Mary Shane facts for kids

Mary Shane was a pioneering woman in sports broadcasting. In 1977, she became the first full-time female play-by-play announcer for a Major League Baseball team. This was a big step for women in sports!

Early Life and Career

Mary Driscoll was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 17, 1945. Her dad played semi-pro baseball, so she grew up loving the sport.

In 1967, she graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. She earned a degree in History. After college, Mary taught history at a high school in Milwaukee for six years.

In 1975, Mary decided to change her career. She became a radio sportscaster at WRIT in Milwaukee. There, she covered local sports teams. These included the Milwaukee Brewers, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Marquette Warriors.

Breaking Barriers in Baseball

Mary's big break came in 1976. She was working in the press box at County Stadium. She was covering a game between the Chicago White Sox and the Milwaukee Brewers. The White Sox announcer, Harry Caray, was surprised to see a woman in the press box. He invited her to try doing some play-by-play announcing.

Mary did very well. Harry Caray asked her to join the broadcast again the next day. She also joined them on another White Sox visit to Milwaukee.

Joining the White Sox

In 1977, WMAQ radio and WSNS-TV hired Mary. These were the main stations for the Chicago White Sox. She joined their broadcast team. The team already included famous announcers like Harry Caray and Jimmy Piersall.

Mary was pulled from the White Sox broadcasts before the 1977 season ended. Her contract was not renewed. Some people had concerns about her voice. However, Mary was known as a very hard worker.

Her broadcasting partner, Jimmy Piersall, spoke up for her. He said, "She never had a chance." He felt that Mary faced unfair prejudice. He believed she had what it took to succeed. Piersall thought that a woman's perspective in baseball broadcasting would be a great idea someday.

Later Career and Legacy

In the 1980s, Mary Shane moved to Worcester, Massachusetts. She worked as a sportswriter for the Worcester Telegram newspaper. She became the first female reporter to regularly cover the Boston Celtics basketball team. Her writing was so good that she won an award for it.

Mary Shane faced heart problems in her thirties. She passed away on November 1, 1987, at her home in Worcester. She was 42 years old. Mary Shane opened doors for many women in sports broadcasting and journalism.