Best Female Baseball Players ( Top 10 of All Time )
by Maivizhi A
Updated Mar 15, 2023
Best Female Baseball Players
American baseball has a rich history of women's involvement, with several women's teams emerging over the years. As early as the mid-nineteenth century, baseball was being played at women's colleges in New York and New England, with teams forming at Vassar College, Smith College, Wellesley College, and Mount Holyoke College. The Philadelphia Dolly Vardens, an African American women's team, was established in 1867.
In addition to these teams, there have been a number of women's barnstorming teams, and women have even played in exhibition games alongside major league players. One notable instance was on April 2, 1931, when 17-year-old Jackie Mitchell struck out both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in an exhibition game. However, her contract was voided by Commissioner of Baseball Kenesaw Mountain Landis as a result.
Other significant events in the history of women's involvement in baseball include Nellie Twardzik becoming the first girl to play on a boys varsity high school baseball team in 1935, and former player Edith Houghton becoming the first woman to work as an independent scout in Major League Baseball in 1946. In 1989, NBC's Gayle Gardner became the first woman to regularly host Major League Baseball games for a major television network. Jessica Mendoza made history in 2015 as the first female analyst for a Major League Baseball game on ESPN, and Margaret Donahue became the first non-owner female front office executive in Major League Baseball, starting as a stenographer for the Chicago Cubs in 1919.
Effa Manley, who co-owned the Newark Eagles baseball franchise in the Negro leagues from 1935 to 1948, is the only woman member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, having been inducted in 2006.
Top 10 Best Female Baseball Players
Baseball is commonly thought of as a sport exclusively for men, whereas women tend to participate in sports such as basketball, volleyball, softball, and soccer. Despite this generalization, it is important to note that females have a history of engaging in physically demanding activities. Therefore, it is not accurate to assume that women do not play baseball, as there are certainly female baseball players out there.
Despite baseball being heavily male-dominated, these outstanding female baseball players have made a lasting impression in the sport's history, demonstrating that women are equally capable of excelling in the game, and in some cases, surpassing their male counterparts.
S.No
Name of the Baseball Players
1
Doris Sams
2
Eri Yoshida
3
Connie Wisniewski
4
Ila Borders
5
Jean Faut
6
Julie Croteau
7
Dorothy Kamenshek.
8
Sophie Kurys
9
Toni Stone
10
Dottie Schroeder
Here, we have given a brief description about the above Top 10 Best Female Baseball Players .
Doris Sams
Doris Sams is widely regarded as the greatest female baseball player of all time. From 1946 to 1953, she played for the Ladies Professional League and was known for her versatility, playing various positions such as centre field, left field, and pitcher. Throughout her career, she garnered multiple accolades, including two Best Player awards. Doris also had the unique experience of playing for multiple teams simultaneously at times. Her pitching performances were particularly noteworthy, as she achieved perfect seasons in both 1947 and 1948. Additionally, she set single-season records for outstanding batting average in 1949 and most home runs in 1952. Her lifetime batting average was .290, and she hit a total of 22 home runs and 286 RBIs. In the major leagues, she had a 2.16 ERA, solidifying her reputation as one of the best players in the league.
Eri Yoshida
In our list of top female players, Eri Yoshida is the only non-US player to make the cut. She is of Japanese-American origin and is a key player in the pitching rotation. At the age of 16, Yoshida caught the attention of the Japanese men's team with her impressive pitching skills in high school. She was immediately offered a contract to play for the team. In 2009, she played in the Arizona Winter League and participated in the minor league training camps of the Boston Red Sox. She also made history by joining the Chicago Outlaws and becoming the first woman to play professional baseball since Ila Borders. Her international presence and success break barriers, making her one of the most renowned female baseball players.
Connie Wisniewski
Connie Wisniewski, who played both on the mound and in center field. She was a member of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1944 to 1952, playing for two different teams. In 1945, she was named the best player in the league and led the company in earned run average twice in a single season. She also holds the record for most wins, home runs, and total bases in a single season. With over 100 wins, she is one of the few pitchers in AAGPBL history to achieve this feat. Her batting average is the fifth-best in the league, and her RBI total is the second-best.
Ila Borders
Ila Borders is a notable female baseball player who played as a pitcher for various teams and received several accolades throughout her career. She made history by becoming the first female pitcher to start and earn victories in men's baseball games. Although her performance declined in later years, she had a four-team career in the league and remains one of the prominent female baseball players from the USA.
Jean Faut
Jean Faut is another outstanding female baseball player who played for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1946 to 1953. She was named "Player of the Year" twice during her career and won the Triple Crown as a pitcher twice, in addition to appearing in four All-Star games. She also led the league in wins, strikeouts, and ERA in three different seasons, earning her recognition as one of the best female pitchers in the sport's history. Jean holds the record for the best lifetime earned run average (ERA) among female pitchers, which is a testament to her skills and competence.
Julie Croteau
Julie Croteau is widely acknowledged as the first female baseball player to compete in a Men's League, and to date, only two women have played in a Major League Baseball season. As one of the few women in MLB's male-dominated league, Julie's passion for baseball has always been evident. Despite facing challenges during her time on the boys' team in college, Julie was part of the championship squad that won the Women's World Series of Baseball, where she served as the team's third base coach.
Dorothy Kamenshek.
Dorothy Kamenshek played as a first baseman in softball and occasionally worked as a pitcher. She debuted professionally with the Rockford Peaches in 1943 and retired from the sport in 1953. Dorothy, a seven-time All-Star, won the batting title twice, with her best batting seasons being in 1946 and 1947. She holds the career records for most hits and total bases, and her exceptional skills caught the attention of men's baseball teams who sought to sign her.
Sophie Kurys
Sophie Kurys played professional baseball as a powerful second baseman in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1943 to 1952. Her outstanding performances earned her numerous medals and accolades, including the record for the most runs scored in a single game, as well as the single-season and overall records for most runs scored. Widely regarded as one of the greatest female baseball players, Sophie also holds the all-time record for base stealing.
Toni Stone
Toni Stone, an African American player, broke barriers by becoming the first female to join the Negro Leagues, debuting with the Indianapolis Clowns in 1953 and later playing for the Kansas City Monarchs. Despite her skills, Stone faced discrimination and was often subjected to attention based on her gender and sexuality rather than her abilities on the field.
Dottie Schroeder
Dottie Schroeder was a notable figure in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, having played as a shortstop from 1943 to 1954, starting at the young age of 15. Over the course of her career, Dottie participated in an impressive 1249 games, taking part in 571 races, hitting 42 home runs, stealing 372 bases, and scoring 431 runs.
It's worth noting that women in baseball have had limited opportunities for professional play, leading many to join predominantly male teams.
Who is the Best Female Baseball Player?
Doris Sams, who played in the Girls Professional Baseball League from 1946 to 1953, is widely regarded as the greatest female baseball player of all time. She played multiple positions including Centerfield, left field, and Pitcher during her career, and received numerous accolades. Doris played for two different teams over the course of her career.
Doris was a two-time Player of the Year winner and an All-Star player. In 1947 and 1948, she pitched a perfect game and a no-hitter respectively. Additionally, she led the league in single-season batting average in 1949 and home runs in 1952. Her batting average of 290 is the eighth highest of all time.
Over her career, Doris hit 22 home runs and had an RBI of 286, while maintaining an Earned Run Average of 2.16. These impressive statistics have secured her place as one of the best players in AAGPBL history.
Conclusion
The history of women's involvement in baseball is rich and varied, with numerous teams and players making significant contributions to the sport. Women's baseball has been around since the mid-19th century, with women's college teams forming in New York and New England. Women's barnstorming teams also emerged, and women played in exhibition games alongside major league players. Women have faced many obstacles in baseball, including discrimination and lack of opportunities, but they have continued to break barriers and make history. Effa Manley, who co-owned the Newark Eagles baseball franchise in the Negro leagues, is the only woman member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The top 10 female baseball players of all time include Doris Sams, Eri Yoshida, Connie Wisniewski, Ila Borders, Jean Faut, Julie Croteau, Dorothy Kamenshek, Sophie Kurys, Toni Stone, and Dottie Schroeder. These women have proven that females are equally capable of excelling in the game and, in some cases, surpassing their male counterparts.
Best Female Baseball Players - FAQs
Women's involvement in baseball started as early as the mid-nineteenth century, with baseball being played at women's colleges in New York and New England.
The first African American women's baseball team, the Philadelphia Dolly Vardens, was established in 1867.
Nellie Twardzik became the first girl to play on a boys varsity high school baseball team in 1935.
NBC's Gayle Gardner became the first woman to regularly host Major League Baseball games for a major television network in 1989.
Edith Houghton became the first woman to work as an independent scout in Major League Baseball in 1946.