Women's Baseball legend Sue Parsons Zipay dies at 91

Sue Parsons Zipay passed away peacefully on July 14, 2025. She was 91.

"Born in Medford, MA, Sue grew up with a glove in one hand and a bat in the other, forging her place in sports history at a time when women's professional athletics were still fighting for recognition," stated the obituary on the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) website.

Zipay played in the final two seasons (1953 and 1954) of the AAGPBL, the women's professional baseball league that inspired the film A League of Their Own.

She became a passionate ambassador for women's sports, travelling to reunions, speaking at schools and community events.

In 2019, she founded American Girls Baseball (AGB). Her goal was to support female baseball players who want the choice between softball and baseball, and to provide them with meaningful opportunities to train, participate, and compete in the game of baseball at every level - including high school, college and professional.

In 2020, American Girls Baseball sent a survey to women's baseball players in the United States, Canada, Cuba, Venezuela, and Japan to measure overall interest in a Women's Professional Baseball League.

Zipay envisioned a Fall or Winter League using Major League Baseball spring training venues, which are mostly dormant in October, November and December.

A Women's Professional Baseball League may soon become a reality. Women's baseball pioneer and WBSC Diversity & Inclusivity Commission member Justine Siegal teamed up with lawyer and businessman Keith Stein to co-found the the Women's Pro Baseball League (WPBL), which has announced that its inaugural season is scheduled for summer 2026. The plan is a six-team league, with the participants primarily based in the northeastern United States.

Zipay's AGB launched the All-American Women's Baseball Classic, a national tournament celebrating female athletes of all ages and skill levels. The fourth annual Classic will be held from August 1 to 3, 2025, at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, North Carolina.

"A testament to Sue's vision, leadership, and unwavering belief in the future of women's baseball," the AAGPBL website wrote.