Curveball: The Remarkable Story of Toni Stone, the First Woman to Play Professional Baseball in the Negro League

Curveball tells the inspiring story of a woman whose ambition, courage, and raw talent propelled her from ragtag teams barnstorming across the Dakotas to playing in front of large crowds at Yankee Stadium. After Robinson integrated the major leagues and other black players slowly began to follow, Stone seized the opportunity to play professional baseball with the men in the Negro League. She replaced Hank Aaron as the star infielder for the Indianapolis Clowns and later signed with the Kansas City Monarchs. Playing alongside Ernie Banks, Willie Mays, Buck O’Neil, and Satchel Paige, Toni’s incredible talent spoke for itself. Toni Stone faced down not only fastballs, but jeers, sabotage, and Jim Crow America as well. Her story reveals how far passion, pride, and determination can take one person in pursuit of a dream.