Swinging Into History: Toni Stone: Big-League Baseball's First Woman Player
Karen L. Swanson
Aug 2024 · Astra Publishing House
Ebook
40
Pages
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About this ebook
2025 Rise: A Feminist Book Project Title
2025 NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Book Winner
Young readers will root for Toni “Tomboy” Stone, the first woman (and the first Black woman) to break into professional baseball—taking over Hank Aaron’s roster spot—in this nonfiction picture book biography.
Nothing could stop Toni “Tomboy” Stone from playing baseball—not even her parents. The only girl on a church team, she persevered as insults were hurled her way from the boy players. She caught the attention of former major leaguer Gabby Street, who gave her a chance at his summer baseball school. With Coach Street’s training—and the cleats he gifted her—Toni managed to earn a spot in the minor leagues. Though teams were hesitant to sign a woman, she pitched the idea that fans would pay to see a woman play—and it worked! But Toni’s persistence and optimism were not enough to win over the Jim Crow South crowds nor her male teammates. Coaches put her in the starting lineup and then benched her early, every game, no matter her results. But her talent got noticed and she was signed by the Indianapolis Clowns, becoming the first woman to break into the pros. “Toni arrives,” shouted newspaper headlines, and she delivered! In her first professional game she ripped a single and drove in two runs, and left the crowd chanting “TONI! TONI! TONI!”
2025 NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Book Winner
Young readers will root for Toni “Tomboy” Stone, the first woman (and the first Black woman) to break into professional baseball—taking over Hank Aaron’s roster spot—in this nonfiction picture book biography.
Nothing could stop Toni “Tomboy” Stone from playing baseball—not even her parents. The only girl on a church team, she persevered as insults were hurled her way from the boy players. She caught the attention of former major leaguer Gabby Street, who gave her a chance at his summer baseball school. With Coach Street’s training—and the cleats he gifted her—Toni managed to earn a spot in the minor leagues. Though teams were hesitant to sign a woman, she pitched the idea that fans would pay to see a woman play—and it worked! But Toni’s persistence and optimism were not enough to win over the Jim Crow South crowds nor her male teammates. Coaches put her in the starting lineup and then benched her early, every game, no matter her results. But her talent got noticed and she was signed by the Indianapolis Clowns, becoming the first woman to break into the pros. “Toni arrives,” shouted newspaper headlines, and she delivered! In her first professional game she ripped a single and drove in two runs, and left the crowd chanting “TONI! TONI! TONI!”
About the author
Karen L. Swanson is the author of an award-winning blog and two health cookbooks. An avid athlete with decades of experience on and at baseball fields, she is inspired by women who break barriers in the medical, business, and sports worlds. Karen worked in product marketing at Pfizer and Procter & Gamble before becoming a writer, and she holds an MBA from Harvard University. Visit karenlswanson.com.
Laura Freeman is the illustrator of more than 30 children’s books, including Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race, which won the Coretta Scott Illustrator Honor and the NAACP Image Award, among other awards. She is also known for her work on the Nikki & Deja series by Karen English and Fancy Party Gowns by Deborah Blumenthal.
Laura Freeman is the illustrator of more than 30 children’s books, including Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race, which won the Coretta Scott Illustrator Honor and the NAACP Image Award, among other awards. She is also known for her work on the Nikki & Deja series by Karen English and Fancy Party Gowns by Deborah Blumenthal.
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