The Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL) is set to make its debut on August 1, introducing four teams that carry the names of trailblazing women whose contributions span civil‑rights activism, medicine, firefighting and sport.
Each franchise draws inspiration from a distinct legacy: Dorothy Irene Height, a champion of equality; Harriot K. Hunt, one of the first female physicians in the United States; Lillie Hitchcock Coit, a patron of firefighters whose bequest helped fund San Francisco’s iconic Coit Tower; and Lizzie Murphy, who broke ground by facing major‑league players in 1922.
A Design That Speaks louder Than a Portrait
Toronto‑based design studio Arrivals + Departures was commissioned to craft the league’s visual identity, opting for abstract symbols of resilience, fire, precision and royalty rather than literal portraits.
Justine Siegal, the league’s co‑founder and inaugural commissioner, says the branding is meant to signal that the WPBL stands for something larger than the game itself, echoing the historic role women have played in shaping baseball.
Keith Stein, who oversees the league’s operational backbone, adds that the partnership with Arrivals + Departures, also known for work with EQ Bank, The Beer Store, Paramount+ and Metro, reflects a commitment to professional standards both on and off the field.
The league’s organizers hope the tribute will spark renewed interest in women’s baseball and provide a platform that celebrates the full spectrum of female achievement in a sport long dominated by men.