Who is Toni Stone? Feb 9 Google Doodle honours African American icon

In honour of Black History month in the United States, Google paid a tribute to African American sports icon Toni Stone with a Doodle on February 9.

Although the sportswoman passed away in 1996, aged 75, her legacy in baseball is remembered to this day.

On Feb 9, 2021, Toni was inducted into the Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame for her exceptional contribution to baseball.

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Who is Toni Stone?

Toni Stone was the first woman in history to play professional baseball in a men’s major league.

Born as Marcenia Lyle Stone in 1921 in West Virginia’s Bluefield, Toni grew up in an era of pronounced racial segregation in US sports.

However, thanks to her grit and passion for baseball, by the mere age of 15, she had broken many gender norms in sports.

The year 1946 marked the beginning of Toni’s illustrious career as a sports professional as she went to bat for the San Francisco Sea Lions.

In the upcoming years, she continued to travel across the United States while playing second base for the minor league side New Orleans Creoles.

Another major career milestone for Toni came in 1953 when she filled the spot of Hank Aaron as the second baseman for the Indianapolis Clowns, which was one of baseball’s most prestigious teams.

The baseball champion had to drop out of school and work as a shipyard forklift operator and a cafeteria employee in San Francisco to make ends meet before suceeding as a sportsperson.

“Toni’s gift was to play sports, and she is celebrated today because she fought to play in a mens’ baseball club in Minnesota. With the help of her priest who spoke to the baseball club’s coach, Toni got into the club,” her niece, Maria Bartlow, told Google.

“During Toni’s career, she suffered humiliating prejudices from the audience and her teammates. However, she never let that stop her from playing baseball.”

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Feb 9 Google Doodle explored

The February 9 Doodle was illustrated by San Francisco-based artist Monique Wray as she celebrated Marcenia “Toni” Stone.

The gif sees Toni Stone in an Indianapolis Clowns jersey, standing ahead of a massive scoreboard and a stadium full of baseball fans.

The champion catches a fast-moving ball before switching it to her other hand and making a hard throw.

Was Toni Stone ever married?

The baseball trailblazer went on to marry Aurelious Pescia Alberga, a man 40 years her senior, in the 1950s.

A report in BlackPast states that he did not approve of her baseball career. However, nothing could deter Toni, who continued to play for the Indianapolis Clowns until her retirement in 1954.

The pair reportedly remained married until Alberga’s death.

Toni died on November 2, 1966, in a nursing home in Alameda, California.

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