Little Diesel

Big Dave Sterling's Story

Once upon a time by a river in Chattanooga, a girl with unwavering determination and talent stood center stage for a moment in the great American pastime baseball and quietly stepped down as a hero.  Over a half a century later her story will be told.

On April 2, 1931, Virne Beatrice “Jackie” Mitchell stepped to the mound for the first and last time.  Although signed with the Chattanooga Lookouts as a marketing gimmick, her left-handed “sinker” pitch took down two hard hitting legends Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig sending them both back to the dugout empty-handed.  Not long after the game, the commissioner changed the rules of baseball exclaiming the sport unsafe for women, but Jackie forever made her mark on the game and history - throwing like a girl.