#GWG50: A Look Back at Sayaka Tsushima’s 1998 Little League Baseball® World Series Interview

Little League will continue its Girls with Game® 50 Celebration in 2024, honoring the women who have changed the game forever while inspiring the next generation of Little Leaguers®. This includes recognizing the 22 Girls with Game who have participated in the Little League Baseball® World Series (LLBWS) in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, since 1984, when Victoria Roche became the first woman to step into Lamade Stadium.

As Little League continues its year-long celebration, we look back at an interview Sayaka Tsushima participated in during the 1998 LLBWS. As a member of the Far East Region team, Ms. Tsushima became the sixth woman to compete on the biggest stage in youth sports. Playing center field, Ms. Tsushima finished the tournament with four hits, three runs, and an RBI. The Kashima Little League team from Ibaraki, Japan, finished in second place, finishing the series with a 3-2 record.

At the time of the interview, Ms. Tsushima did not speak English, but she planned to study it in her freshman year of high school when she returned to Japan. She also indicated during the interview that her favorite athlete was Toshihisa Nishi, second baseman for the Tokyo Giants of the Japanese Major Leagues.

Read more from the August 23, 1998 interview with Mrs. Tsushima below:

Journey to Baseball:

“I’ve been playing baseball for two and a half years. It’s not unusual for girls in Japan to play Little League. Most girls play softball, soccer, and golf… I played softball for a year before joining this Little League team. I also play soccer. I was mostly a pitcher on softball teams, sometimes playing third base. I didn’t have a problem switching from softball to baseball because I used to play catch with my dad and teammates. I’m not sure yet if I’ll continue playing baseball. I play baseball on Saturdays and Sundays in Little League and at school.”

Family support:

“My parents both agreed and they support me completely. They have no objections. I dream of becoming a Major League Baseball player, but there are many restrictions because I am a woman.”

Media attention as the first girl in the Far East Regional Team in the LLBWS:

“I’m very happy to be interviewed in a mass media interview… I’m very happy to be the first Japanese girl to play Little League (at this level). In the history of the All-Japan tournament, they’ve never had a female player. There are only a limited number of teams in the playoffs. There are only 16 teams in the All-Japan tournament… When people found out there was going to be a girl (in the tournament), there was a big promotion.”

Are you worried about getting injured when playing with bigger players?

I’m not afraid.

Participation in all-male baseball teams:

“I think when I get to my first year of high school, things will change. I have two more years (in high school) where I can keep the same level of play as the boys.”

Advice for girls who want to play baseball:

“It’s very difficult for girls to play baseball with boys. If other girls want to play baseball with boys, they have to fight to overcome this.”

REMARK: The #GWG50 celebration is proudly supported by DICK’S Sporting Goodsa long-time Little League partner committed to creating opportunities for girls and women in sports and will be active around key events and milestones this year. To learn more about the entire #GWG50 Celebration, including the 50^e Visit LittleLeague.org/GWG50 for the anniversary of the Little League Softball World Series.