The Chicago Bandits visited a 9-year-old softball player, and her team, after her letter to Major League Baseball went viral.
The professional softball team heard about Marie Marcum’s letter and wanted to show their support.
“It’s important to know that these little girls know that they can be pros someday. They can earn a living, and it’s really important that we support it at every level. We loved her letter we loved her letter,” said Toni Calmeyn, the general manager of the Chicago Bandits.
Marcum was playing an MLB-licensed game at Chuck E. Cheese, but after missing a few targets she heard something she didn’t like.
“Hey,” the game teased, “there’s always softball!”
The degrading taunt prompted Marcum to write a letter to MLB.
Marcum’s letter has since reached far and wide but she never expected it to go viral.
“It would just get a few comments from like really famous, but not like this,” said Marie Marcum.
Innovative Concepts in Entertainment, creators of the game, and the Chuck E. Cheese have responded by muting the gesture from the game, and with plans of removing it entirely.
Marie’s parents urged her to write the letter and couldn’t be any more proud of their daughter.
“Some of my role models are reaching out and saying how my kid inspired them. You just can’t put into words how that feels,” said Lisa Marcum, Marie’s mother.
In the summer, Marcum and her team, the Plainfield Twisters, will attend the Bandits of Tomorrow game and she’ll have the honor of throwing out the first pitch. This time she doesn’t plan on missing.
Naperville News 17’s Christian Canizal reports.
