Mo'ne Davis, author, meets her admirers at book signing

Mo'ne Davis already has more accomplishments to her credit than many a Philadelphia 13-year-old.

Baseball star, of course. As a member of the Taney Dragons, she was the first girl to pitch a winning shutout in Little League World Series history. She's donated her Little League jersey to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., and has graced the cover of Sports Illustrated.

More recently, the honor-roll student and soccer and basketball player at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy added published writer to the list, with Mo'ne Davis: Remember My Name, coauthored with Hilary Beard and just released by HarperCollins Children's Books.

Despite a busy schedule that includes starring in the forthcoming Disney Channel movie Throw Like Mo, Davis took the time Saturday afternoon to sign her memoir for fans at the Barnes & Noble bookstore at 18th and Walnut Streets, half a mile from the field where she first began playing baseball.

Asked how she felt about her accomplishments, Davis confidently replied: "It's pretty cool and honorable to have so many people support you. I want [girls] to know that anything is possible. Follow your dreams and no one can stop that."

More than 100 people showed up for her appearance on the Rittenhouse Square bookstore's third floor. Among the starstruck fans was Mayor Nutter, who said he had been close friends with Davis since last summer.

"I've watched her growth and evolution, and she is very poised," Nutter said. "She's very focused as a student and understands that schoolwork comes first. I think she knows this is quite unique."

According to Barnes & Noble staff, about 1,000 copies of Davis' book were ordered for the event. Fans lining the escalators clutched their copies.

Former Taney teammate Erik Lipson Jr., 13, exclaimed in excitement when he approached Davis for her autograph.

"I am very proud for her for getting this far and how popular she is. I'm happy for her," said Lipson. "I know especially the [Anderson] Monarch players [and] the Taney players are still very happy for her. They think that she definitely deserves everything she's gotten."

(The Anderson Monarchs and the Taney Dragons share a home field at the Marian Anderson Recreation Center on South 17th Street.)

At the 2014 Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., Davis and the Dragons came close to the championship, losing in an elimination round. For his role in leading the players that had the Philadelphia region and much of America cheering for them, Taney coach Alex Rice is The Inquirer's 2014 Citizen of the Year.

It's no secret Davis herself has become a role model. Many local young girls went to Saturday's book signing for just that reason.

Among them was 12-year-old Jaliah Eales of Southwest Philadelphia, who runs track.

"I feel like seeing her so young, doing good things, [it] makes me feel like I want to be like her," Eales said. "You can be what you want to be at whatever age."

Fourteen-year-old Ruqayyh Neal, from String Theory Charter School, said she went because she had known Davis for seven years.

"I feel proud of her," she said.

Her twin sister, Nayyirah, a basketball player for her school, said she, too, had known Davis for seven years and was greatly motivated by her.

"I told her I would make it to the WNBA for her," Nayyirah said.