REAL SPORTS magazine's 2014 Sportsperson of Year — Mo'ne Davis

While there were many outstanding performances in sports in 2014, one athlete, with the support of her team, the Taney Tigers, electrified the country. Her performances garnered wins, presidential acknowledgement, Major League Baseball first-pitches, and even a TV commercial. All of which came about after the NCAA confirmed doing so wouldn’t alter her college eligibility status, even though she’s not yet in high school.

Chevrolet Commercial featuring Mo'ne Davis required NCAA approval
to ensure she would not lose eligibility status.
(C) Chevrolet

At the 2014 Little League World Series, Philadelphia 13-year-old Mo’ne Davis was the star of the show, not solely because of her sex, but because of her pitching. Most pitchers her age at the LLWS level throw a fastball at 50-60 mph; Davis’ heater averages about 70 mph. On the smaller little-league diamond, that is equivalent to a 93 mph big-league pitch. She also has a curveball that breaks 12-6, which keeps hitters off balance.

In August, Davis used her pitching repertoire to earn an 4-0 win, leading Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett to predict she would one day pitch in the major leagues.

Chevrolet's ad resonates with the dreams of all.

(C) Chevrolet

One might think after such a summer in which she proclaims pride in “throwing like a girl” that baseball would be her preferred sport. Davis told reporters at the LLWS that pitching isn’t her primary baseball position, preferring to play shortstop and centerfield. She also explained that baseball in fact comes third, after basketball and soccer, in which she is a midfielder.

But her true love is basketball. When she discusses her career goals, they include the WNBA, after running Coach Geno Auriemma’s offense as a point guard at the University of Connecticut, with the expectation of leading it to yet another NCAA basketball championship. It is a goal that may well be feasible, because in December, the eighth-grader made the girls varsity basketball team at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy in Philadelphia.

Davis is not the first girl to participate in the LLWS, nor even the only girl in the 2014 championship (Emma March was at first base and pitched for Vancouver). The first girl to play in the Little League as Maria Pepe in 1972; the first girl to reach the World Series was Victoria Roche, who played on a team from Belgium in 1984. All told, 18 girls have participated in the LLWS, but none generated the excitement like Davis’ appearance, who became the first Little League player to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated as an active player; it was also the first time any Little League player appeared on the cover page of any major national magazine. Davis also appeared on the front page of the Philadelphia Inquirer for five consecutive days in August, and ESPN recorded the highest ratings for the LLWS in its history on Aug. 15, the day of her shutout victory.

Maria Pepe’s experience was decidedly different when she broke the league’s gender barrier — protests from opposing teams forced her removal from the field. Legal action to reinstate her was successful, but by the time it was completed Pepe was too old to participate in Little League. Subsequent appearances by girls in the LLWS have been mostly overlooked. However, It was Davis’ dominant performance that drew attention to her participation, and her success at the national level should open the door a bit wider for other girls to compete in baseball. However, given that youth sports are still governed by local leaders who bring their own perspectives about gender neutrality to the oftentimes volunteer role, gender discrimination can remain an issue.

Whether Davis competes in high school baseball or beyond is inconsequential, although we anticipate USA Baseball plans to keep in touch with her, she has made an indelible mark in sports, as well as on the issue of access and participation. Because those who visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will see the jersey Davis wore when she made history.

In the past 12 months, Mo’ne Davis has achieved a never-before-performed feat in baseball, became the subject of a mini-documentary by Spike Lee, won a position on a high school varsity basketball team (and was named a captain by her older teammates) and was named Sports Illustrated Sports Kid of the Year.

We can’t help but wonder what comes next for REAL SPORTS 2014 Sportsperson of the Year. [RS]

Two Publisher's Notes:  
There have been a few women to break through in professional baseball. One you might find of interest is Jackie Mitchell, who struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in an exhibition game. Several children's book are available that tell the story of her performance.

In June 2014, Always, a P&G branded product, produced a video about what it means to do something #LikeAGirl. The video spotlights how girls' confidence can be impacted by other's opinions and stereotypes. Watching this video brings into focus why Mo'ne Davis' performance at the Little League World Series and the resulting media attention should have far-lasting impact on the opinions of all.