1953 postcard
2000.49.24 OMCA Collections
Toni Stone (July 17, 1921 – November 2, 1996), born Marcenia Lyle Stone, was the first woman to play Negro League Baseball. She was born in West Virginia and grew up in Minnesota, and while her playing career took her to various cities, she retired to Oakland.
Many things about her career are unclear, and sources differ. But they all agree she was a life-long tomboy, which makes the photo from the OMCA collection 2 unusual. ”I loved my trousers. I love cars. Most of all I loved to ride horses with no saddles. I wasn’t classified. People weren’t ready for me.” 1
In 1950, Stone married Aurelious Alberga, a WWI veteran, who was 40 years older than her.
| Team | Years | Notes |
| San Francisco Sea Lions | 1949 | |
| New Orleans Creoles | 1949-1952 | Batted .243 |
| Indianapolis Clowns | 1953 | Sole team hit against Satchel Paige |
| Kansas City Monarchs | 1954 |
Her contract was sold to the Kansas City Monarchs, but the players resented her and she had very limited playing time, and she retired following the season.
Oakland Tribune 1953 3
Toni Stone with mayor Cliff Rishell
2000.49.4 OMCA Collections
Links and References
- Toni Stone on Wikipedia
- 2000.49.4 - Toni Stone Oakland Museum of California Collections (suspected but not proven this in the mayor's office)
- On Second Thought... Oakland Tribune March 25, 1953
- Toni Stone - The Girls of Summer on exploratorium.com
- Toni Stone on Society for American Baseball Research
- Toni Stone on biography.com (via archive.org)
- Marcenia Lyle Alberga on FindAGrave.com
- Negro Girl Second Baseman Plays With Clowns Tuesday Greenville Delta Democrat Times May 4, 1953
- Toni Stone, 75, First Woman To Play Big-League Baseball New York Times November 10, 1996
- Curveball: The Remarkable Story of Toni Stone the First Woman to Play Professional Baseball in the Negro League by Martha Ackmann
