Chosen Family in A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN (Ep. 20)

In episode 20, we "chat up" the Amazon Prime series A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN with author and poet Toni Asante Lightfoot about the character Max Chapman, her family including her trans uncle Bertie, best friend Clance, and Rockford's African American community as depicted in the series. In the 1992 "A League of Their Own" feature film on which this series is based, you see the grit and romance of the game with the Rockford Peaches and women baseball teams that were part of the All American Professional Girls Baseball League during WWII. What was not prominent in the 1992 movie (more subtext) are untold stories of African American, Latina, and queer women baseball players and the lives they lived in the 1940s and 50s. These stories are highlighted in the Amazon Prime series. A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN (the 2022 series) is co-created by Abbi Jacobson (who plays Rockford Peaches player Carson Shaw) and Will Graham. BONUS content: Toni Asante Lightfoot reads her poem “Bat Her Up: Mom’s Mabley watches Negro women play ball for their supper” (mentioned in Episode 20). You’ll find the bonus content at this LINK. Find out more about Toni Asante Lightfoot and Moms Mabley on our podcast webpage. Timestamps for episode 20 1:12 “A League of Their Own” Overview 3:28 Toni Asante Lightfoot introductin 6:25 Negro Leagues and Black Baseball 10:19 Max Chapman's sexuality and family 14:48 Black hair and family intimacy 19:29 Podcast Break 19:57 Community: “Black Joy in the Midst of Black Terror” 31:07 Max and Clance Sister Friends 33:47 Women challenging sexism in 1940s 38:07 Modern language in historical drama 45:01 How untold stories heal 49:43 Toni Asante Lightfoot’s favorite baseball team(s) and why (Baseball and the Working Class) 51:57 Lightning Round Questions 56:15 Final thoughts about Clance (Max’s best friend) 56:38 Closing STAY ENGAGED with HISTORICAL DRAMA WITH THE BOSTON SISTERS LISTEN to past podcasts. SIGN UP for our mailing list SUBSCRIBE to the podcast on your favorite podcast platform You can SUPPORT this podcast on Anchor or SHOP THE PODCAST on our affiliate bookstore Thank you for listening!