From Lizzie Murphy to Francys Sandoval: Breaking Barriers in Baseball

De Lizzie Murphy a Francys Sandoval

Little friend Francys: I considered myself the happy bearer of a very big congratulations to you, for all that you achieve in baseball, like competing within a team of all men in international jousting. In your innocent 12 years of age, you may not have concerns that we will ever be allowed to be a part of Major League Baseball as players.

It is incredible, but we are in year 153 suffering discrimination in the Major Leagues.
Go figure! 76 years ago they put an end to racial pettiness, when Jackie Robinson appeared with the Dodgers, and they don’t even want to talk about us as players at that level.

I have to feel very proud of you in this 2023, because today, August 14, exactly 101 years ago, from when in 1922, at the age of 28, I was the first woman in history to play in an All Star cigar men. I played first base and we faced the Red Sox, who we beat 2-1. I was lucky to go 2-for-4 and score one of our pair of runs.

I played numerous times among the men, but always in exhibition competitions. They never allowed me to belong to a roster in season.

They called me Lizzie, but my real name was Mary Elizabeth Murphy. And since 1964 I have been in this peaceful and happy Hereafter, which you call Beyond.

They even nicknamed me “The Queen of Baseball” (La Reina del Beisbol). In addition to playing ball, I was a track and field athlete, in the 100-meter dash, as a skater and swimmer.
In baseball, I demanded that they pay me since I turned 17 years old. And they paid me the same as men, up to 300 dollars a month, free of all expenses.

So I took part in All Stars that toured several cities and presented up to more than a hundred games per year.

I started out as a pitcher, but because I was also a good hitter, they decided to use me more at first base, and when I retired, I had a .324 career average. into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame in 1994.

I am informing you of all this, my friend Francys, to feed your enthusiasm for baseball, which has already been remarkable, even internationally. You may be called to be the first lady on a roster of big leaguers, which would be very important. Because when that happens, the doors will be open for many other girls who will be able to demonstrate how we do have what to play with on a par with the gentlemen.

You already know that I wish you much happiness, countless games won and that you go down in baseball history as something great…

Hugs, Lizzie.

2023-08-14 11:33:16
#letter #arrives #afterlife