Recreating history
PawSox to host 33-inning charity baseball game featuring the Pawtucket Slaterettes
When Deb Bettencourt, for years now the Pawtucket Slaterettes’ all-female baseball program’s player agent, picked up her phone back in March, she thought it just another call from a beloved former player.
“It was Samantha Sousa on the line, and I knew she worked inside the (Pawtucket Red Sox’) front office,” Bettencourt said. “We were planning the annual Youth Sports fundraising event for later in the summer, and that’s when she mentioned it during the course of our conversation.”
“It” referred to the PawSox’ invitation for the entire Slaterettes’ organization to take part in a 33-inning game inside McCoy Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 19, designed to commemorate not only the park’s 75th anniversary, but also the 36th of the “Longest Professional Baseball Game” ever contested.
Everyone knows that historical event between the PawSox and Rochester Red Wings took place at McCoy during the spring/summer of 1981.
“It was one of those ‘too-good-to-betrue’ moments,” stated Bettencourt, who together with Slaterettes’ League President Sarah Feeley were flabbergasted by the news. “This is probably No. 2 on our list of thrills in our organization’s history. I don’t think the PawSox would mind, but No. 1 was having one of our jerseys placed inside the women’s section of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
“We were all elated,” she added. “We’ve never played any sort of game inside McCoy, so – when we announced it during our post-season Awards Day at the Boys & Girls Club’s complex in late June – all the girls and women screamed and cheered. That’s all people have been talking about ever since.
“In fact, when I told my daughter, Julianna, who’s six (years old) and a Slaterette, was going to play there, she looked at me and said, ‘I have to start practice right now!’ She’s so excited.
“We’re delighted to have been invited by the PawSox. For our women of all ages (which includes those age five to 55) to play hardball on this diamond where so many great players have played, and where the 33-inning game took place, it’s
a dream come true.
“So many of our players were inspired by the movie ‘A League of Their Own,’ and how it brought to light the story of the All-American Girls’ Professional Baseball League. This opportunity to pay tribute to these women, and to the PawSox and to our beloved city of Pawtucket, is a thrill our players and families will remember forever.”
According to Bettencourt, she and Feeley organized the marathon’s logistics. They decided it would open at high noon with the tots involved with the T-Ball division (those ages 3-6), and they will play the initial two innings, while the Minors (6-10) will compete in the next four; and the Juniors (10-13) the following six.
The next 21 frames have been divided into seven-inning segments, those belonging to – in order – the Senior category (13-18); Women’s division (13-and-up); and alumni (all ages).
Not so ironically, the game also commemorates the 45th anniversary of the Slaterettes, founded in 1973.
“It is a pleasure to produce an event that unites the people of Pawtucket,” stated PawSox’ President Dr. Charles Steinberg. “We hope that women – and men – see that, here in Pawtucket, women have been playing baseball in ‘a league of their own’ for years. May this event inspire more young girls to realize that the doors to this wonderful world of baseball are wide open.
“Over the past two seasons, we have been blessed to welcome such players from the AAGPBL as Rhode Island’s own Wilma Briggs and California’s Maybelle ‘All the Way May’ Blair and Shirley Burkovich. Part of this tribute is a tip of the cap to them.
“We also tip our caps to the actors, actresses and crew who made the film, which this year celebrates the 25th anniversary,” he continued. “Megan Cavanaugh, who memorably portrayed Marla Hooch, recently visited our park and inspired more young women with her stories – including the fact she did all of her own hitting in the movie.
“Several women playing key (roles) in our front office have been life-long ballplayers, and we are eager to show all who are watching that opportunities to play baseball belong to everyone.”
General admission tickets are available for $5 per person, so those who arrive early will have access to the best seats. All proceeds will benefit both the Slaterettes’ organization and the PawSox Foundation.
When asked if she will take park, Bettencourt – herself an ex-Slaterette from childhood – answered with a laugh, “Absolutely not! But I will be in the dugouts for all 33 innings. Each of the older divisions will be playing the same amount of innings that we have during regular-season and playoff games.
“My biggest concern about this was pitching because our (divisional) seasons have ended; everyone has stopped pitching, and we didn’t want any injuries,” she noted.
“The PawSox recommended we use a pitching machine (for those in the older categories), that way we’d speed up the game.
“The machine should translate into more hits, more runs and more scoring,” she continued. “Sarah and I figured that, with an opening ceremony and a 10-minute break between the age groups, the last two teams (wearing red and white jerseys designed and purchased by the PawSox) should start at about 7:30 (p.m.).
“My guess it should end at about 9:30; that’s averaging about 15 minutes per inning.”
She also acknowledged that concession and souvenir stands will be open – with authentic game gear on sale for fans.
“We’ll have our own current coaches for the two teams, but we also have invited some former coaches and board members to serve as honorary coaches, help us out in the dugouts,” Bettencourt said. “That way, the entire organization, past and present, can share in this fantastic experience.
“According to information we sought out, the attendance at the start of the ‘Longest Game’ was 1,740; our goal is to surpass that, sell more tickets. If we do that, we’ll be so excited! Like I said, this is the chance of a lifetime for all of us.”
For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit www.pawsox.com or www.slaterettes.com.