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No Crying in Baseball: The Inside Story of A League of Their Own: Big Stars, Dugout Drama, and a Home Run for Hollywood
National Bestseller
The inside story of how A League of Their Own—one of the most beloved baseball movies of all time—developed from an unheralded piece of American history into a perennial cinematic favorite. Featuring exclusive interviews and behind the scenes memories from the original cast and creators, .
No Crying in Baseball is a rollicking, revelatory deep dive into a one‑of‑a‑kind film. Before A League of Their Own, few American girls could imagine themselves playing professional ball (and doing it better than the boys). But Penny Marshall's genre outlier became an instant classic and significant aha moment for countless young women who saw that throwing like a girl was far from an insult.
Part fly‑on‑the‑wall narrative, part immersive pop nostalgia, No Crying in Baseball is for readers who love stories about subverting gender roles as well as fans of the film who remain passionate thirty years after its release. With key anecdotes from the cast, crew, and diehard fanatics, Carlson presents the definitive, first‑ever history of the making of the treasured film that inspired generations of Dottie Hinsons to dream bigger and aim for the sky.
The inside story of how A League of Their Own—one of the most beloved baseball movies of all time—developed from an unheralded piece of American history into a perennial cinematic favorite. Featuring exclusive interviews and behind the scenes memories from the original cast and creators, .
No Crying in Baseball is a rollicking, revelatory deep dive into a one‑of‑a‑kind film. Before A League of Their Own, few American girls could imagine themselves playing professional ball (and doing it better than the boys). But Penny Marshall's genre outlier became an instant classic and significant aha moment for countless young women who saw that throwing like a girl was far from an insult.
Part fly‑on‑the‑wall narrative, part immersive pop nostalgia, No Crying in Baseball is for readers who love stories about subverting gender roles as well as fans of the film who remain passionate thirty years after its release. With key anecdotes from the cast, crew, and diehard fanatics, Carlson presents the definitive, first‑ever history of the making of the treasured film that inspired generations of Dottie Hinsons to dream bigger and aim for the sky.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 5, 2023
65 people are currently reading
4221 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews
December 31, 2023
4.5 stars
"This book is the untold story of a time before the Internet, when filming on location was a traveling circus and untamed behavior went unchecked. When a filmmaker and her motley collaborators, throwing vanity out the window, got some dirt in their skirts and hit one out of the park." -- the author, on page 3
No Crying in Baseball is, as the title would suggest, about the summer 1992 hit film A League of Their Own. Boasting a female ensemble cast (headed by recent Oscar winner Geena Davis as catcher Dottie Hinson) AND a female director (Penny Marshall, on a roll after Big and Awakenings), the flick defied some expectations - male film executives thought audiences would not actually know or care about the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from the WWII era - and received both commercial and critical acclaim and held its own at the time against the reigning blockbuster Batman Returns. Author Carlson takes a deep dive look into the genesis of the film, starting with director Marshall's background as well as the reasons for then-little known or -remembered AAGPBL, and then moves on to its filming in Illinois and Indiana during the hot summer of 1991. Some of the information is a little surprising (30+ years later it's a stark reminder to many that Tom Hanks pretty much needed the role of washed-up, alcoholic coach Jimmy Dugan to invigorate his stalled career after a brief series of underperforming or flop films) or not (Madonna, in an effective supporting role as outfielder Mae, was said to be difficult, and certainly seemed that way after some of the presented stories of her on- and off-set behavior and attitude). Author Carlson has done thorough work, and certainly interviews with actresses such as Lori Petty and Megan Cavanagh assisted in providing abundant recollections from their time in the Rockford Peaches starting line-up. The only missteps were when the author oddly inserted her occasional 21st century slants on the proceedings - such as labeling Coach Dugan's yelling (see the title quote) at the right fielder Evelyn as a display of 'toxic masculinity' (groan!)- which were eye-rollingly distracting to the narrative flow. However, I'd still rate the book as a solid home run and a worthy read to close out this 2023 season. Play ball!
"This book is the untold story of a time before the Internet, when filming on location was a traveling circus and untamed behavior went unchecked. When a filmmaker and her motley collaborators, throwing vanity out the window, got some dirt in their skirts and hit one out of the park." -- the author, on page 3
No Crying in Baseball is, as the title would suggest, about the summer 1992 hit film A League of Their Own. Boasting a female ensemble cast (headed by recent Oscar winner Geena Davis as catcher Dottie Hinson) AND a female director (Penny Marshall, on a roll after Big and Awakenings), the flick defied some expectations - male film executives thought audiences would not actually know or care about the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from the WWII era - and received both commercial and critical acclaim and held its own at the time against the reigning blockbuster Batman Returns. Author Carlson takes a deep dive look into the genesis of the film, starting with director Marshall's background as well as the reasons for then-little known or -remembered AAGPBL, and then moves on to its filming in Illinois and Indiana during the hot summer of 1991. Some of the information is a little surprising (30+ years later it's a stark reminder to many that Tom Hanks pretty much needed the role of washed-up, alcoholic coach Jimmy Dugan to invigorate his stalled career after a brief series of underperforming or flop films) or not (Madonna, in an effective supporting role as outfielder Mae, was said to be difficult, and certainly seemed that way after some of the presented stories of her on- and off-set behavior and attitude). Author Carlson has done thorough work, and certainly interviews with actresses such as Lori Petty and Megan Cavanagh assisted in providing abundant recollections from their time in the Rockford Peaches starting line-up. The only missteps were when the author oddly inserted her occasional 21st century slants on the proceedings - such as labeling Coach Dugan's yelling (see the title quote) at the right fielder Evelyn as a display of 'toxic masculinity' (groan!)- which were eye-rollingly distracting to the narrative flow. However, I'd still rate the book as a solid home run and a worthy read to close out this 2023 season. Play ball!
August 5, 2024
This book was a love story to a great movie, A League of Their Own. While I did want the book to be more about the movie and a little less of the life story of the director (don’t get me wrong, she did great and seems like a great woman, it’s just not my focus). I did love the stories from behind the scenes stories. I feel like the cast was made of wonderful women who made a great movie about a time that would have otherwise be lost forever. The writing didn’t exactly pull me in, but it was full of great information. An interesting book that I hope will bring a new generation to this great movie.
July 24, 2023
A love letter to one of America's favorite sports movie. No Crying in Baseball is primarily about the chaos of filming A League of Their Own and secondarily about director, Penny Marshall's life. Richly detailed; this book talks about the long shooting days, who was originally cast, who was cut, drama at the studios, Madonna's shenanigans, Tom Hank's antics and so much more. It's like watching an extended behind the scenes documentary or watching a commentary over the movie. It's fascinating and filled with so many tidbits that it will make you want to watch the movie again, because how could you have overlooked that in the ten million times you've watched the movie before?! Fans of the movie, Penny Marshall, and those who love to look behind the curtain will eat this book up.
December 27, 2023
As with most "making of" books, you have a lot of deep-cut, Inside Baseball, no pun intended, minutiae regarding boardroom bigwigs and studio number-crunchers, so your mileage will vary, depending on how big a fan you are of the film being written about, and your tolerance for details that are, for the most part, completely irrelevant. With books like this, I'm looking to read about the actors, director, and other famous folks, and how they acted and interacted behind-the-scenes. The parts of this book that dealt with that aspect of the film are fun. The rest was a slog.
Author Erin Carlson takes the first 20% of the book to regurgitate the details of Penny Marshall's life that I already read about, far more interestingly, in both her autobiography and her brother Garry Marshall's. Nearly 40% of the book is taken up with source notes in the back. That leaves 40% for the meat of the book, a LOT of which is taken up with the history of female Baseball leagues and the women who played the game. Interesting, but far too much time is spent on it, and Carlson doesn't make it compelling enough to devote so much real estate to.
In addition, I found Carlson's voice to be a maddening distraction. We're reading a book about a movie that is over thirty years old. Do we really need the author to interject her feelings about "The Patriarchy", and how "gross" it is to have women mocked in the film for their looks and/or weight? I just watched The French Connection...I didn't need anyone hovering over me to tell me that the police brutality and racism that we took for granted in 1970s New York is not right or appropriate today. Times change, people change, but old forms of entertainment are snapshots of the times that they were made in, and the times that they depict. Carlson's constant pearl-clutching and virtue-signaling grew to be a huge irritant to me, to the point where I wanted to stop reading the book.
There's a little bit of fun to be had here, but not nearly enough to get me to recommend this book, and I'll be sure to avoid anything written by Erin Carlson like the plague from now on.
Author Erin Carlson takes the first 20% of the book to regurgitate the details of Penny Marshall's life that I already read about, far more interestingly, in both her autobiography and her brother Garry Marshall's. Nearly 40% of the book is taken up with source notes in the back. That leaves 40% for the meat of the book, a LOT of which is taken up with the history of female Baseball leagues and the women who played the game. Interesting, but far too much time is spent on it, and Carlson doesn't make it compelling enough to devote so much real estate to.
In addition, I found Carlson's voice to be a maddening distraction. We're reading a book about a movie that is over thirty years old. Do we really need the author to interject her feelings about "The Patriarchy", and how "gross" it is to have women mocked in the film for their looks and/or weight? I just watched The French Connection...I didn't need anyone hovering over me to tell me that the police brutality and racism that we took for granted in 1970s New York is not right or appropriate today. Times change, people change, but old forms of entertainment are snapshots of the times that they were made in, and the times that they depict. Carlson's constant pearl-clutching and virtue-signaling grew to be a huge irritant to me, to the point where I wanted to stop reading the book.
There's a little bit of fun to be had here, but not nearly enough to get me to recommend this book, and I'll be sure to avoid anything written by Erin Carlson like the plague from now on.
September 29, 2023
I may be biased, as A League of Their Own is one of my favorite movies of all time, but I loved this book. I grew up in the Evansville area (though I was only 2-3 at the time of filming) and my mom got to be an extra on the teams at the beginning of the movie. So I grew up hearing stories about her meeting Geena Davis and Rosie O'Donnell, and even playing catch with Tom Hanks. (And yeah, people here still don't really like Madonna lol). But I loved hearing more background on this movie and the people who made it!
January 31, 2025
This book is so padded, it could have been cast as Rockford's catcher in Gina Davis' place. It's 50% a book about one of my all time favorite movies and 50% a biography of director, Penny Marshall and oddly, only tangentially related 1990's Hollywood bullshit. "A League of Their Own" is a feel good movie. This isn't a feel good book. This one was a bitch. That one "threw like a girl". This one's career tanked. It wasn't queer enough. It was too queer. Make up your mind...
Have you ever read a nonfiction book and been THRILLED to realize that the Acknowledgments/Source Notes/Index are almost 100 pages and the book you thought would never end is actually over? That was my experience with "No Crying in Baseball".
I'm struggling to rate this book... let's say it's just good enough to round up to three stars. Like 2.50000000000000001. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to listen to "This Used to Be My Playground" and consider what to read next. ⚾
Have you ever read a nonfiction book and been THRILLED to realize that the Acknowledgments/Source Notes/Index are almost 100 pages and the book you thought would never end is actually over? That was my experience with "No Crying in Baseball".
I'm struggling to rate this book... let's say it's just good enough to round up to three stars. Like 2.50000000000000001. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to listen to "This Used to Be My Playground" and consider what to read next. ⚾
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August 24, 2023Mini Book Review - Thank you so much to Hachette Books for an advance copy of this book!
This book will be published on September 5th.
This book was such a joy to read! A League of Their Own is one of my favorite movies of all time - easily top 3 so I knew I had to get my hands on this book.
I love learning about Penny's history in the industry which I hadn't previously known. I also enjoyed reading about the making of "Big" which is another one of my top movies.
Tom Hanks is one of my favorite actors so reading about his career before, during and after ALOTO was fun for me. I didn't realize how important his role in this movie was to his career. And as the book says, it's just a brief cmoment compared to the rest of his filmography.
Rosie O'Donnell was also very a prominent figure in my life growing up between this movie, "Harriet the Spy", her outstanding tv show and being a plus size figure on tv - she was very important to me (shockingly I still have my Rosie Koosh balls). I knew that her and Madonna met on the set of this movie but the book divulged a little into their friendship.
Oh Madonna, she is everything you think she was during this era. She was *peak* Madonna was between Vogue and her Erotica album and just was at the top of her game. She was thee person in the music industry next to Michael Jackson. So the stories that were told in the book was not shocking.
What else I was fascinated by was the casting process. I was shocked to learn even with reading about Big, the original decisions and who Penny wanted casted for the roles. I definitely can't see the characters being anyone else but could you see Demi Moore as Dottie Hinson?! No way!!! Because Geena Davis was perfect for this role.
The book is not a long book but its dense with entertainment information. I probably would've finished a lot sooner but was being lax on my reading time between when I started and finished.
If you are a fan of behind the scenes of movie making, highlight reels of actors/actresses or if you just love this movie - check this book out!!
**I will not be rating Non Fiction books as it is based on real events and real experiences.**
This book will be published on September 5th.
This book was such a joy to read! A League of Their Own is one of my favorite movies of all time - easily top 3 so I knew I had to get my hands on this book.
I love learning about Penny's history in the industry which I hadn't previously known. I also enjoyed reading about the making of "Big" which is another one of my top movies.
Tom Hanks is one of my favorite actors so reading about his career before, during and after ALOTO was fun for me. I didn't realize how important his role in this movie was to his career. And as the book says, it's just a brief cmoment compared to the rest of his filmography.
Rosie O'Donnell was also very a prominent figure in my life growing up between this movie, "Harriet the Spy", her outstanding tv show and being a plus size figure on tv - she was very important to me (shockingly I still have my Rosie Koosh balls). I knew that her and Madonna met on the set of this movie but the book divulged a little into their friendship.
Oh Madonna, she is everything you think she was during this era. She was *peak* Madonna was between Vogue and her Erotica album and just was at the top of her game. She was thee person in the music industry next to Michael Jackson. So the stories that were told in the book was not shocking.
What else I was fascinated by was the casting process. I was shocked to learn even with reading about Big, the original decisions and who Penny wanted casted for the roles. I definitely can't see the characters being anyone else but could you see Demi Moore as Dottie Hinson?! No way!!! Because Geena Davis was perfect for this role.
The book is not a long book but its dense with entertainment information. I probably would've finished a lot sooner but was being lax on my reading time between when I started and finished.
If you are a fan of behind the scenes of movie making, highlight reels of actors/actresses or if you just love this movie - check this book out!!
**I will not be rating Non Fiction books as it is based on real events and real experiences.**
August 14, 2023
This book was a home run! No Crying in Baseball is a very in depth telling of the history of the film A League of Their Own. If you enjoyed the film and wanted to know more about it, this book is for you! There is so much interesting information in this book it is insane. It gives the before, during and after information for most of the prominent people behind and in front of the camera for the film. I learned so many fascinating things!
I really enjoyed this book! It took some time to read just due to the jam packed info and it is a bit lengthy. There are some great interviews done in this book! I do have to say that the author piping in with their own thoughts throughout the book took a bit of time to get used to. The writing overall was pretty smooth but some parts seemed to overlap and took some time to figure out who the author was talking about as it went right from one person to the next without a line break at times. I liked that near the end they mentioned the newer tv series of A League of Their Own and how Abbi Jacobson got the okay from Penny Marshall to do the series before Penny passed away. It kind of gave a full circle vibe to the book. There are a lot of interesting facts in this book and one that I have always wanted to be answered was is Geena Davis in make up for the last scene of the film or was it an older actor? I am thrilled that I got to finally know the truth as I have been stumped about it since I was a kid!
Thank you to Hachette Books and Netgalley for an eArc in exchange for an honest review!
I really enjoyed this book! It took some time to read just due to the jam packed info and it is a bit lengthy. There are some great interviews done in this book! I do have to say that the author piping in with their own thoughts throughout the book took a bit of time to get used to. The writing overall was pretty smooth but some parts seemed to overlap and took some time to figure out who the author was talking about as it went right from one person to the next without a line break at times. I liked that near the end they mentioned the newer tv series of A League of Their Own and how Abbi Jacobson got the okay from Penny Marshall to do the series before Penny passed away. It kind of gave a full circle vibe to the book. There are a lot of interesting facts in this book and one that I have always wanted to be answered was is Geena Davis in make up for the last scene of the film or was it an older actor? I am thrilled that I got to finally know the truth as I have been stumped about it since I was a kid!
Thank you to Hachette Books and Netgalley for an eArc in exchange for an honest review!
March 13, 2024
4.5 stars.
This was actually a REALLY interesting behind-the-scenes/historical context look at the making of A League of Their Own, one of my very favorite films of all time. It took the time to discuss both the true historical story, the context of Penny Marshall's journey as a film director, and the ups and downs of actually getting the film made. It was incredibly interesting. Turns out, I think I really enjoy these Hollywood behind-the-scenes type stories lol. But it really highlighted Penny's struggle as a female director in Hollywood in the 80s and 90s. I had literal tears toward the end when the onslaught of critical bad reviews for the film (mostly centered on not appreciating her subtlety and the lack of romance between Hanks and Davis. BLECK) was juxtaposed with the gradual wave of love and admiration given by movie-goers and fans in the weeks and months after the film's release. A really great read for anyone who cares at all about the movie. Highly recommend.
This was actually a REALLY interesting behind-the-scenes/historical context look at the making of A League of Their Own, one of my very favorite films of all time. It took the time to discuss both the true historical story, the context of Penny Marshall's journey as a film director, and the ups and downs of actually getting the film made. It was incredibly interesting. Turns out, I think I really enjoy these Hollywood behind-the-scenes type stories lol. But it really highlighted Penny's struggle as a female director in Hollywood in the 80s and 90s. I had literal tears toward the end when the onslaught of critical bad reviews for the film (mostly centered on not appreciating her subtlety and the lack of romance between Hanks and Davis. BLECK) was juxtaposed with the gradual wave of love and admiration given by movie-goers and fans in the weeks and months after the film's release. A really great read for anyone who cares at all about the movie. Highly recommend.
December 14, 2023
Some of the stories and behind-the-scenes stuff was interesting, but the writing really wasn’t very good. And a lot of the included anecdotes were pointless, odd, or just completely un-related to the movie.
December 7, 2023
_______________________________________________
Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona." ~ George Will
Revised Review
League of Their Own, which was directed by Penny Marshall, is one of my favorite movies. I loved the history, the story, the characters, and the cast. The book, however, has more padding than my high school girl friend’s training bra. Much of the first half of the book is filled with information about Penny Marshall’s career before she began development of League of Their Own, . The end of the book is extremely well-padded as well. That kind of sucked, but I did enjoy the stories about the trials, tribulations, and adventures that occurred as League was made.
If you liked the movie, you’ll like at least 60% of the book. Here are a few facts from the book to whet your interest:
Demi Moore was, as the book puts it, “Penny Marshall’s number-one draft pick” for the lead role of Dottie, but she got pregnant before shooting started. “She literally got f**ked out of the part,” Penny quipped.
Debra Winger, was supposed to play the part of Dottie after Demi’s little accident. I was quite smitten with Debra Winger during the 90s, but it turns out her on-screen persona differed significantly from her real starzilla personality. She was a horror.
Gina Davis, who took over the role from Winger, was a delight to work with, but she had no athletic ability at all. She threw like a girl. She ran like a girl. Nearly all of the athleticism that she shows in the movie was Hollywood magic.
Madonna Madonna the Prima Donna was not a team player in this movie salute about teams. She was always playing the diva. During filming, when there was a long, unexpected delay in the filming, one section of the baseball stadium was filled with hundreds of unpaid extras. Penny was afraid these essential extras would get bored and desert their seats and go home. To avoid this potential disaster, many of the movie’s performers entertained the crowd to keep them in their seats. Despite her successes performing before mammoth crowds in concerts, Madonna refused to help. Later, without discussing it with Penny, she went over Penny’s head to get a song by Madonna sung by Madonna played over the closing credits to the movie.
Tom Hanks, whose career had taken a downturn after starring in Joe Vs. the Volcano and a couple of other poorly reviewed movies bombed in the box office, begged his landlady for a part of Jimmy Dugan in the film. Fortunately for him, his landlady was Penny Marshall.
3 Stars
Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona." ~ George Will
Revised Review
League of Their Own, which was directed by Penny Marshall, is one of my favorite movies. I loved the history, the story, the characters, and the cast. The book, however, has more padding than my high school girl friend’s training bra. Much of the first half of the book is filled with information about Penny Marshall’s career before she began development of League of Their Own, . The end of the book is extremely well-padded as well. That kind of sucked, but I did enjoy the stories about the trials, tribulations, and adventures that occurred as League was made.
If you liked the movie, you’ll like at least 60% of the book. Here are a few facts from the book to whet your interest:
Demi Moore was, as the book puts it, “Penny Marshall’s number-one draft pick” for the lead role of Dottie, but she got pregnant before shooting started. “She literally got f**ked out of the part,” Penny quipped.
Debra Winger, was supposed to play the part of Dottie after Demi’s little accident. I was quite smitten with Debra Winger during the 90s, but it turns out her on-screen persona differed significantly from her real starzilla personality. She was a horror.
Gina Davis, who took over the role from Winger, was a delight to work with, but she had no athletic ability at all. She threw like a girl. She ran like a girl. Nearly all of the athleticism that she shows in the movie was Hollywood magic.
Madonna Madonna the Prima Donna was not a team player in this movie salute about teams. She was always playing the diva. During filming, when there was a long, unexpected delay in the filming, one section of the baseball stadium was filled with hundreds of unpaid extras. Penny was afraid these essential extras would get bored and desert their seats and go home. To avoid this potential disaster, many of the movie’s performers entertained the crowd to keep them in their seats. Despite her successes performing before mammoth crowds in concerts, Madonna refused to help. Later, without discussing it with Penny, she went over Penny’s head to get a song by Madonna sung by Madonna played over the closing credits to the movie.
Tom Hanks, whose career had taken a downturn after starring in Joe Vs. the Volcano and a couple of other poorly reviewed movies bombed in the box office, begged his landlady for a part of Jimmy Dugan in the film. Fortunately for him, his landlady was Penny Marshall.
3 Stars
August 9, 2023
“A League of Their Own” is one of my favorite movies, so I was really looking forward to this book. It was a fun, easy read - I finished in a day. I especially loved reading about the casting and filming processes, which included information not only on the stars but the minor players as well. And I think we can all be grateful that the movie didn’t end up starring Debra Winger and Robert deNiro.
That said, this book had some serious flaws that I’m surprised got through layers of editors. Readers should know that full quarter of the book is spent sourcing every single quote in the narrative. Is this necessary? It added to what was for me the “oversharing” aspect of the book - I’m sure there was a great deal of editing, but to the reader it seems like every minute detail of the author’s research is included, resulting in a lot of stuff that really didn’t need to be there. And, although I don’t believe in ignoring reality, I really didn’t need to hear that the toilets were clogged when all the girls got their periods at the same time.
It also would have helped immensely if the author had title breaks within each chapter, organizing the material into themes. Instead of mixing everything together in an unbroken monologue. I also found it odd that the author editorialized fairly frequently, using phrases like “that wonderful scene” or “the best baseball movie.” She could have done the book in a more journalistic style, making herself the narrator as she interviewed each person, which would have solved the problem. And where were the pictures? A book like this should have some nice behind the scenes shots to make it more interesting. I know that involves mountains of permissions, but in my opinion it would have been worth it to have even a few.
Thanks to Hachette and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
That said, this book had some serious flaws that I’m surprised got through layers of editors. Readers should know that full quarter of the book is spent sourcing every single quote in the narrative. Is this necessary? It added to what was for me the “oversharing” aspect of the book - I’m sure there was a great deal of editing, but to the reader it seems like every minute detail of the author’s research is included, resulting in a lot of stuff that really didn’t need to be there. And, although I don’t believe in ignoring reality, I really didn’t need to hear that the toilets were clogged when all the girls got their periods at the same time.
It also would have helped immensely if the author had title breaks within each chapter, organizing the material into themes. Instead of mixing everything together in an unbroken monologue. I also found it odd that the author editorialized fairly frequently, using phrases like “that wonderful scene” or “the best baseball movie.” She could have done the book in a more journalistic style, making herself the narrator as she interviewed each person, which would have solved the problem. And where were the pictures? A book like this should have some nice behind the scenes shots to make it more interesting. I know that involves mountains of permissions, but in my opinion it would have been worth it to have even a few.
Thanks to Hachette and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 8, 2023
I was really excited to win this book. A League of Their Own is one of my favorite childhood movies. I wanted to hear the backstory of making the movie. Unfortunately there was very little that was actually about the making of the movie and most of the book focused on Penny Marshall's life and career.
There were tiny bits about the making of the movie, but I wanted to learn more about it. They talked about special cameras to make the movie, but didn't explain why it made the movie better.
It didn't contain a lot of information from the stars that were in the movie making it. It did deal a lot with who they wanted in the movie and didn't get to have in the movie and how they ended up with the cast that they did, but it was so back and forth that it was difficult to follow.
Sadly, it is not the rollicking, revelatory deep dive into a one-of-a-kind film that the back of the book indicates it will be. Nor is it part fly-on-the-wall narrative, nor is it really immersive pop nostalgia.
There were tiny bits about the making of the movie, but I wanted to learn more about it. They talked about special cameras to make the movie, but didn't explain why it made the movie better.
It didn't contain a lot of information from the stars that were in the movie making it. It did deal a lot with who they wanted in the movie and didn't get to have in the movie and how they ended up with the cast that they did, but it was so back and forth that it was difficult to follow.
Sadly, it is not the rollicking, revelatory deep dive into a one-of-a-kind film that the back of the book indicates it will be. Nor is it part fly-on-the-wall narrative, nor is it really immersive pop nostalgia.
February 11, 2024
A League of their Own is one of my favorite movies. I’ve seen it dozens of times, and I’m sure I’ll watch it dozens more. So I was eager to go behind the scenes which is what this book promised. Half of it felt like that and the other half felt like Penny Marshall’s biography, I’m thinking, because there wasn’t enough on this movie to fill a whole book. So that slowed it down for me. Also didn’t love the audiobook narration and wonder if it will have kept my interest more if I read it instead. Got some good nuggets of info so for all fans, you’ll want to dig in.
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October 26, 2023I had to try this since this is my favorite movie of all time. This story is a lot about Penny Marshall and her role in the industry. Which was interesting. But I loved the parts when we got into the behind the scenes of the movie. I loved it talking about teaching the actresses baseball, the LGBTQIA+ that couldn't be talked about and the friendships that were made. And of course, a sports movie that was starring women.
October 29, 2023
Thanks, NetGalley and Hachette Books, for the digital review copy.
“A League of Their Own” is one of my favorites, so I jumped at this behind-the-scenes book about the making of the movie. Unfortunately, it didn’t work for me. Too much detail bogged down the pace of the book and felt more like a tell-all gossip mag vs. non-fiction.
If you want to try it, don’t be alarmed by the length (as I was!). 46% of the book is “Source Notes.”
“A League of Their Own” is one of my favorites, so I jumped at this behind-the-scenes book about the making of the movie. Unfortunately, it didn’t work for me. Too much detail bogged down the pace of the book and felt more like a tell-all gossip mag vs. non-fiction.
If you want to try it, don’t be alarmed by the length (as I was!). 46% of the book is “Source Notes.”
March 1, 2024
This book has a lot of interesting stories and facts about a fantastic movie (I now hate John Belushi). However, the writing style was not for me, and the poor editing made it tough to read. (One particularly egregious example: I couldn't figure out why anyone would kick at "empires." I finally realized that word should have been umpires.)
If you love this movie and you don't mind a lot of editorializing and side comments, you'll probably enjoy this book. And if you don't, go kick an empire.
If you love this movie and you don't mind a lot of editorializing and side comments, you'll probably enjoy this book. And if you don't, go kick an empire.
August 2, 2025
While this took me a bit longer to get through than originally anticipated, I’m ultimately glad I took my time, as I researched so many things while reading this story. The first time I saw this movie I was probably around 8 years old and it grew to be one of my favorites!! I for one played summer baseball with the boys, as we didn’t get summer softball till around 3 years later in our town. Unfortunately our school was so small that we didn’t even have a baseball/softball team during the spring school year, I was always so sad about that as I played summer rec ball for probably 6-8 years and loved it so very much! It’s my favorite sport. I made my son watch A League of Their Own last month, which is how I stumbled upon this book searching it through the library. A few of my friends have expressed interest in the story as well. I learned so very much about Peggy Marshall and the cast from ALOTO. I watched Awakenings with Robin Williams and Robert DeNiro after it was discussed in the story. I absolutely loved the movie and put the book on my TBR list. I also today watched This Boys Life starring Robert DeNiro and Leonardo DiCaprio which was referenced in the book. Good movie, which is also based on a memoir that I added to my TBR list. I watched the trailer for Jumpin Jack Flash starring Whoopi Goldberg but think I’ll wait on that movie. It was so interesting to learn about the actors that “coulda been” in these main roles and why they weren’t chosen. I learned so many fun facts and tidbits about the movie I never would have known, including deleted scenes and cast shenanigans. I am glad this book was made and the references and research that went into it was amazing! Job well done!
January 1, 2026
This was very interesting, but it was more about a few of the main characters, especially director Penny Marshall. It was a timely read with the recent passing of Rob Reiner.
It made me want to re-watch the movie, and I loved the behind-the-scenes look.
I didn't realize how many times this movie almost was never made, and the massive cast changes.
I love the way the movie turned out, and I am glad it has been nationally archived.
Worth a read if you are a fan of any of the main players or the movie itself.
4 Stars
It made me want to re-watch the movie, and I loved the behind-the-scenes look.
I didn't realize how many times this movie almost was never made, and the massive cast changes.
I love the way the movie turned out, and I am glad it has been nationally archived.
Worth a read if you are a fan of any of the main players or the movie itself.
4 Stars
October 10, 2023
If you love the movie A League of Their Own (as I do), or just enjoy movie-making and behind-the-scenes books, you will enjoy this one.
A lot of the book focuses on Penny Marshall, and that part was fascinating. But Gina Davis, Lori Petty, Rosie O’Donnell, Tom Hanks, and Madonna are all given their due, as well as other members of the cast, crew, writers, studio big shots, and extras/locals.
We also meet some of the real women who were part of the league, including the 2 sisters who inspired the characters of Dottie and Kit.
The book kind of has 4 parts: Penny’s early career, pre-League; the various interests in the actual league and the players; the making of the movie; the things that changed (and the things that did not) after the movie, and even the TV show.
This book is a wonderful homage to the movie, it’s director, and the cast, and was obviously written with respect and love. However, there is gossip, and honesty, and very human flaws (as well as the typical societal ills of sexism, racism, etc.).
I highly recommend!
A lot of the book focuses on Penny Marshall, and that part was fascinating. But Gina Davis, Lori Petty, Rosie O’Donnell, Tom Hanks, and Madonna are all given their due, as well as other members of the cast, crew, writers, studio big shots, and extras/locals.
We also meet some of the real women who were part of the league, including the 2 sisters who inspired the characters of Dottie and Kit.
The book kind of has 4 parts: Penny’s early career, pre-League; the various interests in the actual league and the players; the making of the movie; the things that changed (and the things that did not) after the movie, and even the TV show.
This book is a wonderful homage to the movie, it’s director, and the cast, and was obviously written with respect and love. However, there is gossip, and honesty, and very human flaws (as well as the typical societal ills of sexism, racism, etc.).
I highly recommend!
August 7, 2023
Thank you Hachette Books for an advanced copy of this book!
"No Crying in Baseball" takes readers on a captivating behind-the-scenes journey into the making of the iconic film, A League of Their Own. This book unravels the fascinating story of how a little-known piece of American history transformed into a beloved cinematic favorite. With exclusive interviews and recollections from the original cast and creators, it offers an intimate and revelatory look into the making of this one-of-a-kind movie.
The book highlights how A League of Their Own shattered gender stereotypes and empowered countless young women who saw themselves capable of playing professional baseball. It became a cultural milestone, a source of inspiration, and a testament to the idea that "throwing like a girl" is far from an insult. No Crying in Baseball captures the essence of this genre-defying film and its significant impact on viewers, both then and now.
The author's skillful storytelling and meticulous research make for an absorbing read. The exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes memories from the original cast and creators add depth and authenticity to the narrative. Readers are treated to a treasure trove of fascinating insights and anecdotes, providing a deeper understanding of the creative process and the challenges faced in bringing this remarkable story to life.
"No Crying in Baseball" is a must-read for fans of A League of Their Own, as well as individuals interested in stories that challenge societal norms and celebrate the triumph of the human spirit. It is a tribute to the enduring power of cinema and a reminder of the film's role in shaping perceptions of gender and sports. With its blend of nostalgia, personal recollections, and cultural significance, this book offers an immersive and enlightening experience for all who appreciate the magic of storytelling.
"No Crying in Baseball" takes readers on a captivating behind-the-scenes journey into the making of the iconic film, A League of Their Own. This book unravels the fascinating story of how a little-known piece of American history transformed into a beloved cinematic favorite. With exclusive interviews and recollections from the original cast and creators, it offers an intimate and revelatory look into the making of this one-of-a-kind movie.
The book highlights how A League of Their Own shattered gender stereotypes and empowered countless young women who saw themselves capable of playing professional baseball. It became a cultural milestone, a source of inspiration, and a testament to the idea that "throwing like a girl" is far from an insult. No Crying in Baseball captures the essence of this genre-defying film and its significant impact on viewers, both then and now.
The author's skillful storytelling and meticulous research make for an absorbing read. The exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes memories from the original cast and creators add depth and authenticity to the narrative. Readers are treated to a treasure trove of fascinating insights and anecdotes, providing a deeper understanding of the creative process and the challenges faced in bringing this remarkable story to life.
"No Crying in Baseball" is a must-read for fans of A League of Their Own, as well as individuals interested in stories that challenge societal norms and celebrate the triumph of the human spirit. It is a tribute to the enduring power of cinema and a reminder of the film's role in shaping perceptions of gender and sports. With its blend of nostalgia, personal recollections, and cultural significance, this book offers an immersive and enlightening experience for all who appreciate the magic of storytelling.
May 12, 2024
I think they should have called it; A league of their own with Penny Marshall and Friends. Because a good Chunk of this book (40-50%) had to do with Penny Marshall's career leading up to and after a League of their own. There were also stories of the actresses that had nothing to go with the book (Madonna dating Vanilla Ice, The Baby shower for Penny Marshall's daughter, etc). With that said there was a lot of good information on the real the story of the AAGPBL, which was formed in 1943 during World War II when Major League Baseball was in danger since men were being drafted for war.
It also talks about how the characters came to be and how Debra Winger was originally going to play Dottie but dropped out of the Movie when Madonna was hired. It discussed the training the actresses had to go through to hone the craft of Baseball and also how Penny Marshall tested them to see if they had a the ability to "play ball" while auditioning. There is a good premise to the book and I did enjoy it but had to give it 4 stars for the number of times it went off track.
It also talks about how the characters came to be and how Debra Winger was originally going to play Dottie but dropped out of the Movie when Madonna was hired. It discussed the training the actresses had to go through to hone the craft of Baseball and also how Penny Marshall tested them to see if they had a the ability to "play ball" while auditioning. There is a good premise to the book and I did enjoy it but had to give it 4 stars for the number of times it went off track.
January 25, 2024
Finished No Crying in Baseball: The Inside Story of a League of Their Own: Big Stars, Dugout Drama, and a Home Run for Hollywood by Erin Carlson, the September 2023 bestseller about the highest grossing baseball movie of all time, higher than even The Natural and Bull Durham.This movie did really well across most demographics but best among young girls who saw
The 1992 A League of Their Own as an inspirational story of what could be, given an opportunity. There are lots of interesting facts about the making of the movie, that Debra Winger was paid $3mm to not take the role that went to Geena Davis, that the director of Hoosiers was to be the director of A League of Their Own, that this movie reversed five underperforming movies Tom Hanks starred in, the behind scenes nonsense from Madonna and lots more. Penny Marshall was the shining star that brought this movie to the masses with just the right touch of humanity. Good book!
The 1992 A League of Their Own as an inspirational story of what could be, given an opportunity. There are lots of interesting facts about the making of the movie, that Debra Winger was paid $3mm to not take the role that went to Geena Davis, that the director of Hoosiers was to be the director of A League of Their Own, that this movie reversed five underperforming movies Tom Hanks starred in, the behind scenes nonsense from Madonna and lots more. Penny Marshall was the shining star that brought this movie to the masses with just the right touch of humanity. Good book!
Read
September 22, 2025Choosing not to rate this because I read it for my nostalgia more than anything. If I had Letterboxd, A League of Their Own would be one of my Top 4, and the AAGPBL exhibit at the Studebaker Museum is a core memory. I didn't find anything here groundbreaking, and even if I did, this is not a book you would enjoy unless you love the movie like I do. It satisfied me, and I will 100% be re-watching the movie tonight.
This was a purely descriptive history of the making of the film, and that was enough to satisfy me. I would've loved some analysis in parts, but that wasn't the purpose of this book. If you need that analysis, watch the Amazon Prime series because it explores themes that the film and book only brush upon.
This was a purely descriptive history of the making of the film, and that was enough to satisfy me. I would've loved some analysis in parts, but that wasn't the purpose of this book. If you need that analysis, watch the Amazon Prime series because it explores themes that the film and book only brush upon.
July 15, 2023
I have loved this movie since 1992 and watched it so many times over. In highschool I was a pitcher for fast pitch softball and I'm pretty sure everyone on the team loved this movie, it spoke to me as a young female athlete. "Dirt in the skirt!"
This book includes Penny Marshall's back story (I didn't realize she directed Tom Hanks movie, Big), as well as some history of the real baseball players the movie depicted, filming complications, plot changes as well some of the dynamics between actors. In the section covering auditions it seemed like casting auditions were similar to the baseball auditions depicted in the film! This book even went further to cover what was happening with the director, and sime if the actors before and after the filming.
I found it very interesting to learn more of the backstory about everything behind this film and of course now I have to rewatch the movie!
This book includes Penny Marshall's back story (I didn't realize she directed Tom Hanks movie, Big), as well as some history of the real baseball players the movie depicted, filming complications, plot changes as well some of the dynamics between actors. In the section covering auditions it seemed like casting auditions were similar to the baseball auditions depicted in the film! This book even went further to cover what was happening with the director, and sime if the actors before and after the filming.
I found it very interesting to learn more of the backstory about everything behind this film and of course now I have to rewatch the movie!
January 23, 2024
This is probably my all-time favorite movie, so I was the perfect audience for this. This was sometimes more “woke” than necessary 🙄🙄 But overall, a great behind the scenes look with tons of interesting stories & facts. I really enjoyed this on audio! I think reading this in print would have been tough.
June 14, 2024
I was a huge fan of the movie so I was excited to read this book which shared behind-the-scenes information about the movie. This book focuses on the history of baseball for women, how this movie was dealt with in Hollywood and the lives of the cast. The author did a great job with research but added some personal commentary. After reading this book, I really want to go watch the movie again.
October 18, 2024
One of my all-time favorite movies! It was fun to get a peek behind the curtain, though the writing style wasn’t my personal favorite. The author is a journalist and writes like it. She also dove deeply into Penny Marshall’s life — and, I felt, took some bunny trails throughout — but, overall, it was an interesting read. ⚾️ 🍑
May 4, 2025
I knew I would like the book based on my love for the movie, and when it is tied together with my favorite movie quote, it makes both the book and movie even better. “There’s no crying in baseball” is its most famous line, but the best is “It’s supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t hard everyone would do it. Hard is what makes it great.”
The book also has this nice quote from Tom Hanks and not Jimmy Dugan: “Football is a metaphor for war and basketball for struggle, but baseball is life.”
The book also has this nice quote from Tom Hanks and not Jimmy Dugan: “Football is a metaphor for war and basketball for struggle, but baseball is life.”
March 26, 2024
Interesting read for someone who loves the movie and also works in Hollywood.
Name shuffling is a bit confusing (that person was who? Did what again? *checks IMDb*) but I liked reading the stories from prep, production and the film’s release.
Name shuffling is a bit confusing (that person was who? Did what again? *checks IMDb*) but I liked reading the stories from prep, production and the film’s release.
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