Throw Like a Woman

It’s Women’s History Month, the time of year when I read or hear about various women’s accomplishments and think “Why didn’t we learn about them in school?” Fortunately, it’s never too late to learn about the women who made history but didn’t make it into our history books.

On Saturday, a free program at the Baseball Heritage Museum will feature Susan Petrone talking about her novel “Throw Like a Woman.” The book tells the story of Brenda Haversham, a 40-year-old single mom whose anger toward her ex-husband fuels her groundbreaking career as a pitcher for the Cleveland Indians. I read this book last year and liked it a lot. I’m a baseball fan and an Indians fan in particular, but I don’t think you need to be either to enjoy this story.

Although Brenda is a fictitious character, Petrone also will include real women baseball players in her talk. I attended a program at the museum last year on women in baseball and again learned about historic figures I hadn’t heard of before. It made me wonder which other women from the past are still largely unknown.

Petrone’s talk is from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday. While you’re there, take the time to go through the museum, which also is free (donations are welcome), and walk on the field at historic League Park.

Most of us in Cleveland are at the point where we are done with winter and looking forward to warmer, longer days. It’s snowing as I write this, but I’m heartened that the 2019 Major League Baseball season is starting in less than two weeks.

Until they start playing games for real again, an afternoon steeped in baseball history and a little baseball fantasy would be time well spent.