The first game of a new professional women’s baseball league was a special occasion for those who had worked to establish its inaugural season, which kicked off over the weekend.
But the rendition of the national anthem that preceded the game simply defies explanation. “The Star Spangled Banner” was sung by Martha Reeves, an 85-year-old singer known for being part of the Motown group Martha and the Vandellas.
Two of her backup singers, also senior citizens, accompanied the a cappella version, though the three appeared to be singing in at least two different keys.
For better or worse, the video of the national anthem performance has garnered much more attention than the new league itself.
Noted the site brobible, “It really defied explanation. You really have to hear it to fully understand why.”
Some audience members are shown either stifling laughter or plugging their ears.
WATCH:
The Women’s Professional Baseball League had quite the start to their first ever game pic.twitter.com/pDEenH0eFV
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 2, 2026
Understandably, criticism of the performance online was in vast supply:
“The first (off)pitch of the game is a curveball!”
“Martha Reeves and the backup crew just committed a hate crime against the National Anthem.”
“I can’t imagine that being any worse. How embarrassing.”
“How does this even get an ‘Ok’ from a producer? Who heard this and said ‘yup, she will sing the National Anthem.'”
Reeves took the criticism in stride.
“Having just celebrated my 85th birthday, I’ve learned a great deal over more than 60 years of performing live,” Martha Reeves told TMZ, adding, “It was an incredible honor to be invited to perform at the inaugural Women’s Professional Baseball League event and to help celebrate such a historic moment for women in sports. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”
She then addressed the performance itself: “The field conditions were wet and windy, and without stage monitors I wasn’t able to hear myself as I normally would. While it wasn’t the performance I had hoped for, I’m grateful to have been there in support of these remarkable athletes and this groundbreaking league.”
The new baseball league for now has four teams, each playing a season of 15 games.
