Jocelynn Brunelle

Paul Healy
English 11
10/23/15
Final Copy
The Girl Who Could
Hey, Grandma, do you have any old stories?
Depends. What kind of story are you looking to hear?
Do you have any thatll keep me on the edge of my seat? I love those kinds. Mom
used to tell them to me all the time.
You bet I do! The story Im about to tell may seem like a tall tale, but it is 100%
true. Sit down and get comfortable this one's a doozy.
The bright lights poured over the 17-year-old's visage. The aroma of wieners
wafted in the air around her and she felt the crowd's gaze fixate on the back of her baggy
uniform. In all her life she had never felt such an intense gaze. She had dreamed of this
moment; to play in front of full house. Ever since her days as a little girl she was trained
by her minor leaguer neighbor. Although the pitcher wasnt a Future Hall of Famer or
even a Major Leaguer, (Did A 17-Year-Old Woman Really Strike Out Ruth, Gehrig?)
she wasn't going to let this tremendous opportunity pass; she was going against the
greatest of the greats. Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Both being southpaws, lefties, just like
her.
Jackie Mitchell had her doubts about the game when she was first told she was
signed into the big leagues because years prior, the drafting president pulled some wild
stunts for publicity. He traded a middle-infielder for a turkey and once had players
arrive for opening day atop elephants,( Got Our Eyes on You: The Story Behind the
Chattanooga Lookouts) so her suspicions were warranted. However, this did not deter her
from attending this event. In fact, it just motivated her to train harder. She didnt care if
this was all for publicity she was going to show that she could be like (The first [woman]
to appear in baseballs minor leagues, Lizzie Arlington (The Woman Who (Maybe)
Struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig).
The first batter up was Babe Ruth. His strides was that of a cat on the prowl,
confident and lingering. The crowd roared in approval. To Mitchell on the pitcher's
mound those strides lasted an eternity. Every step has an echo that bounced off the inside
of her ears. Sweat collected on her upper lip and adrenaline pumped through her veins. It
was as if the rest of the stadium had disappeared and the only two beings were her and
Ruth in a world created of the blackest obsidian.
Mitchell gripped the ball tightly in her left hand as Ruth stepped up to bat. The
material of the ball was rough against the skin of her hand. Booming announcement

echoed throughout the stadium but their meaning was lost in translation. There was a split
second before the time Mitchell's arm wound back and the ball left her hand. The
background noise ceased then all at once sound seemed to crash down upon her. The
crowd was no longer cheering for Ruth. They were cheering for her.
Confidence bubbled up inside her and when the ball returned to her she threw out
again. This time with feeling. Another strike and the crowd goes wild. One more to take
him down. Ruths face contorted with utter befuddlement.On the other hand Mitchell
was ecstatic; a grin pulled at the corner of her mouth and then just as quickly as it
appeared snapped back into a sharp, serious, thin line. She could not lose focus now; she
had a game to win.
Another pitch left her and she didn't know how it was possible but the crowds
boistering ruckus grew so loud she could have sworn it could be heard in Moscow. Babe
Ruth had been defeated. This, however, did nothing to console her for she still had
another great batter to pitch against. In what seemed like a flash to her Lou Gehrig was
already up to bat. She just struck out Babe Ruth could she really do it again? The crowd
went dead silent as she reared her arm back. It was as if they drew in a collective breath
in anticipation. She took in a shaky breath and a shiver crawled up her spine. Mitchell
released the ball and it curved through the air; the ball whooshing as it did so. It landed
with an echoing thud into the waiting catcher's mitt.
On April 2, 1931, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig [were] stuck out,(Did A 17-YearOld Woman Really Strike Out Ruth, Gehrig?) by a girl! The Sultan of Swat and the Iron
Horse couldnt hit a girl?(The Woman Who (Maybe) Struck out Babe Ruth and Lou
Gehrig)It was unheard of! One of my greatest achievements, yknow? A great feat. No
one can tell me otherwise. No one else got to bat with me that day."
That lady was you!? Why havent I heard of this? What happened next!?"
Ive been waiting for an opportunity to tell you about it. You know your
grandma; Im not one to brag. Anyway, what happened next was that the next player
ahead didnt get to bat any of my pitches because he got a walk. You know how a walk
works right?
Isnt it when the batter isn't able to hit the ball because the pitcher throws it too
far out of reach?
Youre right on the nose. I was pulled out of the game,(Did A 17-Year-Old
Woman Really Strike Out Ruth, Gehrig?). They revoked my contact and baseball was
deemed too much for girls to handle. That day I accomplished my greatest achievement
and my most profound guilt. It's a bittersweet memory. All because a player got a walk
from me."