No Crying in Baseball

The inside story of A League of Their Own—one of the most beloved, enduring, and genre‑busting baseball movies of all time—featuring exclusive interviews and behind‑the‑scenes memories from the original cast and creators, and chronicling how the Penny Marshall classic developed from an unheralded piece of American history into a perennial cinematic favorite.

No Crying in Baseball is a rollicking, revelatory deep dive into a one‑of‑a‑kind film. Before A League of Their Own, few American girls could imagine themselves playing professional ball (and doing it better than the boys). But Penny Marshall’s genre outlier became an instant classic and significant aha moment for countless young women who saw that throwing like a girl was far from an insult.

Part fly‑on‑the‑wall narrative, part immersive pop nostalgia, No Crying in Baseball is for readers who love stories about subverting gender roles as well as fans of the film who remain passionate thirty years after its release. With key anecdotes from the cast, crew, and diehard fanatics, Carlson presents the definitive, first‑ever history of the making of the treasured film that inspired generations of Dottie Hinsons to dream bigger and aim for the sky.

• “Baseball stories are never just about baseball, Erin Carlson reminds us.  And Carlson’s baseball story, about the making of A League of Their Own, is about the business of Hollywood, the telling of women’s stories, the magic that ensues when the right performers meet the right director and the right script, and what, precisely, takes place when Madonna, at the height of her fame, decamps for the third-largest city in Indiana to shoot a movie.  No Crying in Baseball is sheer, joyous fun, studded with insight into the grit and determination it took then—and now!—to make a movie that celebrated the accomplishments of women.”—Saul Austerlitz, author Generation Friends
• “If you’re a fan of A League of Their Own, you’ll love all the behind the scenes info, and if you’re not already a fan, this book will make you want to watch immediately! Erin brilliantly weaves juicy stories with the triumphant tale of getting the historic film made. I loved it. Perhaps there's no crying in baseball, but you may shed a tear or two of joy while reading this wonderful book!”—Danny Pellegrino, author of How Do I Un-Remember This?
• “The second you saw A League of Their Own, you knew it was the type of movie we’d be talking about for decades. Decades later, with No Crying in Baseball, Erin Carlson gives us the definitive account not just of its making, but its continuing—and probably eternal—cultural impact. This book provides the same giddy sensations as the film: Laughter, tears, joy, and that incredible feeling of being a part of something larger than yourself. I loved every word of this—every word.”—Will Leitch, author of How Lucky and The Time Has Come