SB Cubs to honor AAGPBL before Thursday's game

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SOUTH BEND, Ind.-25 years ago, we first heard the now infamous line “There’s no crying in baseball!” Tonight, Four Winds Field will celebrate the teams of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League that were immortalized in the classic film “A League of their Own.”

During a pregame ceremony, before the South Bend Cubs take on the Quad Cities River Bandits, the team and the South Bend History Museum will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the classic film.

As the national repository of the league, the History Museum preserves uniforms, scrapbooks, photographs, baseballs and mitts that players used and have a permanent exhibit on the lower level.

Since the movie’s 20th anniversary, they’ve been a part of the Cub’s celebration at Four Winds Field.

“It’s just a fun night,” said Kristi Dunn, Registrar at the South Bend History Museum. “If you love baseball and don’t know anything about the league, you’re still going to enjoy it,” Dunn said.

To reflect the tradition of the AAGPBL league teams during World War II, a V-for-victory will be formed on the field.

South Bend has special ties to the women’s league. The city is home to one of the league’s first four teams, the South Bend Blue Sox and a former player.

“We’ve done an event every single year with the first pitch being thrown by Betsy Jochum, also known as “sock ‘em, jock ‘em,” said Dunn.

Jochum was one of the original players in 1943. She will be available to sign autographs during the game.

“This year I think is gonna be one of our favorite and biggest Four Winds Field nights that we’ve had,” Dunn said.

The pre-game ceremony begins at 6:50 P.M. The game starts at 7:05 P.M. Admission is required.

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