About This Lesson
Introduce students to Margaret “Marge” Villa, a trailblazing California-born, Mexican American athlete who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League—the league that inspired A League of Their Own. In this two-tiered lesson (for grades 4–6 and 7–12), students will explore how Villa’s versatility as a utility player led her to set impressive records—like scoring 9 runs and recording 11 total bases in a single game in 1946. Beyond baseball, Villa also became an accomplished golfer, winning one annual professional golf tournament more than 25 times. The lesson examines the idea that breaking barriers isn’t just about athletic records—it’s about opening doors for those who follow, especially Latina women and girls in sports. Students will learn about the social context of the 1940s–50s, reflect on representation in athletics, and consider how voices like Villa’s can be better recognized and included in history education.
