Baseball has a reputation as a sport that only males can play. Women play softball, soccer, volleyball, basketball, and other sports, but you hardly ever hear about them playing baseball. This perception is incorrect, though, and girls have been playing rough for a very long time.
However, this does not imply that female baseball players do not exist. On the other hand, some outstanding female baseball players exist. If you’ve ever been interested in learning more about female baseball players, this list can serve as a starting point.
10. Dottie Schroeder
“The Human Vacuum Machine” was the moniker given to Dorothy Schroeder. In the All American Girls Professional Baseball League, a women’s baseball league that existed from 1943 to 1954, she was possibly the finest fielder in league history.
She made incredible plays at shortstop (where she played on the most successful women’s baseball circuit in history), earning a spot on our list of the top 10 female baseball players.
9. Toni Stone
When Toni Stone, a baseball star, became the first woman to play in the Negro League in 1953 and faced discrimination for being a woman in a league of discriminatory men, she became a hero for women’s and civil rights in the United States.
She has been playing baseball since she was ten years old and was signed by the Indianapolis Clowns to replace future baseball great Hank Aaron at second base. Although she was only in the league for two seasons, she had some memorable moments, including a hit against legendary Satchel Paige.
8. Sophie Kurys
Fans dubbed Sophie Kurys, a baseball standout, “Tina Cobb.” Due to her resemblance to one of the greatest baseball players of all time, Ty Cobb, she has acquired this nickname.
She stole 201 bases in just 113 games in 1946 (bases were 72′ apart), tying the record for both the AAGPBL and all of professional baseball. Even more impressive: she was caught stealing just twice in that year.
7. Dorothy Kamenshek
She was unquestionably among the top ten female baseball players of all time and the finest batter in the history of the AAGPBL. The only player to exceed 1,000 hits was Kamenshek, who finished with 1,009 hits and a batting average of.292, ranking fourth all-time but being eclipsed by players who played the most of their careers during the league’s “live-ball” era.
Despite not being a slugger, Dorothy amassed 89 doubles and 41 triples (2nd of all time). Kamenshek’s astonishing strikeout rate of 1 every 46.12 at-bats was astounding. She had batting averages of.316 and.306 in 1946 and 1947, respectively, and won two batting crowns in those years. With 631 base thefts, she was also a proficient base thief.
6. Julie Croteau
Croteau sued her Virginia high school in 1988 to assert her right to play baseball, but she was unsuccessful. She was so tenacious in her pursuit of her baseball aspirations.
In 1989, while playing first base for Saint Mary’s College in Maryland, she became the first woman to play in the men’s NCAA. Two years later, in 1995, she was one of two girls to play in a game in the MLB-sanctioned winter league when she played in the Hawaiian League.
5. Jean Faut
Her ERA never exceeded 1.60 points in any of her nine years playing in the AAGPBL; she was selected to the All-Star team four times, and she was one of just two players to win two Player of the Year titles. She pitched four no-hitters and, as far as my research has shown, is the only professional baseball pitcher to throw two perfect games.
She was among the top 10 female baseball players ever and the best pitcher in the history of that league. From 1950 to 1953, when the league was most conducive to offense, Jean led the league in ERA.
4. Ila Borders
Left-handed pitcher Borders became the second woman to start an NCAA baseball match between males. She was the first female player in an independent professional baseball league in 1997, but her appearances were few (15), and she had a 7.53 ERA with no decisions.
She started the inaugural men’s professional baseball game as a player in July 1998. A few weeks later, she made baseball history by becoming the first female pitcher to win in the men’s professional league. After a poor season, her career came to an end in 2000.
3. Connie Wisniewski
Because of her origins, she has acquired the moniker “Polish Rifle.” Because of her resilience in the AAGPBL, she is also known as the “Iron Woman” among fans. One of the top all-around players in league history was Connie. Additionally, she is currently ranked third among the top 10 female baseball players ever.
She opened 40 games in 1946 and… threw them all out whole! She was selected for the “All-Star Team” after completing 366 innings of work with 79 strikeouts, 33 wins, and 9 losses. Her ERA was 0.96.
2. Eri Yoshida
Eri Yoshida, who ranks number two among the top 10 female baseball players, is a native of Japan. In 2008, she was selected by a Japanese men’s professional baseball club at the tender age of 16.
She is an expert with the knuckleball and taught herself how to pitch. After seeing Tim Wakefield, she was 14 years old. A 50 mph knuckleball has been recorded for her.
1. Doris Sams
Sams was perhaps the only six-tool player in the annals of the AAGPBL. She was a versatile player who could field, run, throw, and pitch in addition to hitting for average and power. It’s no surprise that she ranks first on our list of the top 10 female baseball players ever.
Sams switched from pitching to outfielding and was a two-time All-Star selection. Fans continue to view her as the sole player to accomplish that. She was a member of five All-Star Teams and twice won the “Player of the Year” award.