Before the summer of 1992, few people knew there used to be an all-female professional baseball league. So, when the song “This Used To Be My Playground” hit radio station playlists, Madonna was poised to tell the world about “All The Way Mae,” a real-life woman who played for the Peaches in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. 

The movie is A League of Their Own, a historical account of how some baseball fans enjoyed baseball during WW2.

Told from the player’s perspective, A League of Their Own featured female entertainers playing the roles of female baseball players. As an actress who kept her acting career separate from her recording career, Madonna played Mae Mordabito in the movie but recorded “This Used To Be My Playground” as a single for the movie.

Fun Facts: 

• Those who saw the movie A League of Their Own heard the song during the closing credits, but it wasn’t part of the soundtrack. Madonna had a movie contract and a recording contract, so the hit song could be separate from the movie.
• “This Used To Be My Playground” was released on Madonna’s fifth studio album, Erotica, and was featured on the Something to Remember compilation album.
• Madonna has 14 studio albums.
• She was nominated for a Grammy Award 18 times and won 5 times.
• “This Used To Be My Playground” was nominated for a Golden Globe in Best Original Song. 
• The song hit the #1 spot on The US Billboard Hot 100. Up until this ranking, Madonna was tied with Whitney Houston to have the most number one singles as a female artist. 
• The Beastie Boys toured with Madonna on her first tour.

Lyrics 

This used to be my playground

This used to be my childhood dream

This used to be the place I ran to

Whenever I was in need of a friend

Why did it have to end? And why do they always say

Don’t look back, keep your head held high, don’t ask them why

Because life is short, and before you know, you’re feeling old

And your heart is breaking, don’t hold on to the past

Well, that’s too much to ask

This used to be my playground (Used to be)

This used to be my childhood dream

This used to be the place I ran to

Whenever I was in need of a friend

Why did it have to end? And why do they always say

No regrets, but I wish that you were here with me

Well, then there’s hope yet, I can see your face In our secret place

You’re not just a memory, say goodbye to yesterday

Those are words I’ll never say (I’ll never say)

This used to be my playground (Used to be)

This used to be our pride and joy

This used to be the place we ran to

That no one in the world could dare destroy

This used to be our playground (Used to be)

This used to be our childhood dream

This used to be the place we ran to

I wish you were standing here with me

This used to be our playground (Used to be)

This used to be our childhood dream

This used to be the place we ran to

The best things in life are always free

Wishing you were here with me