We were in great anticipation of the debut of Ila Borders in the summer of 1997. Wow! The first woman to play pro baseball and she was going to do it in St Paul. What a buildup she got. This, we all knew, was going to be something BIG!
One day I was listening to K-FAN, the all sports radio station here in the Twin Cities. There was a report that a young woman was seen sleeping in an old car in the Municipal Stadium parking lot. "Isn't that the girl who is going to pitch for the Saints?" asked several callers.
When word got out, several people immediately went to the parking lot and saw Ila Borders sleeping in that car! A lady who was listening to the station called up the sportscasters and said that she had a small apartment in her house and was willing to put up Ila in that small unit. Before long, Ila got that apartment and she settled into St Paul where she made a successful debut for our Saints.
Next day the local newspaper revealed the whole story: it turns out that Ila's Dad is a man of modest economic means. After graduating from school, Mr Borders was only able to buy Ila a used car. When Ila signed her contract with the Saints, they sent her some an advance. When she drove from California to Minnesota, the old car broke down several times! Ila was forced to use the advance money to pay for the badly needed repairs and she ran out of money! Because of that, she could not afford to stay in a hotel and was forced to sleep in her car! That's why she was found sleeping in the Municipal Stadium parking lot. What a way to make her professional debut!
Ila played professional baseball for four years. It was said that she showed great leadership capabilities and that her teammates really looked up to her. Perhaps someday she will become a manager in pro baseball. That is something I encourage her and other young women to pursue. The game of baseball, a sport I cherish with all my heart, will be better for the presence of Ila Borders and others like her in coaching and in field management.
Thanks for the memories, Ila. I'll always remember you for your great contributions to our beloved game of baseball!
» Richard "Lefty" Sepulveda, now in his 50's, still has dreams of himself playing baseball for the NY Yankees. Oh well, I man can have his dreams!
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Copyright © 2003 by Richard "Lefty" Sepulveda [B.A., J.D.]. Posted February 26, 2003.
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