BREAK: Oakland Ballers superstar became the first woman legend in history
In a historic milestone for the Oakland Ballers, pitcher Kelsie Whitmore became the first woman to start a game in the club’s minor-league Pioneer League, leading her team to a 9-8 victory. This notable achievement occurred during Thursday night’s home game against the Yolo High Rollers.
The Oakland Ballers, also known as the Oakland B’s, have recently emerged as a new minor league baseball team, aiming to capture the interest of Oakland A’s fans who are disappointed by the A’s impending relocation to Las Vegas. The Ballers demonstrated their potential as a major draw during their Tuesday night home opener at Raimondi Field in West Oakland. Despite the Oakland A’s having a home game the same evening, the Ballers attracted a significant crowd of 4,120 fans, nearly rivaling the A’s attendance of 5,624 in their 65,000-seat stadium, as reported by Sports Business Journal.
Thursday’s game added to the Ballers’ burgeoning reputation, with Whitmore’s groundbreaking performance on the mound marking a significant moment in the Pioneer League’s history. This development not only highlights Whitmore’s pioneering role but also underscores the increasing inclusivity and evolution within minor league baseball.
Whitmore strikes out the first batter of the game looking with a back door curveball. Crowd is loving it. pic.twitter.com/nxgrfQaAsY
— Justice delos Santos (@justdelossantos) June 7, 2024
Whitmore made an impressive start by striking out the very first batter she faced on just four pitches. According to the News Group, the second batter for the High Rollers managed to reach base with a single but was quickly thrown out attempting to steal second. The third batter then hit an easy pop fly, allowing Whitmore to retire the side in order, 1-2-3.
First Batter? First Strikeout. @KelsieWhitmore pic.twitter.com/VUdMVr4HYp
— Oakland Ballers (@OaklandBallers) June 7, 2024
KTVU highlights that Whitmore’s start was one of her many historic achievements, which began in high school when she became the first woman to join the men’s team at Temecula Valley High School. After graduating from Cal State Fullerton, she continued to break barriers by becoming the first woman to sign with, pitch for, and start for an MLB partner league minor league team, the Staten Island FerryHawks of the Atlantic League.
“It’s cool to be a part of history and it’s a privilege to be a part of it,” Whitmore told the Bay Area News Group after Thursday night’s win. “At the end of the day, when you do what you love, things happen. The opportunities come. I’m thankful for the opportunity.”
Here’s a Barry Zito-esque curve from @KelsieWhitmore last night, video courtesy of the @OaklandBallers pic.twitter.com/wQ1Gsla8wn
— Nick Lozito (@nickhlozito) June 7, 2024
However, Whitmore didn’t technically get credited with the win. She was pulled after the third inning, having given up three runs. The High Rollers then surged ahead to an 8-3 lead following a five-run sixth inning. Nevertheless, the B’s rallied to tie the game.
The Pioneer League has an interesting alternative to extra innings: a Knockout Round, which is essentially a home run derby where strikeouts count, and each team gets only one batter. In this round, the High Rollers’ batter managed just one home run, while the Ballers’ Dondrei Hubbard hit two, with his second home run securing a dramatic walk-off 9-8 victory.
Tonight @KelsieWhitmore makes baseball history AGAIN. She'll be the first woman to ever start a @PBL1939 game when she takes the mound for the @OaklandBallers. Had a great time getting to know her. pic.twitter.com/xuQYL8HGU9
— Casey Pratt (@CaseyPrattABC7) June 6, 2024
The Ballers will face the High Rollers again on Friday night at 6:35 pm at Raimondi Field. Tickets are available online. The game will be broadcast on TV on KPIX’s cable TV sister station KPIX+ 44 Cable 12 and on the radio on KTRB 860 AM. Additionally, you can watch the game via the subscription-based streaming service FloBaseball.