Meet Effa Manley, businesswoman, baseball pioneer, and Civil Rights activist.

Summary: Successful Business Women in History

In celebration of Women’s History Month, and the start of the baseball season (soon!), I wanted to profile Effa Manley, a baseball pioneer, Hall of Famer, and fantastic businesswoman who also fought for civil rights.

I discovered who Effa Manley was on a Writing on the Rails trip with Johnnie Mazzocco when I wandered into Ebbets Field Flannels where they happened to be celebrating women’s baseball. (This is also the store I talk about during the show where I bought the Effa hat.)

I started digging more into Effa Manley’s life and I knew I needed to profile her on an upcoming episode.

She’s a woman who got things done, not only advocating for the Negro Leagues as an owner but to also preserve the history of the Negro Leagues for generations. She was also a key figure leading to the enshrinement of several Negro League players into the Hall of Fame.

Even if you don’t like baseball or sports, this is a special episode that will inspire you to follow your dreams even if the world calls you a “furious woman” (like they did Effa), or everyone thinks your ideas are super crazy. Keep at it.

A fantastic woman who rocked it in business and who will inspire you.

Words of Wisdom

Effa Manley is one of the most successful businesswomen, baseball pioneers, and Civil Rights activists you've never heard of. — Jen

References

Effa Manley, National Hall of Fame

Effa Manley, Wikipedia

Ebbets Field Flannels, The Effa Collection

Effa Manley, Society for American Baseball Research

Effa Manley, Black Past

The Most Famous Woman in Baseball: Effa Manley and the Negro Leagues, Bob Luke

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