Thank you Hatchette/Grand Central for this book! (and for sending me the physical copy when I requested it, so awesome).
I am a tremendous fan of A League of Their Own, one of those movies that hit me at the right time around age 12/13 and I have memories of seeing it in the movie theater, peanut chews in hand. I loved reading an ode to the women behind this movie, to the power of a movie about women in sports, and all the behind the scenes stories, I can't wait to rewatch the movie again this weekend with all the little insights at hand.

This is a great read for fans of sports movies in general and a must for fans of A League of Their Own. A great early holiday gift... :)

Anything you could possibly want to know about the film is in this book. It is chock full of insider information that you can't get anywhere else. Carlton really hits one out of the park with this extremely entertaining and informative book. If you like baseball, movies, and/or any of the celebrities associated with the making of the movie you will love it.

Erin Carlson took a big swing in No Crying in Baseball. Unfortunately, she failed to make solid contact—instead, this book is a weak dribbler trying to make its way past the defense.

Carlson attempts to sensationalize the making of A League of Their Own, recounting endless stories of the movie’s convoluted gestation. The main character is director Penny Marshall, whom Carlson portrays as an insecure but demanding genius—often tyrannical, seemingly unconcerned with the movie’s cost, and a nightmare to work with. Marshall shot millions of feet of footage—so much that Kodak celebrated her use of its product!—in pursuit of a feature film that she could envision but not articulate.

Other big names, of course, appear in No Crying in Baseball: Geena Davis, Tom Hanks, Madonna, Rosie O’Donnell. None of Carlson’s stories about the movie’s stars get any deeper than an average “oral history of …” feature online. The salvageable part of the book is when she talks to the many unknown actors who populated the cast of A League of Their Own. Not all of them went on to long acting careers, but their experiences as part of the production give the book badly needed texture and depth.

I love A League of Their Own and was excited to learn more about how the movie came into being. Unfortunately, No Crying in Baseball doesn’t recount that story in a coherent or engaging manner.

This is a fantastic read for those of us who love this movie. It has a ton of backstory - before the movie even was acquired - as well as some gossipy behind the scenes tidbits.

My only small criticism of this book is that it isn’t all about the movie - the first few chapters (“innings”…so cute) are all about Penny’s life, Hollywood sexism, Tom’s need for a comeback. I didn’t mind all the extra info, but it certainly took away from the thought that this book is all about the movie.

You can tell the author did a ton of research and interviews, and cares about the topics - the movie and the unspoken subtopics peppered throughout the book. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am about to rewatch the movie (for the umpteenth time) with new eyes.

{This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.}

I was so excited to read this book. A League of Their Own is one of my all time favorite movies - and it’s based on real life!

While I enjoyed learning about the “behind the scenes” of it all I will say this book dragged on. I feel like the writer wanted to cram every single piece of information they learned about anything to do with the movie that it took away from the bigger picture.

It takes over a quarter of the way into the book to get to where they actually have the actors/actresses that we see in the movie. This book also felt like a biography for Penny Marshall.

Overall, I mostly enjoyed learning tidbits like how Rosie O’Donnell and Madonna became friends, about Tom Hanks insecurity (THE Tom Hanks was concerned?!), and the screenwriters behind the movie.

Advanced Book Review! Thank you @netgalley and @hachettebooks for sending me this book for review. All opinions are my own.
“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 favourite.”
I was so excited to get approval for this book on NetGalley. A League of Their Own is not only my favourite baseball movie, but one of my favourite movies of all time. I couldn’t wait to learn the behind the scenes of the filming.
I did enjoy getting the backstory to how the movie got made and some of the challenges along the way. I loved learning about some of the history of the real league and some of the players – for example the sisters upon whom the main characters – Dottie and Kit – were loosely based. The author describes A League of Their Own as “a love letter to baseball and the real women who had played it professionally.”
I learned a lot about Penny Marshall (the book is as much about her as it is about the movie) and about Tom Hanks’ love for baseball. I learned about how Geena Davis, Rosie O’Donnell and Madonna got their parts in the movie – a great follow up to Geena Davis’ memoir, Dying of Politeness, which I read last year. I enjoyed learning about some deleted scenes that totally would have changed the course of the movie – and I am grateful they were deleted.
Unfortunately, I did find the book sometimes hard to get into. The chapters were long and dense. The writing was sometimes hard to follow and I felt like you had to be “in the know” sometimes to understand what the author was talking about. I felt like the author added every piece of information she found, whether it was relevant or not.
I think my biggest takeaway, however, was that hundreds of women tried out for this women’s baseball movie. The author writes: “A League of Their Own felt once-in-a-lifetime, the Halley’s Comet of jobs. A refreshing antidote to the stock female sidekicks on the call sheets.” This was a movie about women doing something that hadn’t been done before. And it inspired thousands of American women to take up the sport of baseball.
I’ll leave you with this stat: The line “‘there’s no crying in baseball’ would eventually be the most-quoted line in sports movie history. Scratch that. In sports history, period.”

A League of Their Own is one of my favorite movies so I was thrilled to get a review copy of this! The sections being divided into innings was such a cute touch. I loved getting to see the behind the scenes and dive into what that movie meant to everyone. It gave me serious nostalgia and I made me want to go watch the movie again!

I was a little let down by this book. I thought this was going to focus on the real life women’s baseball team that inspired the movie. Instead this book was about the making of the movie and everything that went on behind the scenes. I really like the movie but didn’t really care for this book. I just thought it was going to be way different than it was. If you like the movie you should read this. But if you are looking for the real life history of women’s baseball this is not one you should read.

A League of Their Own is one of my favorite movies. I’m sure I’ve seen it close to a hundred times. It’s funny, upbeat, and brings to light an easily forgotten piece of history with matter of fact detail that doesn’t slide into heavy handed territory. My daughter loved the movie so much she requested a trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame for her 9th birthday. This book is devoted to telling the “inside story.”

It’s a messy narrative, reading more like a super complete (and utterly engaging) set of IMDB trivia than a cohesive story, but if you loved the movie, you’ll love reading all of it: the incredibly drawn-out, complex, work of casting; Penny Marshall’s very insecure directorial style; her mega-lavish use of film (Kodak threw an expensive party for the cast and they don’t do that for every film!); the detailed history of women’s athletics over time and how that impacted the film, the crew, and the many, many, women who swarmed the tryouts for athletic extras.

I didn’t read through the copious notes at the end of the book, but Carlson basically took each topic and interviewed or studied interviews of cast, crew, friends, family, etc so that the reader gets an extensive set of viewpoints without the author sticking her own oar in too often. Everything from feminism to unaddressed lesbianism to all the hidden elements of making a film — so many personalities and so few of them easy. I found all the various bits of financial and creative control and the way individual contracts stipulated such to be quite fascinating. The in-depth baseball training and the injuries the actresses sustained (a broken foot, a broken nose, and that horrible thigh length bruise Shirley Baker sustained that was NOT makeup(!) really grabbed me.

All the details of making the movie were nested in a complete history of Penny Marshall from birth to death — which I had already read about in Marshall’s memoir but was still interesting (and accurate). I loved this one Penny Marshall quote: “I think my problem is that I have a massive insecurity complex combined with a very huge ego.” Seems to be accurate!

I was surprised by some of the information on women’s sports — I’m not even a little bit sporty so it was all new to me — the public attitude towards women in sports and the various excuses used to push them to softball, for example, when the top athletes were perfectly capable of playing baseball. The idea that women were physically inferior and unable to keep up certainly permeated my thinking growing up in the 60s. Being not sporty (at all) myself, I never challenged any of those assumptions. Add to that the idea that it would emasculate the men if they were included certainly didn’t help anyone. The parallel to this story is the story of women in Hollywood as they vie for a spot in this almost all female and female directed cast.

Very enjoyable reading especially if you loved (or even liked) this movie!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for access to this ARC.

I wanted to like this book so much more than I actually did. I thought there would be more about the movie and the actual women's baseball league. That said, the majority of the first part of the book is about Penny Marshall. That's great, but there was so much detail that was not needed that I just got bogged down. This could have been fixed in the editing process. However, I love the premise of the book and I have fond memories of watching this movie as a young woman so it was still mostly enjoyable.

I like reading books that give the inside scoop and behind the scenes happenings of movies and TV shows so that's why this book caught my eye. It gives very detailed information about how this movie came to be ... from the beginning right to the end. There is also background about Penny Marshall, the director, and the actors and actresses involved. It had been a while since I've seen the movie so I watched it a couple nights ago so it made more sense as I was reading the book as I now knew exactly what the author was describing ... I'd recommend you watch the movie before starting the book if you haven't seen it in a while.

It was an interesting read. It's obvious the author did a lot of research ... there are about 60 pages of source notes at the back of the book. I did find it confusing at times, though, because there is so much detail and I couldn't keep track sometimes of who was who ... org charts would have been handy. And it would have been nice to have some pictures.

A League of Their Own has been a favorite movie of mine since I was little (too little to understand most of the jokes!) I loved reading this behind-the-scenes look at how the movie was made. It was a little slow and disjointed at times, but overall I found it entertaining. Who was originally cast in iconic roles, how certain scenes came to be, etc… it’s all there (and more). I would recommend this for any fan of the movie!

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 received a copy of "No Crying In Baseball" from NetGalley. I feel very lucky to get the chance to read this book. I have been a fan of the movie, so delighted to see a book dedicated to the movie. The author writes about the filming of the movie including the casting of the actors and actresses the ups and downs and difficulties trying to film the movie. Penny Marshall took filming the movie seriously and wanted to get actresses that not only could act but be athletic. The author writes a chapter about women who really played for the woman's baseball league. She shares about the whatever became of the actors. and so much more. This is a fun book to read. I was glad to get the chance to read.

“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. For example, 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. As an example, the final chapter which shares information about each person’s life after “League” could have easily list each actor or other participant as a sub-heading. 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.

#NetGalleyARC This was a fun read. I'm a huge fan of the movie so it was fun to read about the making of the movie and about the women who inspired the movie. Perfect for any fan of this classic baseball film.

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.

This was a great book about a wonderful movie. Reading this book made seeing the movie so much more fun.

A very well documented book on everything A League of Their Own. A baseball movie that told of the ladies baseball league. . Here, you read about the actual players, the actresses that played them, where the movie was filmed, where the actors hung on when not working. How the movie even came about and how Penny Marshall ended up as the director.
If you enjoyed the movie and are curious about the minutia of its production, this book is for you.
I enjoyed it very muc(. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me this ARC.

No Crying In Baseball is an insider look on before, during and after the iconic movie A League of Their Own was made. It’s a great read if you loved the movie and want to know more about the behind the scenes! The movie was one of my favorites growing up so I really enjoyed this book!