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?Kylie Bunbury took a deep breath before stepping on set. The upcoming scene required her character to engage in a rather tense conversation with her fictional mother, Janet Baker (Chastity Dotson), and her agent, Amelia Slater (Ali Larter). She was prepared. She had studied. She put her all into that seemingly fleeting moment.Bunbury morphed into Ginny Baker, the first female Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher and lead for the new Fox television show Pitch, which premieres Sept. 22. This potentially ground-breaking character is a sign of hope for little girls who aspire to join the league, for those who were steered out of baseball because there wasnt an end goal, and for women who love the game but have never found a home within the sport.However, Ginny Baker is not real. There has never been a woman who stared down a batter from the mound of the San Diego Padres Petco Park.?Baker hasnt shattered the glass ceiling to become the first woman to start in an MLB game. She hasnt walked a player or thrown a single strike. She hasnt done these things, because she, in fact, does not exist.?At least, not yet.Theres a mockup of a Sports Illustrated Cover on the shows Los Angeles-based set (they also filmed in San Diego). The image shows Ginny Baker throwing a pitch, and hangs right outside of showrunner Kevin Falls (Minority Report, Franklin & Bash) office. But upon first glance the image almost looks like Mone Davis, the real-life 15-year-old female pitcher from Philadelphia who helped lead her team to the Little League World Series in 2014. Which begs the question: Without Davis, would there be a Baker?[Mone] turned out to be a terrific [reference] for us, said Rick Singer (Younger, American Dad!), one of the shows creators and co-executive producer, who developed the concept with film veteran Tony Bill (Flyboys, The Sting).The trick, however, was finding the right person to play Baker. Enter Kylie Bunbury (Under the Dome, Twisted). She received two scenes via email and was immediately intrigued by the script, and by the opportunity to play someone making history, or herstory in this case.The moment Bunbury, 27, stepped into the room, Singer sat up in his chair. He silently prayed that she had the acting chops. Theyd seen countless actresses, but none had fit the bill. They needed a great talent whom viewers would buy as an athlete.That combination made it a really elusive role, Singer said.Bunbury, however, has athleticism in her blood, which was visible from the moment she walked in for her audition. As the daughter of retired Canadian pro soccer player Alex Bunbury, she was someone for whom sports were a way of life.One thing that was instantly relatable for Bunbury was Bakers relationship to her father, Mike Baker (Michael Beach), a former minor league baseball player who helped her develop an enviable screwball. Baker was groomed for greatness. Her father pushed her, not satisfied with any accomplishment less than getting her into the MLB and ensuring that she thrived.Mike Baker is hard on his daughter, but he loves her. Family, for Ginny Baker, is complicated, and her relationship with both of her parents will be explored throughout the season.Growing up, Bunbury played basketball and soccer and ran track. But never baseball. So, in preparation, she immersed herself in all things baseball. She religiously watched the MLB Network, read baseball books and spent the two-and-a-half months before filming the pilot learning how to be a convincing pitcher. Additionally, she boxed three days a week, she said, just for body strength.Another layer of legitimizing the storyline was building a relationship with the MLB. With that agreement came access to stadiums, official team names and jerseys. But the shows creators didnt want it to become a long-form commercial for the league.I was very leery going in -- thats not what were doing here, Falls said.However, laying the groundwork wasnt enough. The storyline needed to paint Baker as a true competitor, who would stand up to the male brass of the league and teammates.She is an athlete that transcends sports, Falls said. Her gender may make her one of the most famous people in the world. However, her [priority] is contributing to the team in a meaningful way.But the tension within her own clubhouse is very real. Bakers team catcher, Mike Lawson (Mark-Paul Gosselaar), who is in the twilight of his career, isnt quite sure what to do with her, and the fictional Padres manager, Al Luongo (Dan Lauria), could live without the added attention she brings to the team.Baker does, however, have her supporters, such as teammate Blip Sanders (Mo McRae), who played with her in the minor leagues. Theres also team owner Frank Reid (Bob Balaban), who harbors a soft spot for her as well, or at least her notoriety.Part of the shows allure is that it directly tackles race and gender issues in an ingestible manner, while also imploring the viewers imagination. Bunbury accepts her responsibility whole-heartedly, and she hopes that real life might one day, imitate art.I gravitate towards strong messages and things that make an impact, Bunbury said while sitting on the couch in the on-set office of General Manager Oscar Arguella (played by Mark Consuelos), while working on the seasons fourth episode, which will be directed by Regina King. I think this show does that.Pitch will air at a time where identity politics in sports have come to the forefront, reflecting the ways in which modern society processes conversations about racial justice and the treatment of LGBTQ people. The television show does not shy away from race or gender, and in this day in age it would be difficult to do so.In some ways the show was thrust into that position after Bunbury was cast to play Baker. Though much inspiration for Baker was drawn from Venus and Serena Williams, Jackie Robinson and Tiger Woods, there was no explicit intention of casting Ginny Baker as an African-American. Bunbury, however, brought Baker to life, immediately making her a woman of color, bringing forth interesting questions that might have been overlooked otherwise.?For instance, as a black female pro-athlete, would Ginny Baker kneel during the national anthem?Its a provocative question, and while the answer is unknown thus far, the character will face todays political and social conversations.Director Paris Barclay, who is an African-American man, noted, Someone is going to ask her if Black Lives Matter or not. And what is she going to say? Is she going to be able to face these issues?Ginny Baker could have gone the way of many lead television roles and been a white woman. That didnt happen because of Bunbury.I was enough, and I think that is an important message for anyone to know, Bunbury said. Youre capable. You are enough.Bunburys casting is not a gimmick. There is diversity throughout the cast and management of the show. From production assistants, the writers room, to camera operators, episodic directors and more, there are people of color and/or women making Pitch happen.What we show on television and in films is vital to the people that watch them, Bunbury said.The burden of leading a groundbreaking show as a woman of color heightens both the expectations and pressure put on Bunbury. Her being able to pitch well is essential to the shows success. If the audience doesnt buy into her enough to be able to suspend their own disbelief, the show is dead in the water.Weve all seen Tim Robbins in Bull Durham, she said with a laugh. So if I just dont ... do that, Ill be good.Every pitch Bunbury throws is essential to Ginny Baker as a character. Baker is not a miraculous find for the Padres. Shes not Henry from the 1993 film Rookie of the Year, a character who suffered a freak accident that gave him the ability to throw a 98 mph fastball at age 12. Shes not an alien who touched a magic baseball and stole another pitchers talent. Ginny Baker came through the Padres farm system before being called up for her shot.Even as she lets the taunts of haters, as she calls them, roll off her back, Bunbury, as Ginny, is committed to being in top form.While filming, she barely took lunch. She wanted to sneak in extra sessions with Gregg Olson, her pitching coach. Olson is a former MLB relief pitcher himself, winning the American League Rookie of the Year award in 1989. He worked with Bunbury two to three days a week during production. Before August, they practiced on a high school field, building up her arm strength and working on mechanics.I went into this not knowing what to expect at all, but she really put in the work. Olson said via phone. She is an athlete, so she gets frustrated when shes not throwing well.Pitching is about duplication.Pitchers have to be able to throw fastballs on the outside corner, and their mechanics need to be tuned enough to allow them to replicate that placement consistently. For Bunbury, the stakes are a bit higher. Every pitch she throws proves that she -- and by extension, women, particularly women of color -- is capable of achieving success in a mans game. Each time the ball smacks against the catchers mitt, Bunbury sees the payoff of her hard work, the game she built from her own athleticism and efforts.Shes amazing, Olson said.When Ginny Baker walks out onto the mound in front of screaming fans, Kylie Bunbury will transform into an icon, much like her fictional counterpart. It does not matter that Ginny Baker is not a real person -- the hope that buoys her character is. And that very real thought is enough for Bunbury to feel bonded with this character. It is a journey they are taking together, actor and subject indistinguishable from one another.Ginny Baker is me in these imaginary circumstances, she said.If Bunbury feels the pressure, she didnt allow it to show on set. She exited the scene with a bright smile on her face and immediately sat next to her real-life mother Kirsti, then placed her head on her moms shoulder. Her mood was upbeat, bubbly even.I never want to change, Bunbury says, exhaling. This role, which is groundbreaking in terms of portraying a monumental moment for women in sports, is momentous for Bunbury herself. And she feels it. I get nervous about that ... people thinking that Ive changed just because the circumstances of my life have.She looked out the window of Arguellas?office for a split second. There was nothing beyond the glass except the man-made set on Stage 28 at Paramount Studios. Then she took a deep breath, centering herself, which she does before starting each scene.But if I continue to put the work in and lead with love, Im good. Im chillin. Wholesale NFL Jerseys China . Having already announced that the race will start May 9 with three stages in Northern Ireland and Ireland and finish in Trieste on June 1, the rest of the route was unveiled Monday. Wholesale Jerseys . U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield in Manhattan agreed that lawyers on both sides could make their formal requests by Nov. 8. A hearing is scheduled for a day earlier. Jordan Siev, a lawyer for Rodriguez, wrote in a joint letter to the judge from lawyers on both sides that MLB lawyers planned to ask that the lawsuit be dismissed. http://www.wholesalejerseyscheapauthentic.com/ . Down by seven with 90 seconds left in regulation, thats where they looked comfortable. Cheap Jerseys From China . One game after a miserable showing in Oklahoma City, Gay tied a career high with 41 points and the Sacramento Kings cruised to a 114-97 victory at the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. Cheap Jerseys Paypal . -- The St. Johns IceCaps weathered a wild first period with the help of goaltender Jussi Olkinuora, before finding offensive inroads in the second. PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers may as well have won the NBA championship when they dethroned the Boston Celtics in the east. The delirious Sixers fans stormed the court and swarmed Wilt Chamberlain. One fan even hung on a rim as the players hustled past outstretched arms to the locker room.The Sixers popped champagne against the backdrop of a fan-made 1967 NBA champions poster tacked to the wall.The Celtics dynasty -- for a year, at least -- was dead.Long live the Sixers.Chamberlain, the agile and dominant center of his era, put an end to the hooting and hollering and silenced the Eastern Division championship revelry with a brief speech: Philadelphia still had one more goal to achieve.The room got very quiet, Sixers great Billy Cunningham said.Chamberlains big point was this -- the Sixers didnt win 68 games and knock off the hated Celtics just to squander their shot at an NBA championship. The Sixers would have to win it all to truly stamp themselves as one of the NBAs all-team great teams.Hal Greer, Chet Walker and Wali Jones joined Cunningham and Chamberlain to lead the Sixers to a six-game series clinch over the San Francisco Warriors and win the NBA championship.The Sixers (68-13) were the top team in `67, and considered by many the best NBA team in history. The Sixers were tabbed the greatest team of all time in 1980 during the NBAs 35th anniversary celebration.That honor came before Larry and Magic. Michael and LeBron. Kobe and Duncan.There are a lot of historical points that people dont know now because people dont know any basketball before Bird and Magic, Jones said. I tell them about a lot of people from that times and our team in our era, a lot of people dont know.After 40 years, we were forgotten. Nobody said, `who was the greatest team in the NBA? and mentioned us.They havent been forgotten in Philly.The Sixers turned this season into a year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of that championship team. The Sixers have worn throwback jerseys inspired by the 1966-67 road uniforms, have the year stamped on a commemorative center court logo at select games and designed sculptures for Chamberlain, Cunningham and Greer. The Sixers will honor seven living players from the team at halftime of Saturday nights game against, yup, Boston.Its good to remembered, Jones said.What perhaps isnt remembered as easily from the black-and-white era was the climb the Sixers made just to beat Boston. The Celtics, winners of nine of 10 NBA titles in the 1960s, had eliminated the Sixers in the Division (now conference) finals in 1965 and 1966. Winning a championship seemed almost like it held second place on the season list of goals behind beating the Celtics in the postseason.Trying to spark a change, the Sixers replaced coach Dolph Schayes with Alex Hannum. Hannum had coached the organization in its previous incarnation as the Syracuse Nationals and was familiar with most of the roster.He just brought immediate respect to the coaching position, Cunningham said.dddddddddddd He just had a presence. There was a certain personality with him that gave players a great deal of respect for his decision making.Hannum was helped by coaching a team loaded with talent: Chamberlain, Cunningham, Greer and Walker are all in the Hall of Fame. With so much star power, Chamberlain morphed from something of a lone wolf on offense to a prominent cog on a team where it was no longer necessary for The Stilt to try and carry the Sixers on his own.The Sixers started 52-8 and had just one three-game losing streak all season.If Chamberlain could have shot foul shots, we would have won 70 games, easily, Cunningham said with a laugh.But five of their losses were against Bill Russell, Sam Jones, John Havlicek and the Celtics. The road to the title would again go through Boston. This time, the Sixers were ready.Philly beat Oscar Robertson and the Cincinnati Royals in four games to reach the East finals. The Sixers won the first three games and lost Game 4 in Boston. The Philly fans were restless to finish the job at home and a banner was raised at the Convention Center that read No. 4 Now!Pennsylvania governor Raymond Shafer watched Game 5 with general manager Jack Ramsay and owner Irv Koslof in nervous anticipation of what was ahead. Five Sixers scored at least 21 points and they beat the Celtics 140-116 to set off a celebration.I really felt as though this was the greatest Celtics team, so beating this team I think helped to make up for the other losses we had over the years, Chamberlain, who died in 1999, said after the series.Beating Boston gave the Sixers a championship feeling.It meant so much to beat Boston because the dynasty was just dominating, Jones said. People dont understand the importance in the NBA to stop that dynasty and have some other team sneak in there.The finals seemed a mere formality and the Sixers topped Nate Thurmond, Rick Barry and the Warriors in six games.The Sixers were mobbed by fans at the airport and greeted by a sign that read, Boston bled, now the Warriors are dead.Chamberlain had the team autograph the game ball and gave the basketball to Michael Richman, who handled payroll, and whose father Ike had owned the team and helped bring the franchise to Philly. Ike Richman died of a heart attack in 1965 at a 76ers-Celtics game.When Wilt got off the plane, he flipped me the ball and said, `this is for your mother, the 75-year-old Richman said.The championship ball is still with the Richman family.The Sixers never blossomed into a dynasty and wouldnt win a championship again until Cunningham coached them to one in 1983.Theyve had great teams, Jones said. But we were the greatest.---This story has been corrected to show that Ike Richman died in 1965, not 1966. ' ' '