Connie Morgan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Connie Morgan |
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| Born: October 17, 1935 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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| Died: October 14, 1996 (aged 60) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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Constance Enola Morgan (October 17, 1935 – October 14, 1996) was an amazing American baseball player. She made history as the third woman to play professional baseball. Connie played in the Negro leagues, which were professional baseball leagues for African-American players. She was a talented second baseman.
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Connie Morgan: A Baseball Pioneer
Early Life and Joining the Clowns
Connie Morgan was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She finished John Bartram High School in 1953. Before playing professionally, Connie played for five years. She was a catcher for the North Philadelphia Honey Drippers. This was an all-women's baseball team. She had a great batting average of .338 with them.
In 1954, Connie joined the Indianapolis Clowns. This team was part of the Negro American League. She played second base for the Clowns. Her manager was Oscar Charleston, a famous player in the Baseball Hall of Fame. The Clowns' owner, Syd Pollock, signed her to a big contract. At the same time, another female player, Mamie "Peanut" Johnson, also joined the team.
Connie took the place of Toni Stone on the team. Toni Stone was the first woman to play in the Negro leagues. She had been traded to the Kansas City Monarchs. Connie was described as being 5 feet 4 inches (1.63 metres) tall and weighing 140 pounds (64 kilos). She was expected to be a regular player in the starting lineup.
Making History on the Field
Connie showed her skills right away. On opening day, May 23, 1954, she made an amazing play. She ran far to her right to stop a ball. Then she quickly threw it to the shortstop, Bill Holder. This started a fast double play against the Birmingham Barons.
In July, the Clowns played in Connie's hometown of Philadelphia. The Clowns won both games of a doubleheader. They beat the Monarchs, who were one of the best teams in the league. Connie played with the Indianapolis Clowns through the 1955 season.
Life After Baseball
After the Clowns won the championship season, Connie decided to go back to school. She studied accounting at William Penn Business Institute. Her goal was to work in a business office. She finished her program in 1955.
Connie later worked for the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). This is a large group of labor unions. She worked there until she retired in 1974.
In 1995, Connie was honored for her achievements. She was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. Connie passed away in Philadelphia on October 14, 1996. She died just three days before her 61st birthday.
See also
- Women in baseball
