In 1868, Lizzie Arlington became the first woman to sign with a professional men’s baseball team. After participating in various exhibition games for several months, she was called up by the Reading Coal Heavers, with whom she made her professional debut on July 5th of that year. In that game, Arlington entered the ninth inning with a partial lead of 5-0. She delivered an outstanding performance, allowing only two hits and no runs.
An article in the American Eagles newspaper suggested that Arlington’s appearance had more to do with fashion than sport: “Lizzie Arlington, hailed as the ‘most famous lady pitcher in the world,’ was the special attraction that drew over 1,000 people to the baseball field on Tuesday afternoon, including 200 women. However, she seemed to have been brought there to showcase her appearance and attire, as she only appeared for a few minutes in practice and pitched in the final inning…
Miss Arlington arrived at the field with several others in an elegant carriage pulled by two white horses. In response to applause, she tipped her cap. Spectators beheld a plump young woman with an attractive face and rosy cheeks. She wore a gray uniform with a knee-length skirt, black stockings, and a jaunty cap. Her hair was not cut short but styled in the latest fashion.”
The true reason for her appearance on the diamond remains unknown. Nevertheless, her performance inspired other women to become involved in the sport and realize that baseball is not solely for men.
Following that game, Lizzie never pitched for a professional men’s team again. However, she continued to play baseball, pitching for the Bloomer Girls where she participated in a total of 298 games and lost only 87. After retiring from baseball, Arlington pursued other sports such as shooting, tennis, and horseback riding.
Although no woman has played in Major League Baseball, three women were part of the Negro Leagues in 1950: Toni Stone, Mamie “Peanut” Johnson, and Connie Morgan.
