After her retirement, she continued to play the game she loved until age 62. Toni Stone played in the Negro Leagues for 5 years. While playing for the Monarchs, she decided it was time to retire, and at the end of the baseball season, she did so. In 1954, Toni was traded to the Kansas City Monarchs. While playing for the Indianapolis Clowns, Toni demonstrated just how skilled she was, hitting a single off Satchel Paige, the best pitcher in the Negro League. In 1953, Toni joined the Indianapolis Clowns, where she played second base, filling a vacancy left by Hank Aaron. She played with them briefly, before moving onto the New Orleans Creoles. Toni began her professional career with the San Francisco Sea Lions. Upon joining the League, she changed her name to Toni Stone, because she felt her real name was too cute. In 1949, Marcenia Lyle joined the all-male Negro Baseball League, becoming the first woman to do so.
Well, if your name is Marcenia Lyle, you become resourceful.
However, if you were a Negro woman during the 1940s, segregation laws forbid you from playing.
#BE A PLAYER GIRL MOVIE#
Have you seen the movie A League of Their Own? This famous movie highlights the early years of the Women’s Baseball League in 1943.