Sliding Into History: The Legacy of USU Women's Softball Champions 1980 – 1981: Women’s Softball Prior to Title IX

The story of softball being claimed by women starts in the 1930s and 40s with fastpitch softball. This version of the game grew in popularity because of the speed at which games were played. Fastpitch is the version of softball that has survived to the modern day. While softball was becoming its own defined sport it also had an impact in its parent sport, baseball. Women athletes were able to transfer from softball to baseball during the 1940s. In the 1940s the world of baseball changed from a men’s game to a women’s as men volunteered and were drafted for World War II, leaving the stadiums of America’s favorite pastime barren. The game of softball and its athletes became a force of their own and played a key role in helping baseball survive World War II.