“See Her Be Her“ Documentary & book logo

Celebrating Women in Baseball
Around the Globe

SEE HER BE HER is a new feature-length documentary about women’s baseball around the globe. The film is directed and produced by acclaimed sports photographer Jean Fruth and produced by Jeff Idelson, former president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum.  

Sports icon and equality champion Billie Jean King, former Milwaukee Brewers President, CEO and Chairman Wendy Selig-Prieb, and Misdee Wrigley Miller, the granddaughter of AAGPBL founder Phil Wrigley all joined the Grassroots Baseball team to serve as executive producers.

The film is accompanied by a photography book by the same title — See Her Be Her — the third entry in the Grassroots Baseball book series.

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The Film

The story follows the lives of seven women baseball stars who are at the pinnacle of their game and represent the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Japan, South Korea, Cuba and Uganda. In the intense battle for the World Cup Championship, they want victory — for themselves, for their team, for their countries, and for the sheer love of the game — but their greatest triumph is the path they are blazing for future generations of female players.

See Her Be Her shatters a variety of stereotypes, as the seven players — through perseverance and resilience — push the boundaries of what’s possible both on and off the field. The film highlights their resolve to fight for gender equality for all female athletes.

The film is directed and produced by acclaimed sports photographer Jean Fruth and co-produced by Jeff Idelson, former president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum.

Additionally, sports icon and equality champion Billie Jean King, former Milwaukee Brewers President, CEO and Chairman Wendy Selig-Prieb, and Misdee Wrigley Miller, the granddaughter of AAGPBL founder Phil Wrigley, have all joined the Grassroots Baseball team, serving as executive producers.

“It is time to shine an overdue spotlight on these unsung ‘sheroes’ who are paving the way for the next generation of women athletes,” said Fruth. “It is our hope that with this documentary, and with their example, the message is clear: If they see her, they can dream to one day be her. Our journey took us through seven regions on three continents over three years and resulted in over 500 hours of original footage and more than 120 interviews.”

“Jean and Jeff share a longtime commitment and passion for SEE HER BE HER and the important message it sends,” said Billie Jean King. “Baseball was my first true love, but I never got the chance to play because I was a girl. It is my hope that SEE HER BE HER will encourage girls and women to pursue their dreams no matter what others say is possible, and that one day soon women once again have a league of our own.”

The documentary also features Hall of Famers Cal Ripken, Jr., Tony Pérez and Ferguson Jenkins, as well as retired major league superstars Ichiro Suzuki, Chan Ho Park and Jimmy Rollins, all of whom strongly support the women’s game.

Idelson added, “SEE HER BE HER shares the story of the fight for equality, recognition and acceptance that women still face in baseball today. Through their courage and determination, they are inspiring a new generation of young girls to break free from the constraints of gender stereotypes and lift women’s baseball to the levels their counterparts have achieved in basketball, hockey, soccer and tennis.”

“The timeliness of SEE HER BE HER is perfectly aligned with the excellence we are seeing in women’s sports today,” said Claire Smith, the first female beat reporter in MLB history and first female recipient of the BBWAA Career Excellence Award, and acknowledged in the Hall of Fame, in 2017. “The hope is that millions of women across the globe can get a chance to see this film and feel inspired to follow their passions and live full lives of great impact. This look into the everyday unsung heroes that are part of this documentary is a celebration of poise and perseverance and a story that needed to be told. Win or lose, no matter where life takes them, these women have already triumphed.”

“As someone who knows how important a role model can be, I’m thrilled that Grassroots Baseball is promoting girls and women involved in the sport I love,” added Hall of Famer Ken Griffey, Jr. “The girls’ game is growing around the globe, and women are already making an impact as executives, coaches, trainers and groundskeepers. As minds become more open and the gender gap narrows, women will continue to change the game for the better and for good. It meant so much to me to get to play alongside my dad. I hope that one day I get to see a young woman play alongside her mom in a major league game.”

Grassroots Baseball’s non-profit mission is to promote and celebrate the amateur game around the globe. The overarching goal of Grassroots Baseball is to give back to historically underserved communities through the power of sports. 

“See Her Be Her is a film that allows girls and women around the world to dream. It features courageous women doing whatever it takes to play the game they love — BASEBALL!  My hope is this film creates more opportunities for girls and women to play the game. We need a league for women to play! Boys get to see big leaguers and they get to dream. I want every girl to have that dream too.”
— Sports Icon and Equality Champion Billie Jean King

What People are Saying

“See Her Be Her should motivate young girls to continue playing baseball, if that is the game they love.  It should motivate college-age women interested in playing baseball to know that women’s baseball is on the move, the USA has the potential to grow, and that there is a future for a league similar to our old AAGPBL. Your film is providing that much needed push!”
— Lois Youngen, AAGPBL player

“To sit there and to watch the entire film, it is powerful, inspiring and eye-opening. And I say eye-opening because the quality of play and competition not just in the U.S. but globally certainly exceeded what I understood before and what I think a lot of people know. And so what Jeff and Jean are doing by providing visibility for not only the potential and possibilities that exist going forward, but more importantly what’s happening right now in women’s baseball, is just tremendous.”
— Former Brewer President, CEO and Chairman, Wendy Selig-Prieb (Associated Press News)

“As the father of three young girls, four minutes into this film I was a little weepy. Just an incredible, moving piece.”
— Oakland A’s Broadcaster Dallas Braden

“I didn’t know what to expect when I came in and watched this, but it was powerful, uplifting, eye-opening.”
— Hall of Famer Dave Winfield

“What an honor it was to attend the screening of the Grassroots Baseball film, SEE HER BE HER. This compelling documentary about women’s baseball around the world is a must watch!”
— Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins

“Kudos to Jean Fruth and Jeff Idelson with Grassroots Baseball for making SEE HER BE HER, an incredible film about the women’s game around the globe.”
— Hall of Famer Wade Boggs

“Well done Jean Fruth, Jeff Idelson and Grassroots Baseball for producing SEE HER BE HER an inspirational movie about Women’s baseball around the globe.”
— Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven

About Grassroots Baseball: Grassroots Baseball’s non-profit mission is to promote and celebrate the amateur game around the globe. The overarching goal of Grassroots Baseball is to give back to historically underserved communities through the power of sports. 

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See Her Be Her!