Google is recognizing Marcenia "Toni" Stone in a doodle depiction in honor of Black History Month.
Stone was inducted into the Minnesota Hall of Fame on Feb. 9, 2021 and is the first woman in history to play professional baseball regularly in a men's major baseball league, according to Google.
The doodle creation was brought to life by San Francisco-based illustrator, animator, and director, Monique Wray.
Who is Toni Stone?
According to Major League Baseball, Toni was the first woman to play professional baseball regularly in a major men's professional baseball league. She replaced Hank Aaron when she joined the Negro American League.
Other facts about Toni Stone:
- Stone was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on July 17, 1931.
- At 15-years-old, Stone played with the St. Paul Giants, a men's semi-professional baseball team. Once she graduated from high school, she moved out west and began her professional baseball career with the San Francisco Sea Lions of the West Coast Negro Baseball League in 1946, according to Major League Baseball.
- In 1949, Stone played second base for The New Orleans Creoles before she got her big break in 1953 and was signed to the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro American League to play second base. The Clowns were known as one of the league's most prestigious teams, according to Google.
- One of Stone's predecessors at second base for the Clowns was Hank Aaron, prior to his time with the Milwaukee Braves of MLB. That same year Stone hit a single off of the greatest pitcher in Negro League history, Satchel Paige. After finishing 50 games with the Clowns, Stone was traded to the Kansas City Monarchs and retired her baseball career following the end of the season in 1954, according to Britannica.
- In 1990, Stone was included in the “Women in Baseball” and “Negro League Baseball” exhibit at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Three years later, she was inducted into the Women’s Sports Hall of Fame and the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame.
- In 1993, Stone was inducted into the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame and remains a legend to this day.
- Stone died on November 2, 1996 at the age of 75.
