Toni Stone: “A woman can do many things.”
Growing up, Marcenia Lyle “Toni” Stone was athletic and excelled in many sports. Among basketball, skating, golf, swimming, hockey, and baseball, baseball was the sport that captured her heart. In an interview in 1991, Stone said, “[Baseball] was like a drug, whenever summer would come around [and] the bats would
Growing up, Marcenia Lyle “Toni” Stone was athletic and excelled in many sports. Among basketball, skating, golf, swimming, hockey, and baseball, baseball was the sport that captured her heart. In an interview in 1991, Stone said, “[Baseball] was like a drug, whenever summer would come around [and] the bats would start popping, I’d go crazy.”
Despite her parents’ protests, Stone joined her church’s baseball league in St. Paul, Minnesota at age 10, which had been an all-boys team until Toni came around. At age 15, she played for the Twin City Colored Giants. She moved to California after graduation from high school to take care of her sister, Bunny, where she continued to play for several men’s amateur and semi-professional teams. In 1946, she joined the San Francisco Sea Lions, a team in the Negro West Coast League.
After Jackie Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, many players from the Negro Leagues slowly followed his trajectory and signed with teams in the American and National Leagues. By the 1950s, the Negro Leagues were losing popularity. With the Negro National League folding in 1948, just four teams remained. In a last-ditch effort to garner attention for his team, Syd Pollack of the Indianapolis Clowns signed Toni Stone to replace Hank Aaron at second base, who had just been signed by the Milwaukee Brewers.
This signing made Stone the first woman to play in a major American men’s professional league and the first of three women to play in the Negro Leagues (she was followed closely by Connie Morgan and Mamie “Peanut” Johnson). The signing was initially compared to a sideshow because the Clowns had been adding many novelties to their games to try and draw crowds for the past couple of years. Many were skeptical about a woman joining the men’s team. An article in the Jackson Advocate read, “The latest masculine enterprise to fall before the advance of wearers of skirts and panties is the baseball diamond.”
Stone remained undaunted by her male opponents. She told the Jackson Advocate in 1953 that “she does not expect the boys to ‘let up’ on her because she is a woman, in fact, ‘they never do.’” The pitchers threw with the same intensity as they would against any other opponent, and Stone proudly wore the scars from spikes sliding into second base as badges of honor. Her male opponents and teammates still taunted Stone, and there are even reports of her teammates telling her to “go home and fix your husband some biscuits.” During her two years spent in the league, Stone held her own and was proud of the adversity she faced.
Despite the cards stacked against her, Stone excelled in the league. She first posted a batting average of .243, but during the 1953 season, she reached a high of .364. This average put her fourth in the league, right behind Ernie Banks. It is even reported that Stone hit a single off of the legendary Satchel Paige in an Easter exhibition game. In one issue of the Miami Times, Stone received praise ahead of a two-game series against the Monarchs, with the Miami Times even calling her “The Clowns’ biggest attraction,” and comparing her play to Jackie Robinson.
“She gives not an inch of ground as she executes double plays with the finesse of Jackie Robinson. She’s agile, has good baseball instinct, and knows what a Louisville Slugger is for,” the Miami Times article said.
Stone played 50 out of 175 games for the Clowns before Pollack sold her contract to the Kansas City Monarchs. Stone played with the Monarchs for the 1954 season and retired following the end of the season. Though she deeply missed baseball, Stone retired to become a nurse and take care of her husband until his passing in 1987.
Toni Stone was officially recognized for her contributions to baseball when she was honored by the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991, along with other Negro League Players, and inducted into the Women’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.
In a 1991 interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Stone recalls a conversation with one of her teammates, Al Lombardi, from the New Orleans Creoles. She said, “Women have dreams too. When you finish high school, they tell a boy to go out and see the world. What do they tell a girl? They tell her to go next door and marry the boy that their families picked for her. It wasn’t right. A woman can do many things.”
Cubs' Rojas, Mets' Tong headline May's Minor League Players of the Month
Minor League Baseball announced the Player and Pitcher of the Month Award winners for May in Major League Baseball’s player development system.
Minor League Baseball, Joe Torre Safe At Home partnership enters ninth year
For the ninth year, Minor League Baseball and Joe Torre Safe At Home have teamed up to raise awareness about violence and abuse and to inspire fans of all ages to join them in SAH’s critical work. This year, 63 MiLB teams will participate in an in-ballpark initiative from May
MiLB podcast discusses Anthony, Caglianone at Triple-A
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
These are the greatest Minor League promos happening in June
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
New playoff format coming to 2025 Dominican Summer League
Minor League Baseball announced the 2025 Dominican Summer League (DSL) season will begin June 2 with Opening Day festivities taking place at the Boston Red Sox Academy in Guerra. The 2025 campaign will also see the introduction of the DSL Cup, a new playoff format that will see 16 DSL
Debating best Minor League home caps on podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
The Omaha Storm Chasers' 'Take Meow-t' cat night included a Litter Box Sundae
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Boston's Triple-A affiliate throws birthday bash for Roman Anthony
With all the hype that has surrounded Roman Anthony over the past two seasons, it’s easy to forget how young he really is. MLB's No. 1 prospect played 70 games at the highest level of the Minors before he could order a beer. But he can now. Roman Anthony turned
Friendly foes, 2024 first-rounders Moore and Caglianone trade first Triple-A homers
For years, Christian Moore and Jac Caglianone laced up their cleats against one another in the SEC. A rivalry that spanned Florida, Tennessee and other landmarks across the South moved to Salt Lake City this week as the Royals and Angels' top prospects got simultaneous Triple-A promotions. So it was
Phillies' Moore, Fausnaught join MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Red Sox prospect rips double THROUGH Fenway-esque scoreboard
Red Sox No. 4 prospect Franklin Arias, an infielder for High-A Greenville, REALLY didn’t want to let visiting Asheville score any runs in the top of the eighth inning on Friday night. With runners on first and second base in the bottom of the fourth, Arias showed he apparently held
April's hottest hitting prospects -- one for each organization
The Minor League season is a month old and several of the game's best hitting prospects are off to fast starts. Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony is tearing up Triple-A (just like he did at the end of last year), Padres shortstop Leo De Vries is leading the High-A Midwest
Check out the best -- and wackiest -- Minor League promos happening in May
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Orioles' Honeycutt joins The Show Before the Show
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
MiLB podcast coming LIVE to a Somerset this June
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
New ballparks highlight 2025 MiLB road trip stops
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Minor League Baseball partners with TruGreen
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- TruGreen, the nation's leading lawn care treatment provider, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Minor League Baseball that includes activations across all 120 clubs, a makeover of the home dugout in each market, sponsorship of select MiLB team grounds crews, and a new initiative called
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now