Born: 1921 (West Virginia)
Died: 1996
Biography:
Toni Stone (July 17, 1921 – November 2, 1996), born as Marcenia Lyle Stone, was an American female professional baseball player who played in predominantly male leagues. Stone’s groundbreaking career spanned from 1949 to 1954 and had a significant impact on both baseball and women’s history.
Born in West Virginia to Boykin and Willa Maynard Stone, Toni Stone had two sisters and a brother. Her father, a barber and a Tuskegee Institute graduate, had served in the United States Army during World War I. Stone’s parents later opened Boykin’s Barber and Beauty Shop in the Rondo neighborhood of Saint Paul, Minnesota, where the family eventually moved when she was ten years old. It was during her time in Saint Paul that Stone’s passion for baseball began to shine.
Stone developed her baseball skills while playing with boys in the neighborhood and quickly earned the nickname Tomboy. Despite her mother’s concerns about baseball not being ladylike, Stone’s interest in the sport only grew. She even received a pair of figure skates from her mother, but her interest remained focused on baseball. Stone’s athleticism extended beyond the diamond, with reports of her excelling in swimming, track, basketball, and football.
Stone’s love for the game led her to wear pants instead of skirts to school, often skipping classes to play baseball instead. She found the education system’s curriculum to be disconnected from her reality. However, her strength as a pitcher caught the attention of the family’s Catholic priest, who encouraged her to join the Claver Catholic Church boys’ baseball team in the Catholic Midget League. With her parents’ consent, Stone became the first and only girl on the team.
Unfortunately, Stone’s coach did not invest much effort in developing her skills. Determined to improve, she took matters into her own hands and taught herself by reading various baseball rule books. Seeking better competition and further development, Stone joined the girls’ softball team, HighLex, but found it unsatisfying. Softball was not fast enough to capture her interest.
In 1949, Stone’s perseverance paid off when she made her professional debut with the San Francisco Sea Lions, an all-black female baseball team. Her talent and dedication quickly caught the attention of the Negro leagues, and she went on to play for the New Orleans Creoles and the Indianapolis Clowns, becoming the first woman to play as a regular on an American major-level professional baseball team in 1953. It is worth noting that two other women would later join the Indianapolis Clowns.
While Stone faced discrimination and taunting from some of her teammates, she refused to be deterred. One infamous incident involved a teammate telling her to go home and fix your husband some biscuits. Stone’s resilience and determination persisted, despite these obstacles.
Stone’s legacy extended beyond her time with the Indianapolis Clowns. She later played for the legendary Kansas City Monarchs, one of the most prominent teams in the Negro leagues. Stone’s contributions to the game greatly influenced the perception and acceptance of women in professional baseball, challenging traditional gender roles and inspiring future generations of female athletes.
Although Stone’s achievements in the sport are undisputed, there is a widely reported but unverified claim regarding an exhibition game in 1953 when she allegedly hit a single off a fastball pitch delivered by the legendary player Satchel Paige. While this specific event remains a point of contention, it does not diminish the incredible impact Stone had on women’s baseball.
Toni Stone retired from baseball in 1954 but continued to be involved in the sport, participating in various softball and baseball leagues throughout her life. Her trailblazing career shattered barriers and paved the way for other women in baseball. Stone’s determination, talent, and resilience have cemented her place in sports history as an icon and a symbol of strength for women in the face of adversity.