The Group Chat:

We’re in the thick of the MLB playoffs, with the best-of-seven Championship Series set to begin today. As teams chase the World Series trophy, there’s a trend emerging at the ballpark — more women are part of the action than ever before, whether it’s as fans, in the dugout, or on the dirt.

• So as October baseball rolls on, today we’re discussing women taking over the diamond and the girlhood in the game. Hot dog and ballpark ’fit at the ready.

The last few years have brought a flurry of women breaking through in baseball. In 2020, Kim Ng (pronounced ANG) became the first-ever woman general manager in any North American major men’s pro league when she was tapped to lead the Miami Marlins and Alyssa Nakken made history as the first woman full-time coach in MLB history with the San Francisco Giants. Then in 2023, Olivia Pichardo became the first woman to play NCAA Division 1 baseball when she competed for Brown University. The list goes on.

• Throughout these milestones, there’s been a corresponding increase in women’s baseball fandom — female fan viewership on MLB.TV increased 38% compared to 2024, with MLB and its teams turning their attention to women who love the game.

This focus on the female fan isn’t entirely new, though. The NY Gothams were one of the first teams to launch Ladies’ Days in 1883, games where women were allowed to attend for free — with a male escort, of course.

• Those Ladies’ Days featured special bathrooms, seating in specific sections, and souvenirs, including handkerchiefs and fans. Not unlike the various Women’s Night celebrations several clubs host nowadays.

Ladies’ Days have given way to Women’s Nights and baseball clinics specifically for the gals, like the ones hosted by the Boston Red Sox and NY Yankees. It’s indicative of a crucial shift in the space: The modern female baseball fan is fully embraced as multi-faceted, not a monolith.

• Women in baseball are no longer being reduced to “pink hats,” both literally and metaphorically. Every breakthrough on the diamond, in the broadcast booth, and behind the plate carves out new space for female fandom to continue to flourish.

• With that in mind, here are a few of our favorite creators who harness the various aspects of female baseball fandom. We contain multitudes.

🌭 “Just here for the hot dogs” — Stadium Food Girl: The merch slogan is certainly valid: Food is a major part of what makes going to the ballpark fun, and the aptly named “Stadium Food Girl” reviews it all from Dodgers dogs to elaborate postseason creations. Delish.

🔢 The stats guru — Sarah Langs: The MLB.com reporter is beloved across the game, known for her unique stats and insights that help to demonstrate her iconic catchphrase — “Baseball is the best.”

🤝 Storytelling and amplifying the game — Kait Maniscalco: The founder of Baseball for Baddies (obsessed), Maniscalco highlights the stories and narratives impacting the game. Whether it’s breaking down big plays or interviewing players, she makes the game accessible and welcoming for all. Right up our alley.