Author Profiled Baseball Legend Jackie Mitchell
A new book examines the erasure of women from history, including Mitchell's famous 1931 strikeout of Babe Ruth.
Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Baseball
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Author L.E. Carmichael has published a new book titled The Matilda Effect: How 25 Women Were Erased From History. The work highlights historical figures, including 17-year-old pitcher Jackie Mitchell, who famously struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in 1931.
Why it matters
The book aims to inspire readers by drawing attention to the systemic erasure of women's achievements across various professional fields. By revisiting these stories, the author highlights the historical barriers women have faced in gaining credit for their work.
The book documents 25 biographies of women, including a profile of the teenage pitcher Jackie Mitchell. The 1931 exhibition game at Engel Stadium saw an estimated crowd of 4,000 fans.
The players
L.E. Carmichael
She is the author who wrote The Matilda Effect: How 25 Women Were Erased From History.
Jackie Mitchell
She was a 17-year-old pitcher who gained fame for striking out two legendary baseball players.
Babe Ruth
He was a Hall of Fame baseball player known for his significant contributions to the sport.
Lou Gehrig
He was a standout baseball player for the New York Yankees during the early 20th century.
John Thorn
He serves as a Major League Baseball historian who has analyzed the 1931 exhibition game.
The details
In a 1931 exhibition game hosted by Joe Engel in Chattanooga, Jackie Mitchell struck out legends Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. While Major League Baseball historian John Thorn has characterized the event as a prearranged stunt, the book uses Mitchell to illustrate the broader Matilda Effect, where women in science and history are denied acknowledgment.
Timeline
April 2, 1931: Jackie Mitchell pitched against the New York Yankees.
October 6, 2026: Standard release date for the book.
October 27, 2026: Alternative release date for the book.
Season Trajectory
The book follows the pattern set by the Matilda Effect to explain how female historical figures were overlooked. It utilizes the phenomenon as a framework to categorize the systemic erasure of the 25 women featured in its pages.
The historical account reminds readers that the 1931 exhibition remains a point of contention regarding its competitive authenticity. Future discussions will likely contrast this event against the standard records of the 1931 New York Yankees season.
The takeaway
Understanding the Matilda Effect encourages a more critical examination of how history identifies and honors professional success. Readers can apply this perspective to modern research to ensure contributions from all genders receive proper recognition.
Further reading
Explore more historical accounts of the game on our Baseball page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Timesfreepress.
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