Toni Stone is one hell of a woman. She’s also one of the best baseball players you’ve never heard of. Since women’s leagues refused her eligibility due to the color of her skin, Stone ended up playing alongside men in the Negro League. She became the first woman to play professionally in the league against big-shots like Ernie Banks, Willie Mays, Buck O’Neil, and Satchel Paige. Today she’s often referred to as ‘the female Jackie Robinson’.
Author Martha Ackmann has written a new book called Curveball which chronicles her struggles and victories as a woman of color playing what was once considered a white-man’s game.
To celebrate the release of Curveball, Ackmann will be visiting these venues for a reading, discussion, and book signing!
July 10
Kansas City, MO:
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
(1616 E. 18th St, Kansas City, MO, 64108 – 816-221-1920)
11:00am
July 12
St. Louis, MO:
Left Bank Books
(399 N. EUCLID AVE. SAINT LOUIS, MO 63108 – 314-367-6731)
7:00pm
July 15
Chicago, IL:
Women & Children First
(5233 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640 – 773- 769-9299)
7:30pm
We hope to see you there! If you can’t make it to one of the events, purchase a copy of Curveball online at your local book seller!