Mark Corbett: Yeah. One thing that I do on Baseball Biz on Deck is I encourage our listeners to go to high school games, go to minor league games.

[00:21:40] Mark Corbett: You're going to see the talent that's up and coming. And I would say that's true of, you know, the women as well. Somebody could have seen Naomi Ryan, you'll be playing in high school. Somebody could have seen a few years back, Maggie Meitling or the ace reliever for the team, you know, playing about Tamara home is the same.

[00:21:57] Mark Corbett: And there's nothing like. You know, earlier on, we were talking about the meds, Leslie, being a Tampa boy these days, grip a little bit, but being a Tampa boy these days, you know, being able to see a guy who came from a high school like plant high and be able to see players at that level, see them move up, you know, through the minors and then see what they're able to perform at the elite level, uh, home run Derby King two years in a row 

[00:22:29] Kat Williams: now.

[00:22:29] Mark Corbett: I want this. Hopefully we'll be able to see that same type of broad visibility that Pete has with women. So I encourage people to go out and, and support the little leagues, support, you know, women in baseball, when you get a chance and you guys are all about that. Could you tell us a couple instances of, of some of the things that you guys are doing?

[00:22:50] Kat Williams: Well, first of all, I'd like to say that, um, we support, um, and sponsor and all girls. Little League team in Rockford called the Little Peaches and now this is not the only girls, all girls team in the country. And I agree with you. I would encourage anyone go out and watch these girls play, but using the Little Peaches as an example.

[00:23:24] Kat Williams: First of all, this is both a comment about that team and the, and the coach, uh, Bethany Moreland, but also about the city of Rockford. Um, that team, we supported that team. We got, you know, we're their sponsor and they had a couple of, you know, a little, it was a little rough in the beginning. You, I went to one of their games last year.

[00:23:48] Kat Williams: There was no place to sit there. I, they brought me. A lawn chair, um, so that I could sit and watch them. They're playing against all boards teams, but there was not 1 negative comment. There was not there was now. I know that happens. I'm not being naive. But what I'm saying is that. There were some girls out there who are likely not going to follow through and play baseball, you know, they're just not.

[00:24:19] Kat Williams: But you know what? They had a chance. They got out there on that field. Coach Bethany was out there working with them. The coaches from the other teams were working with the girls. And then there are also girls on that team that I can tell you right now, if they decided pretty good about kind of noticing, you know, Baseball talent, but if they if they stuck with it, they're going to be contenders for for being on any national team.

[00:24:49] Kat Williams: They have that quality. They have that it's also a baseball sense. Right? Um, and so 1, the reason I bring all that up is that, you know, we are the international women's baseball center. We're talking big tournaments. We're talking around the world, but it's local. It's, it's local. It is your local Little League.

[00:25:11] Kat Williams: It is about how if you don't have daughters, It is about how you teach your sons to treat the girls that are playing. It's about all of us, but it starts at a very local level. And so I would encourage anyone, um, you know, just get these girls a shot and, and, and I will also say it's, I have nothing against softball.

[00:25:35] Kat Williams: I played competitive fast pitch softball in my much younger days. Um, but it is not baseball. And, and so this notion that girls should only play baseball for a short time and then go off to softball is, is an issue, right? And so I'm just asking that people locally, your local little league, your local church league, whatever it is, Get those girls a shot.

[00:26:02] Mark Corbett: Well, I'm glad to hear that because, you know, I know that it is happening more than it was 30 years ago. 

[00:26:09] Kat Williams: Oh yeah. 

[00:26:10] Mark Corbett: But there's still room to be made. I sometimes work down at the Tampa Baseball Museum and I had a parent come in a while back and she was telling me about her, her daughter, who's I think in college now, pardon me, but she was saying, you know, Mark.

[00:26:25] Mark Corbett: I got her on a team and it was one of those teams where the coach has got his son on there and his son's going to be pitching in every game and yeah, and they were going to let her be on that team. So she's good. 

[00:26:37] Kat Williams: I 

[00:26:39] Mark Corbett: know we're parents. So we all think our kids are good, but nonetheless, I had a sense that she was right.

[00:26:44] Mark Corbett: And she said she was a teacher. She was, I believe it was at the school. It was a school team. So she basically had a conversation with that coach and said, look, you can really start. Pick up this, see the talent and user are, we can have a conversation that you might not be as happy about. 

[00:27:03] Leslie Heaphy: Yeah. And sadly that sometimes what it takes is, but, but that's all it's unfortunate that it's still that way, but that's We still need people to be able to do is to advocate, to, to step up and speak up for those who want to play and aren't getting that opportunity for whatever the reason may be.

[00:27:22] Leslie Heaphy: Um, that that's something all of us can do is to be there and say, no, give them the same chance that you're giving it. That's all they want is the same opportunities and not asking for anything more than that. It's just softball is great, but. If they want to play baseball, they should be able to, if they want to write about baseball, if they want to umpire baseball, if they want to be the next GM or, you know, commissioner of baseball, then that opportunity to rise to the rank should be there for everybody.

[00:27:52] Mark Corbett: Yeah. Leslie, I think one of the biggest challenges right now is if you're a really good talent in baseball and you can play softball real well, that if you want to go to college, 

[00:28:03] Kat Williams: yeah, 

[00:28:03] Mark Corbett: there's not. Really, as far as I know, scholarships being offered to women to play baseball. I mean, we talked earlier, I think there's like some players coming up before like Olivia, but yeah, 

[00:28:16] Leslie Heaphy: there's, there's about 16 of them playing college baseball, but that's, that's it.

[00:28:20] Leslie Heaphy: And so it's, that's part of the problem is. You completely understand why they switched to softball. Yeah. The opportunity to get a scholarship to go to college, can't blame them for not wanting to turn that down. College is expensive and if that's the way you're going to be able to go, um, and so unfortunately that's one of the many, many reasons.

[00:28:42] Leslie Heaphy: roadblocks right now. It's not the only one, but it certainly is a big one. Um, and there is, you know, a slow movement starting to develop that to have, um, women's club teams, so at college. And so there are a number of them playing in, um, throughout the country, but they're only club teams. So there's no scholarship money attached to that.

[00:29:03] Leslie Heaphy: There's no, I mean, it still gives them the chance to play. Right. But. It doesn't it's not but it is a start and I think that growth can help convince maybe some of those powers that be at the universities and colleges that there is an audience and there is a talent level and there are enough young lady who want to do this.

[00:29:22] Leslie Heaphy: Um, and so I think that's, you know, an example of one way that they're making an effort to try to. Come overcome that particular barrier. 

[00:29:34] Mark Corbett: Well, I'm really interested to learn more about the club team. So that's probably going to be some future topic on this show because there's so much there. And when you're talking about the club teams, I'm thinking of all the way back to the Vassar Resolutes and those women.

[00:29:49] Kat Williams: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'm sorry. Go ahead. I was just going to say the, uh, the club team, um, idea, um, was, um, both Callie Maddox from, um, Miami University of Ohio. And now it is really championed and taken off under baseball for all and Justine Siegel. Um, so Justine is, of course, as you know, a mover and shaker.

[00:30:19] Kat Williams: Um, and so she, she gets a lot of girls and young women on the field. And so she would be the person to talk to about sort of where that program is. 

[00:30:29] Leslie Heaphy: Yeah. They've had a tournament the last two years, um, with four or six club teams present. Excuse me. Sorry about that. But yeah, there's been. For six teams in those tournaments.

[00:30:45] Leslie Heaphy: Yeah. And then there are club teams playing and those are all out on the West Coast. Some of the other club teams that are playing haven't come up with the funds to necessarily attend those tournaments yet. But that's coming. I mean, that's where this is all heading. And so, um, the more we see of these kinds of things, and they're all grassroots, they're all people just deciding that opportunities are needed.

[00:31:07] Leslie Heaphy: The more of that that happens. Yes, it's great that Major League Baseball is doing what it's doing and all these others. But. That's not going to be enough. It needs to also be, as Kent said, you know, going out and starting that little league team that needs to be started or going and talking to that high school coach and telling him, no, you need to let them, right.

[00:31:25] Leslie Heaphy: Those opportunities all need to be there. 

[00:31:27] Kat Williams: Yeah. It's a grassroots thing and that's the beauty of it too. Right. I mean, you know, you mentioned earlier about all these different organizations and in some ways, You know, we overlap in terms of, you know, the, the audience, um, but mostly we don't. And that's the really cool thing about it.

[00:31:48] Kat Williams: Justine. Is and baseball for all is about putting girls and women on the field, creating teams, creating tournaments, getting it out there. I WBC is like, we sponsor the little peaches, but we're, that's not the core of us. Right. And so there's, and I'm just using us to as a, as a, an example, the, all the others, you could say the same, we, we overlap and compliment one another.

[00:32:18] Kat Williams: And so we're not, we're not pulling it, you know, different directions where, um, we all want the same thing, ultimately, um, and I would say, you know, we talk about girls teams in little league or girls playing in high school, or girls playing in college. That's great. That's great. But what I want to see are girls and women's teams.

[00:32:42] Kat Williams: Yes. I want to see, um, a feeder system that would train these girls and women as they as they go is they get a little bit older beyond little league and then a professional league. Um, there's no reason why we can't have that. And, and so that to me is far preferable to, you know, people say to me all the time, well, why do you even care about this?

[00:33:06] Kat Williams: No woman's ever going to play in the major leagues. And I'm like, well, I don't care. I mean, what are the percentage of men who play little boys that play little league that make it to the major leagues? Minuscule. Um, but the thing is having one woman make it to the major leagues. That's not big enough that that's no big deal to us right now.

[00:33:27] Kat Williams: If there is a woman who's talented enough. Then she should get a chance to try. I mean, I there's no doubt about that, but that's not our goal. I don't think that's anyone's goal. Um, and so I just think it is. It is this wonderful grassroots swell of of support and determination and don't think it's not about that because because it is it's a, it's a group of men and women.

[00:33:54] Kat Williams: who are determined to make this happen. 

[00:33:58] Mark Corbett: Well, I appreciate that you pointed out the strength of each of those organizations. Well, I mean, not going down the whole list, but the whole idea. Is there are some unique aspects of each one, but that they compliment one another. 

[00:34:11] Leslie Heaphy: There's a credit line. Henry's level up is all about the umpires, right?

[00:34:15] Leslie Heaphy: And one of the, and so they have a very specific focus there as well. And one of the cool things that they're doing is, you know, is actually developing that sort of feeder system of women who are mentoring others and bringing them into, um, their, the tournaments that they're invited to inviting. And, you know, that's something that.

[00:34:34] Leslie Heaphy: Perry Barber's been shooting for for over 40 years, and now we have an organization that has scholarships to send women to the empire school things like, and that is so, you know, and then what Susan pay is doing with the, the tournament that she has, these are all, Important aspects and no one organization.

[00:34:55] Leslie Heaphy: I don't could actually do all of those things the way they need to be done. And so having these different groups that complement one another is actually that strength in numbers, right? Is realizing that there's. So many pieces of and then when you throw in the international piece of this, um, you know, which is huge.

[00:35:13] Leslie Heaphy: There are, you know, there's women's baseball at a significantly organized level. We're not just talking playing in your backyard kind of idea because everybody in over 35 countries for women's baseball and most, you know, and so it's looking at it from that perspective. And that's just talking about those that are playing.

[00:35:34] Leslie Heaphy: Right. What about all the other women who are, who are involved in baseball operations and, and, and all the other kinds of things that we want that same opportunity. And so trying to do that from one organization isn't going to happen. And so advocating in different ways for all of these different opportunities.

[00:35:54] Leslie Heaphy: And I think the thing that I always tell people is as long as We look at women as that exception and continue to see them as an exception. We're never going to change things, right? And so that one woman on a team, that one woman here, the two people there, they're an exception. And as long as we continue to sort of see it that way, nothing will change.

[00:36:17] Leslie Heaphy: And so we have to get past seeing women involved in baseball as, well, that person was an exception. That group was an exception. No, they're not. They're, they're there on their talent, just like anybody else. And that means women given the opportunity, we'll be able to rise as far as their talents will take them.

[00:36:36] Leslie Heaphy: That's what, that's what that's to happen. 

[00:36:39] Mark Corbett: I mean, I love that we were talking earlier about, I get tired of hearing. This is the first woman that did this, you know, this is this particular player. Oh, and by the way, she happens to be a woman and she, you know, that's, that's, uh, I don't, I know I get them. Like I said, I get on my high horse sometimes with that.

[00:36:55] Mark Corbett: So thank you very much, Leslie. Well, 

[00:36:57] Kat Williams: we understand. 

[00:37:00] Mark Corbett: Well, tell me something else. Now let's step back away from some of this. I wanted to hear. If I was sitting down with you guys right now, we had a calendar in front of us. What does the rest of the year look like for you all? 

[00:37:13] Leslie Heaphy: Well, interestingly, this weekend, this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday is our sixth, sixth annual women in baseball conference.

[00:37:21] Leslie Heaphy: Um, it's a virtual conference that anybody can attend. Um, they just have to register and sign up, but from Friday to Sunday, they'll have the opportunity to hear, um, research presentations on, The history of women in baseball all different aspects of it, as well as individual baseball stories of women who are involved, who are coaches who are scorekeepers, who teach, and going to hear about.

[00:37:48] Leslie Heaphy: Some of the experiences of some of our women's national team in Uganda and what they've been doing there. So all part of this conference this weekend. So that's our most immediate upcoming event that's happening, uh, September 20th to the 22nd. 

[00:38:04] Kat Williams: Don't forget to tell them who our keynote speaker is. Oh, 

[00:38:06] Leslie Heaphy: yeah.

[00:38:07] Leslie Heaphy: And the keynote speaker for the conference, thank you, is Jean Fruth. The incredible documentarian, who's Oh yeah. Um, the See Her be her documentary film that's gonna be shown during the, uh, between the second and third Game of the World Series. Um, her grassroots baseball organization. She's our keynote speaker.

[00:38:24] Leslie Heaphy: And so that's gonna be Saturday night. Pretty exciting. Um, pretty excited to hear from her. Um, we've got some umpires that we're gonna hear from, uh, too. scorekeepers for Major League Baseball to women who, so whole variety. And to your point about some of the cooperation, it's a conference that's co sponsored by the IWBC and the Society for American Baseball Research.

[00:38:48] Leslie Heaphy: And we've been co sponsoring it from the very beginning and it's hosted then by Rockford University. So it has that local connection to where we are. Um, so that's one of our big upcoming events here. Just this. So happens this weekend. 

[00:39:03] Kat Williams: Yeah. Well, and Leslie will actually be at the all American, uh, baseball classic.

[00:39:09] Kat Williams: Um, I'm unable to attend, but on behalf of IWBC, Leslie will be down there, um, supporting that effort, uh, which is a lot of what we do too, you know, because we don't necessarily host all of those events, but, uh, but we participate in them. Um, A lot of what's also going to be happening and, uh, over the next few months is that, uh, we are working to do some renovations to buyer stadium.

[00:39:40] Kat Williams: Um, it is, uh, it is a beautiful, old, historic stadium, uh, but it needs some things like bathrooms and, you know, so, um, you know, not the sexy stuff, but but also really important stuff. And we have. Unbelievable support from the city of Rockford to help us get that done and the Rockford Park District. And so a lot of our focus coming up in the, or I'll say my focus over the next, um, a few months is, is moving those projects forward.

[00:40:12] Kat Williams: Um, 

[00:40:13] Leslie Heaphy: and, um, we also have an exhibit that just opened at Rockford University. It's going to be up all semester. It's called chasing her dream. Um, John Kovacs. Um, is the curator for that exhibit. And, um, he's done, he was the curator, right? Some people may remember a number of years ago, the National Traveling Exhibit, Line Jives and Lipstick.

[00:40:33] Leslie Heaphy: He was the curator for that. Um, and so he's the curator for this Chasing a Dream, which is, um, Inside the Rockford, uh, University's library and it's up all semester and anybody can wander in, take a look at that as well. Um, and we're working on plans for future exhibits that will now be in the Rockford, um, University's library.

[00:40:55] Leslie Heaphy: This, the space is wonderful for it and that opportunity is there for us as well. So that's something else we've got going on at the moment too. Wow. 

[00:41:06] Mark Corbett: Mack. Gosh, do you got any more things you want to jam pack in that suitcase? Let me know how you do it. Wow. Well, let's see. I look forward to seeing you then.

[00:41:15] Mark Corbett: Cause I'm going to actually be there as well in Durham. At least that's the intention. 

[00:41:19] Leslie Heaphy: I will look for you. Yep. 

[00:41:21] Mark Corbett: I will be 

[00:41:21] Leslie Heaphy: there. 

[00:41:22] Mark Corbett: So when are we looking at maybe the, as far as the physical museum, when are we looking at the, Oh, wrong question. These are the shovel going into the ground. Cause I got to tell you, being a fan of the race and Tropicana field.

[00:41:36] Mark Corbett: We've been talking about it for 10 years. 

[00:41:38] Kat Williams: Yeah. Yeah. Well, you know, um, as we have said in, in some different ways, we, our focus is, um, education. It's helping to put girls on the field. We have all of these, these, uh, the conference, the exhibits, the things like that, that are also part of our, you know, Um, and that's kind of what I consider sort of a daily focus.

[00:42:05] Kat Williams: Building the building is, is huge. It is a big project and we are working right now with a fundraising strategist out of Chicago, the Swinton group, um, and create to create a capital campaign. Um, and so we will do, we will tackle that. Um, once we make the capital campaign public, we're not quite ready for that yet.

[00:42:33] Kat Williams: Um, but we will tackle that whole project, which, by the way, uh, is designed by internationally known architect genie gang. Some of your viewers may not know who that is, but, uh, look up. Jeannie gang and and you'll, you probably are going to recognize some of the buildings. Um, that was the, the, the buildings, the buyer, which is across the street.

[00:43:03] Kat Williams: All of it was designed as 1 big campus. And so what we will be doing. Um, is kind of taking these things piece at a time, you know, unless somebody wants to, you know, some billionaire wants to write us a check. We'll happily take it. Yeah, we'll take it. We'll take it. I'll, I'll drive to your house and pick it up.

[00:43:24] Kat Williams: Um, but, but the reality is, you know, Um, you know, we, we are doing a lot of things and we are focusing in a lot of areas, uh, even before there's a building. And, and so the building itself will be, uh, sometime, uh, yet, but we will be, uh, as I said, we will be launching the capital campaign before too long. 

[00:43:51] Leslie Heaphy: Yeah, we're also working on, um, we've just started the process to the ticket booth and things that are there at firefield put on national historic register.

[00:43:59] Leslie Heaphy: So that the other project that we're working on as part of just to illustrate what cats talking about in terms of the number of things that we're keeping going. Um, that are just a part of what we're doing. And yes, the building. It's the is the big is the big goal. But for example, next year, we're also going to be launching a year long effort to highlight some of the facts in our, in our collection that we already have.

[00:44:26] Leslie Heaphy: So people can see the kinds of things that we're preserving and that kind of thing and so that's going to be something we're going to be doing all year next year. 

[00:44:35] Mark Corbett: Well, that's fantastic. I mean, as we said, kind of at the beginning, the IWBC is more than a museum. It is being in the community, whether that is at a very local level or you're looking internationally.

[00:44:47] Mark Corbett: And I commend you both for all that you're doing with that. Is there anything else that you would like to share with the baseball biz on deck audience? The the center are what's going on. 

[00:45:01] Leslie Heaphy: I would just simply say kind of reiterating what we said earlier. If you've got an opportunity chance to go out and support women playing in baseball or any sport.

[00:45:14] Leslie Heaphy: Do so, but particularly if you have that opportunity and you think, well, I'm just one person. What I do is, is pretty small. If it's, whether it's going out to watch them play, whether it's going to talk to that coach, whether it's making a donation to an organization that is supporting these kinds of things, um, and encourage every, because that's how we make change is everybody does their part.

[00:45:34] Leslie Heaphy: Um, and if we all step forward and do our part, we will start continue to see this wave move forward. 

[00:45:41] Mark Corbett: Leslie, Kat, thank you both so much for being on here today. It's been a pleasure. Thank you so much. Thank you all. Thank you. This is great. All righty. If you've got a second, I'm going to end this. I'll quit recording here, but I want to share something.