There are more ways than ever to listen to History Daily ad-free.

Listen with Wondry Plus in the Wondry app.

As a member of NoisorPlus at noisor.com or in Apple Podcasts,

or you can get all of History Daily plus other fantastic history podcasts at IntoHistory.com. It's March 20th, 1934, at a baseball stadium in Fort Myers, Florida.

Applaws echoes around the stands as 32-year-old Mildred Babe Didrickson climbs out of the dugout

a baseball in her hands.

It's normal for a guest of honor to be invited to throw a ceremonial first pitch to begin a

baseball game, but Babe isn't here just for that. The Philadelphia A's have invited the Olympic

gold medalist Babe to play in their first inning against the Brooklyn Dodgers.

It's only the second time in baseball history that a woman has taken to the field in a

major league exhibition game.

But as Babe passes the Dodgers bench, she hears mocking laughter.

The opposing team obviously doesn't think much of Babe.

She's only a woman, after all.

After the ceremonial first pitch, Babe stays on the mound, tossing the ball into her glove,

locking eyes with the Dodgers' first batter. He knocks the dust from his cleats and points

his back to the fences. Babe smirks in response.

She's used to being underestimated,

and she's looking forward to proving this guy wrong.

Babe winds up and fires a perfect fastball

over the plate and into the catcher's mitt.

As the crowd cheers,

...