Queen of the Diamond: The Lizzie Murphy Story

In the early 20th century, girls weren’t supposed to play baseball, but Rhode Islander Lizzie Murphy loved the game. Chutzpah and talent landed the redhead on two amateur teams before a manager let her play semipro: “ ‘Sure, we’ll start you at first base,’ he said. His eyes twinkled. He was thinking that people would come in droves to see a girl on the field.” But Murphy was more than a spectacle, demanding pay equal to male players and eventually joining the Boston All-Stars, an afterword notes. McCully shows a keen eye for the attire and social mores of the era in a rousing story of a girl’s dedication to the sport she loves. Ages 5–8. (Feb.)