It’d be hard to find many more iconic figures in all of Americana than Rocky.
There have been, what feels like, 100,000 movies made about him. The Rocky Steps in Philadelphia are one of the top tourist attractions along the East Coast. Everyone can do a Sylvester Stallone impression of the famed boxer.
Although most of what he does in the films is made up, Rocky is actually based on a couple of real fighters: Chuck Wepner and Rocky Marciano. If you’re tuned into Team Italy’s roster during this year’s World Baseball Classic, you might see the name of left-hander Joey Marciano and think, “Wait, is that …”
If you were tuned into the World Baseball Classic matchup between Cuba and the Netherlands, you may not have seen him, but you could definitely hear him.
Maybelle Blair and the late Shirley Burkovich are among the AAGPBL players who have led the way to make sure that today’s baseball girls have the same opportunities — more, even — than the ladies of the original wartime league did nearly 80 years ago.
The exhibit dives into the many obstacles that women and girls have overcome and still struggle against to be a part of the game they love, and highlights many of the groundbreaking individuals, achievements and events that serve as inspiration to all those striving to make a dream come true.