Toni Stone playing for the Indianapolis Clowns. Image source: Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Inc.
May 29, 2024 Story by: Editor
Toni Stone, born Marcenia Stone on July 17, 1921, in St. Paul, Minnesota, was one of four children to Willa and Boykin Stone. From a young age, Toni had a deep passion for baseball, despite her parents’ disapproval. She saved up to buy her first glove from Goodwill for twenty-five cents. When she was twelve, her parents arranged a meeting with Father Keefe, hoping he would dissuade her from playing baseball. Contrary to their expectations, Father Keefe invited her to join the Catholic boys’ baseball league. Toni’s talent shone through, earning her a place on the team.
Her mother, Willa, hoped Toni would adopt a more traditional feminine pursuit and bought her figure skates. Toni won a citywide competition but quickly returned to her first love, baseball. Recalling the event, she said, “I took the trophy home, and gave it to my mother and picked up my glove and bat.” Known as one of St. Paul’s top female athletes, Toni’s determination was evident from an early age.
Early Playing Career
Toni Stone initially played softball for the St. Paul HighLex girls’ team but left after a year, seeking the faster pace of boys’ baseball. She sought out Gabby Street, a baseball coach, and impressed him with her skills. For her fifteenth birthday, Street gifted her baseball cleats, which Stone saw as a validation of her potential in the sport.
Twin City Colored Giants
Stone joined the Twin City Colored Giants, a barnstorming team, by convincing her mother it was a way to earn extra money, though the pay was minimal. Her teammate, John Cotton, said, “She was a ballplayer, could throw just like a man.” The team played against other Black teams, semi-pro white teams, and integrated teams. Toni earned the respect of her teammates for her ability to drive in runs.
Education and Moving to San Francisco
Due to her baseball commitments, Stone’s education took a backseat. She often skipped school to read books about baseball and its legends. At nineteen, she officially dropped out of high school. Instead of following the conventional path of settling down, she boarded a bus to San Francisco to chase her dreams.
Upon arriving in San Francisco, Stone found work as a welder, though she quickly switched to driving an army truck when her lack of welding skills was discovered. Embracing her new start, she changed her name from Marcenia to Toni, feeling more empowered. In San Francisco, she met and married Aurelius Alberga, who supported her baseball career.
Professional Playing Career
Toni Stone made history in 1949 as the first female player in the Negro Leagues, joining the San Francisco Sea Lions. Despite a strong debut, she left the team over a pay dispute and played briefly for the Black Pelicans before joining the New Orleans Creoles from 1949 to 1952. In a bid to attract more fans, Syd Pollock of the Indianapolis Clowns recruited Stone to play second base, replacing Hank Aaron. She played 50 games, maintaining a batting average of .243, and even secured a hit off Satchel Paige. In 1954, she moved to the Kansas City Monarchs but retired due to limited playing time.
Struggles and Resilience
Throughout her career, Stone faced significant challenges, including ridicule and discrimination from teammates and the public. She was often heckled and even spiked during games. Barred from the locker room, she changed in the umpire’s room and refused to wear a skirt despite pressure. Stone dealt with sexual harassment firmly, once fending off an advance by hitting a man with a baseball. She faced discrimination from both white individuals and her fellow players for being a Black woman in a male-dominated sport.
Legacy
After retiring, Toni Stone moved to Oakland, California, to care for her ailing husband. Her hometown of St. Paul honored her in 1990 with “Toni Stone Day” on March 6. She was inducted into the Women’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1993 and passed away in 1996 at the age of 75. In 1997, St. Paul dedicated a field in her name, ensuring her legacy would live on. Source: Scalar USA
