A League of Their Own
Earlier this summer, Abbi Jacobson and Will Graham gave queer women everything we ever wanted with the television adaptation of A League of Their Own. In eight spectacular episodes, we laughed, we cried, and we shipped characters as they came out, kissed, dated, and played baseball.
Borrowing its premise and name from the beloved Penny Marshall film that starred Geena Davis, Lori Petty, Rosie O'Donnell, and Madonna as baseball players in the all-women's league that sprouted up while men were away in World War II, the very queer series goes where viewers wish the movie could have gone. The show, created by Broad City's Jacobson and Graham, features several queer characters, including a Black transgender character who shows up partway into the series. In another departure from the movie, the series tells parallel stories about the white women baseball players who've won coveted slots in the women's league on teams like the Rockford Peaches while Chante Adams's ringer of a pitcher, Max Chapman, is shut out and forced navigates landing a spot playing with the Black male league. The series also delves into the lives of Latinx players who were in the league but whose stories were not amplified.
Here are 10 of the gayest moments from this television masterpiece. Also, spoilers are ahead.
Related: How A League of Their Own Is Changing the Game for Queer and Black Women
Related: A League of Their Own Inspiration Maybelle Blair Comes Out at 95
Carson and Greta’s First Kiss (Episode 1)
From the second they meet, Carson Shaw (Abbi Jacobson) and Greta Gill (D'Arcy Carden) have electric chemistry. Towards the end of episode 1, the two flirt over drinks at the bar, telling each other they've never met anyone like the other. Greta grabs Carson's hand and leads her into a bar closet, where they share a passionate kiss.
Max Kisses a Girl in the Barber Shop (Episode 2)
In episode 2, Max Chapman (Chante Adams) returns to her mother's beauty salon and makes out with a customer who had visited the salon earlier in the day while "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" by Nina Simone plays. And the pick-up line? "I prefer an after-hours appointment." Us too.
Carson’s Sexual Fantasy with Greta and Charlie (Episode 3)
Carson's husband Charlie surprises Carson with a visit, but their kisses are interrupted by Greta declaring: "I go where I please. I do what I please. And I don't say please." Greta makes out with Charles, and Carson watches with astonishment before getting pulled into the fun and then waking up from her sexual fantasy.
Carson and Greta Have Sex (Episode 4)
After Carson successfully carries out a plan to share a room with Greta, she tells Greta how happy she is that Greta broke one her rules: to not act close in public. Before anyone can say anymore, Carson grabs Greta's face and takes off her shirt. Greta's response: "I like you confident, Shaw," and the rest is history.
Carson Tells Max She Might Love Greta (Episode 5)
Max asks Carson what it's like to sleep with men, and when she says it's "nice sometimes," Max says she'll "agree to disagree." Carson says she loves her husband, but she might love Greta too. Cheating is bad, but we stan Greta and Carson.
Carson Realizes That She Has Queer Teammates (Episode 6)
Thinking that her teammate Lupe Garcia (Roberta Colindrez) is trying to get traded to another team, Carson follows Lupe and ends up at a bar with some of her teammates, including Jess McCready (Kelly McCormack). When Carson accuses them of fraternizing with their opponents, Jess laughs and tells Carson to look around. And that's when she realizes she's in a queer bar and they're all on the same team, literally.
Rosie O’Donnell Appears at the Gay Bar (Episode 6)
In episode 6, A League Of Their Own veteran Rosie O'Donnell welcomes Carson to the gay bar and offers her a drink. They talk baseball, and when Vi's wife Edie (Stephanie Erb) shows up, Carson asks: "How is any of this possible? I mean, the bar? You being married?" Dreams do come true, Shaw.
Max Gets a Makeover (Episode 6)
In episode 5, Max cuts her hair short, and all the sapphics went crazy. But her makeover isn't complete until episode 6, when she puts on a suit gifted from her Uncle Bertie, who later becomes Max's queer role model. We love to see Max in her element - and damn, she looks FINE in that suit.
Carson and Max Discuss Bread and Pizza (Episode 6)
Bread and pizza are not explicitly gay, but in this case, Carson and Max use bread as a metaphor for sex with men and pizza as a metaphor for sex with women. Carson says that sex with her husband is "nice, like bread . . . warm bread," but sex with Greta is like pizza. The two have a conversation about masculine and feminine women, and how we need a word for those in between. Carson suggests the word should be pizza-related, but Max shoots her down.
Max Tries to Find Her Lover (Episode 7)
When Max finally makes her way to a night at Uncle Bertie's, she meets a woman who goes by S. The morning after, Bertie says: "look at hickey-hickey here," and asks whether Max gave S her number. When Max says no because the woman was from out of town, Bertie's partner suggests that they go to the train station and ask for a list of everyone who came to town with a name that starts with S. It's like Internet stalking for the 1940s, and we're here for it.
