The dream of a gay softball league in New York City took roots in 1976 and became a reality in 1977, spearheaded by Badlands bar owner Chuck Dima and assisted by Rich Diaz, Mike Cary, Fred Howell, and others.  By placing sign posters on lamp posts and in bars in 1976 they were successful in creating a twelve-team league for the 1977 season.  They called this new league the Metropolitan Community Athletic Association (MCAA).

Although the MCAA consisted of twelve teams (Badlands, Boot Hill, Boots And Saddle, Crossroads, Eagle's Nest, Kelly's, Nickel Bar, Numbers, Ramrod, Spike, Ty's and Wildwood), all of whom were sponsored and supported by NYC Gay Bars, the purpose was primarily to provide a safe environment for gay athletes to play sports. It also provided a way for members of the gay community to meet outside the sexually charged atmosphere of the bars. This initial venture was so successful it spawned additional gay sports leagues such as a volleyball league, a bowling league, and a pool league among others. All of these leagues initially played under the MCAANY -- Manhattan Community Athletic Association of NY umbrella. However, in 1980 because of financial security reasons, the softball league broke away from this organization and named itself the Big Apple Softball League (BASL) and has continued to operate under that name to this day.

In the late 1960's and early 1970's other cities around the country and Canada had also formed softball leagues.  They either joined municipal leagues in their home cities or arranged pick-up games amongst themselves.  In 1977, the bar owner of the San Francisco Badlands Bar together with Chuck Dima and other NY bar owners arranged to send the New York Ramrod team to San Francisco to play a three-game series at James P. Lang Field in what was called, and what has now become the first Gay World Series.  It also trumpeted the beginning of what is now the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA) World Series.  Leagues from cities in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Milwaukee, Toronto joined together to help form NAGAAA. In 1978 the second Gay Softball World Series was played in New York City at DeWitt Clinton Park.

From this modest beginning, NAGAAA has now grown to 1000 teams in over 52 leagues across North America and is comprised of over 30,000 men and women.

The Big Apple Softball League has also seen growth from its twelve teams 130 - 150 member beginnings in 1977.  In 2009, BASL introduced the Women's Division, which has now blossomed into two divisions, Mousseau (named after Jody Mousseau - longtime player and board member) and Green-Batten (named after Cynthia Green and Scott Batten - who both helped in the development of all-female teams prior to the creation of the Women's Division). Today the league has grown to 600 members on over 30 teams.  The league has also expanded from playing on one small field at one location to over twelve fields at five different locations.