13 Best Female Baseball Players In The World

Baseball a few years back was a male-dominated stereotypical sport. In contrast, today, it has somersaulted, resulting in some of the best female baseball players all around the globe.

Females are now taking their stance in the field and claiming that homerun. Long gone are the days where females were mocked for playing the ‘Male-favored’ sports.

The irony is that the first professional baseball team was the Dolly Vardens of Philadelphia, founded in 1867 A.D. and consisted of only female players. Further solidifying their presence in this sport known as baseball. 

Now, let’s take a detailed look at the best female baseball players in the world, right this minute!

Quick Overview

13. Dottie Schroeder

Dorothy “Dottie” Schroeder was a shortstop in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1943 through 1954. Schroeder batted and threw right-handed, standing 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 150 pounds.

Hailing from Central Illinois, and demonstrated athletic aptitude at a young age, beginning with fastpitch softball at the age of 11. She later proved herself strong enough for a college team by the age of 12.

Moreover, she is the only girl to have played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League for all 12 seasons (AAGPBL). Dottie also played shortstop for four AAGPBL teams.

After the Kalamazoo Lassies introduced overhand pitching in 1948, Dottie, already a defensive standout, significantly enhanced her stolen base averages and improved her strikes.

Apart from her first All-Star selection in 1952, she earned two more with the Kalamazoo Lassies in 1953 and 1954, respectively.

12. Toni Stone

Stone is one of the first three women to play full-time professional baseball for the Indianapolis Clowns in the once all-male Negro leagues.

Born as “Marcia Lyle Stone” in West Virginia, she is the first woman to play professional baseball in the big leagues in the United States. 

After watching Stone play for the Kansas City Monarchs, for whom Banks also played, from 1950 to 1953, Aaron praised her as a “powerful baseball player,” while Cubs veteran Ernie Banks described her as “smooth.”

Sadly, Stone died at the age of 75 on November 2, 1996.

Lydia R. Diamond, an award-winning playwright, authored “Toni Stone,” an off-Broadway play on her life.

11. Sophie Kurys

In the list of top 13 female baseball players in the World, Sophie Kurys comes at number 11.

Kurys was also the second basewoman in the most reputed All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1943 to 1952. At 5 feet 5 inches and 115 lb, Kurys batted and threw right-handed. 

Moreover, Kurys, a Flint, Michigan native, was by far the top base stealer in the League’s history.

Often known as the Flint Flash and Tina Cobb, she was known for her lightning speed at stealing bases and being practically unstoppable once on the ground.

Between 1944 and 1950, she swiped at least one base 80% of the time, averaging 150 thefts per season on average, with a career-high of 201 in 1946.

Furthermore, she also set a World Record for most stolen bases with 1,114, surpassing Ty Cobb’s (892), and later Lou Brock’s (938) and Yutaka Fukumoto’s (1,065), before Rickey Henderson overtook her in the year 1994.

In a single season, Sophie’s 201 stolen bases still stand as a career-high, 71 more than Henderson (130).

10. Helen Callaghan

Helen Callaghan ranks number 10 on the ‘Top 13 Greatest Female Baseball Players list in the World.’ 

She is a left-handed center fielder who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League for five seasons. 

Born as Helen Callaghan Candaele St. Aubin,  she is best known as Helen Callaghan. In 11 games, she was second in the league with a 287 average.

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9. Betty Trezza

Betty Trezza is ranked #9 on the ‘Top 13 Greatest Female Baseball Players list in the World.’ 

Trezza was born in Brooklyn, New York, on August 4, 1925, and died on January 16, 2007. 

Likewise, Betty “Moe” Trezza was a member of four different teams from 1944 to 1950.

8. Betty Whiting

Betty Whiting is ranked #8 on our list of the ‘Top 13 Greatest Female Baseball Players list in the World.’

She was born in Ida Township, Michigan, in the United States on November 13, 1925, and died on February 10, 1967, in Battle Creek, Michigan, United States.

Likewise, Elizabeth Jane Whiting was an integral part of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1944 to 1952.

7. Doris Barr

Doris “Dodie” Barr, the Canadian-born, ranks at number seven on our list of ‘Best Female Baseball Players.’

Dodie was born in the Canadian town of Starbuck on August 26, 1921.

Moreover, Barr was an All-American Girls Professional Baseball League member from 1943 through 1952.

6. Julie Croteau

Coming at number six is Julie Croteau from the States. She is also the first woman to play NCAA men’s baseball and the first woman to coach NCAA Division I men’s baseball.

Unknown to many, Croteau, a 47-year-old American actress, was born in 1970 in Berkeley, California.

5. Jean Faut

Jean Faut is the World’s fifth-greatest female player and has undoubtedly made it into our list. 

Born on November 17, 1925, Faut was a starting pitcher at the AAGPBL from 1946 through 1953.

Moreover, Baseball historians and scholars see her as the greatest overhand pitcher in AAGPBL history.

4. Ila Borders

Coming in at number four is Ila Borders, the first female pitcher to start and win a men’s professional baseball game.

Ila Borders was born in La Mirada, California, on February 18, 1975.

She was an independent professional baseball player and a former left-handed pitcher in college.

3. Connie Wisniewski

Coming in at number three is Connie Wisniewski, an excellent outfielder, and a starting pitcher.

Wisniewski batted with her left hand and threw with her right. She was also an integral member of the AAGPBL from 1944 through 1952.

On February 18, 1922, Connie was born in Detroit, Michigan, and passed away on May 4, 1995, in Seminole, Florida.

2. Eri Yoshida

Deemed as the World’s second-best female baseball player, Eri Yoshida is a professional baseball player from Japan. 

Tochigi Golden Braves pitcher Eri throws a sidearm knuckleball. She was born in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, on January 17, 1992.

At 5 feet 1 inch, Yoshida is the first female to be drafted by the Japanese men’s professional baseball team.

1. Doris Sams

Topping our list of ‘Best Female Baseball Players’ is Doris Sams, also known as “Sammye.” 

Doris Jane Sams was a prominent female baseball player born on February 2, 1927, in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Her grandfather and father, Robert, were both semi-pro baseball players who helped her train early.

By the age of 11, Doris played fastpitch softball on a team of much older females.

Likewise, Sams was a vital member of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.

On June 28, 2012, she passed away in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA.

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