Here are the women chosen by LATB Radio as the Top 10 Women in Baseball & Softball History:
10)
Connie Morgan: One of three women to play Negro League Baseball (2B for Indianapolis Clowns); hit .300 in platoon at 2B with Ray Neil; batted 3rd in the lineup.
9)
Mamie “Peanut” Johnson: One of three women to play Negro League Baseball (RHP, Indianapolis Clowns); 33-8 lifetime record (3 seasons); 5’3”, 120 11bs; Threw between 80 and 85 mph. Hit between .252 & .284.
8)
Marcenia Lyle “Toni” Stone: One of three women to play Negro League Baseball (2B for the Indianapolis Clowns, 1953); hit .243 and played in 50 games. Sold to Kansas City Monarchs where she played for Buck O’Neil.
7)
Kim Ng: assistant GM of the Los Angeles Dodgers; first woman and youngest person ever to present a salary arbitration case in MLB when she worked the White Sox (player was Alex Fernandez); believed to be the first woman to ever interview for a GM job when she interviewed for the Dodgers job in 2005.
6)
Ria Cortesio: in 2007, the second woman ever to officiate at a MLB Spring Training game; umpired in the minor leagues for 9 seasons, 2007 being her last.
5)
Pam Postema: first woman ever to officiate at a MLB Spring Training game; last worked in the AAA Pacific Coast League, highest a woman has ever climbed and was thought to be in line to become the first female ump in the Majors, but was released by the league in 1989.
4)
Julie Croteau: first woman to play NCAA men’s baseball and the first woman to coach a division 1 men’s baseball. She and Lee Ann Ketcham were the first women to play in a MLB-sanctioned league (Maui Stingrays of the Hawaiian Winter League). Her glove and photo are on permanent display at the Baseball Hall Of Fame.
3)
Ila Borders: first woman to start as a pitcher in integrated professional men’s baseball (Duluth-Superior Dukes in 1998); first woman to pitch in an NCAA game (Southern California Coll 94-96 seasons, Whittier Coll 97 season)
2)
Eri Yoshida: the first woman to be drafted by a Japanese professional baseball team; plays for the Kobe 9 Cruise of the Kansai Independent Baseball League; throws a sidearm knuckleball which she started throwing after seeing video of the Red Sox’s Tim Wakefield; professional debut March 26, 2009- faced 2 batters, walking one and striking out one.
1)
Jennie Finch: two time Olympic medalist including gold in 2004 with Team USA; attended the University of Arizona where her number 27 was retired in 2003; Six feet tall; plays for the Chicago Bandits of the National Pro Fast Pitch League; has five pitches- riser, curveball, screwball, drop-ball and changeup; widely regarded as the most famous softball player of all time.
Honorable Mention: Marge Schott; Effa Manley.
Tune in to LATB Radio this Sunday night to hear special guest Pat Venditte, the switch-pitching closer for the Charleston Riverdogs, a Class A affiliate of the New York Yankees. Pat will talk about his development as an ambidextrous pitcher and about his young career.
