Our current three-year initiative includes sharing stories of the past, present and future of girls and women in baseball, on and off the field, around the globe. A documentary and book are being developed about the unsung “sheroes” who are paving the way for the next generation of women athletes, with so many girls and women still hearing the word “no” every day. Both will be inspirational, as we share poignant stories of opportunity and success. The overarching story line is about far more than baseball: it’s about empowerment, equality, and inclusion.
We launched Grassroots Baseball in April 2019 and spent three years documenting the amateur game along Route 66. As part of our initiative to grow the game, we held a series of clinics in conjunction with Boys & Girls Clubs in small towns and large cities along the historic highway to build participation at the youngest levels. Hall of Famers Johnny Bench, George Brett, Goose Gossage, Trevor Hoffman Ozzie Smith and Jim Thome, as well as other baseball legends raised along Route 66, joined us to share word of inspiration and instruction and present each child with a new Rawlings glove and baseball. In total we introduced the game to some 500 boys and girls across America. As part of the Grassroots Baseball: Route 66 program, a host of sponsors including Marriott, Rawlings, Sony, Arizona Diamondbacks, San Diego Padres, and the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation stepped up to support our initiative.
Jean’s second book, Grassroots Baseball: Route 66, was published in 2022, with proceeds benefitting our non-profit organization. Her first book, Grassroots Baseball: Where Legends Begin, was released in 2019.
Grassroots Baseball promotes and celebrates the amateur game around the globe. The overarching goal of Grassroots Baseball is to give back to historically underserved communities through the power of sports.
women in baseball gallery
