Mo'ne Davis facts for kids

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Mo'ne Davis
Personal information
Davis at the 2014 National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony
Full name	Mo'ne Ikea Davis
Nickname(s)	Mo
Nationality	American
Born	(2001-06-24) June 24, 2001 (age 24) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height	5 feet 4 inches (1.63 m) (2014)
Weight	111 pounds (50 kg) (2014)
Other interests	Basketball, soccer
Sport
Country	United States
Sport	Baseball, softball
Position	Pitcher (baseball) Second baseman (softball)
University team	Hampton Lady Pirates
League	Little League (baseball) Big South Conference (softball)
Club	Anderson Monarchs Taney Youth Baseball Association
Updated on March 1, 2020.

Mo'ne Ikea Davis (born June 24, 2001) is an American athlete from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is famous for being a pitcher in Little League Baseball. She also played softball for Hampton University.

In 2014, Mo'ne was one of only two girls to play in the 2014 Little League World Series. She made history by being the first girl to win a game and throw a shutout in the Little League World Series. A shutout means the other team scores no runs. She was the 18th girl ever to play in the series and the sixth to get a hit. Mo'ne was also the first Little League baseball player to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine.

Mo'ne Davis's Early Life and Sports Journey

Mo'ne Davis grew up with her mother, Lakeisha McLean, and stepfather, Mark Williams. Her father is Lamar Davis.

Discovering Her Talent

In 2008, when Mo'ne was young, Steve Bandura noticed her playing football. He was the program director at the Marian Anderson Recreation Center in South Philadelphia. He saw her throwing a football perfectly and tackling older kids.

Bandura invited her to a basketball practice. Mo'ne wanted to join right away. He told The Philadelphia Tribune that she watched carefully and then did the drills perfectly. She quickly became his best basketball player and the only girl on the team. Mo'ne also started playing baseball and soccer, showing great skill in those sports too.

School and Multiple Sports

Steve Bandura and others helped Mo'ne transfer to Springside Chestnut Hill Academy. Her mother was surprised by how athletic Mo'ne was. By 2011, Mo'ne played point guard in basketball. In baseball, she was a pitcher, shortstop, and third baseman. She also played mid-fielder in soccer. She started pitching when she filled in for an outfielder.

Future Dreams

Even though she became famous as a baseball pitcher, Mo'ne considered basketball her main sport in 2014. She dreamed of becoming a WNBA player. She hoped to play college basketball for the UConn Huskies. She looked up to Maya Moore, a UConn star who later played in the WNBA.

Life After Little League

In 2015, Mo'ne wrote a book with Hilary Beard called Mo'ne Davis: Remember My Name. That same year, she worked with the brand M4D3 (Make A Difference Everyday). They designed a line of sneakers for girls. Some of the money from sales helped Plan International's Because I Am a Girl program. This program helps girls in developing countries.

In 2018, Mo'ne decided to play softball at Hampton University in Virginia. She started playing for the Lady Pirates in February 2020. In her first game, she got a hit and helped her team win. She finished that season with a .333 batting average. She was also good at getting players out and had many putouts.

Mo'ne played for the Hampton University softball team for two seasons. She was not on the team's roster in 2023. In 2023, Mo'ne began studying at Columbia University for her graduate degree.

Mo'ne Davis's Amazing Pitching Skills

When Mo'ne was 13, her fastball could reach 70 miles per hour (110 km/h). This was very fast for her age group. The average speed for kids her age was between 63 miles per hour (101 km/h) and 73 miles per hour (117 km/h).

How Fast Was Her Pitch?

On August 15, 2014, her pitch was clocked at 71 miles per hour (114 km/h). For a batter, this speed felt like facing a 93 miles per hour (150 km/h) pitch on a bigger baseball field. She also threw a curveball that was very hard for opposing batters to hit.

Pitching Technique

Mo'ne's success came from her precise pitching technique, not just strength. According to John Brenkus from ESPN, her wind-up and release point were always almost exactly the same. Even though her arm was shorter than a professional pitcher's, she could still throw over 70 miles per hour (110 km/h). Her pitching style was compared to that of major league pitcher Jonathan Papelbon. When she finished her throw, her arm moved very fast, almost as fast as a typical major league pitcher's arm.

Mo'ne Davis at the Little League World Series

A History of Girls in Little League

In 1972, Maria Pepe was the first girl to start playing in Little League games. But she was removed because other teams complained. The National Organization for Women sued on Maria's behalf. In 1973, Judge Sylvia Pressler ruled that girls should be allowed to play. This ruling came too late for Maria, but it opened the door for girls like Mo'ne to play Little League baseball.

Mo'ne was the fourth American girl and the 18th girl overall to play in the Little League World Series. This tournament has been held since 1947, with almost 9,000 players. The 2014 Little League World Series was also special because two girls played in it. Mo'ne was the sixth girl to get a hit in the series.

On August 10, 2014, Mo'ne pitched a great game. She threw an 8–0 shutout against Newark National Little League of Delaware. This win helped her team get into the Mid-Atlantic Region of the Little League World Series.

First Win for a Girl Pitcher

On August 15, 2014, Mo'ne made history. She became the first girl in Little League World Series history to pitch a winning game for her team, the Taney Dragons. She also became the first girl to pitch a shutout in Little League postseason history. She led her team to a 4–0 victory over Nashville. Mo'ne pitched for six innings, striking out eight batters. She only allowed two hits. After the game, Pennsylvania governor Tom Corbett said he believed she would play professional baseball one day.

Television Popularity

ESPN showed the semifinals game where Mo'ne played on August 20, 2014. The broadcast had very high ratings, setting a new record for Little League games on ESPN. In that game, Mo'ne's team lost, and she was taken out of the game early. Nevada won 8-1, which meant Pennsylvania was out of the series.

Mo'ne Davis in the Media Spotlight

After her historic shutout, Mo'ne received many messages from famous athletes like Mike Trout, Marcus Stroman, and Kevin Durant. TV hosts like Jimmy Fallon wanted to interview her. Rachel Maddow called Mo'ne "the best new thing in the world." She also received praise from Ellen DeGeneres, Billie Jean King, and Michelle Obama. Mo'ne told ESPN, "I never thought at the age of 13 I'd be a role model. I always wanted to be a role model, but being a baseball role model is really cool."

Cover Star

On August 25, 2014, Mo'ne appeared on the front cover of Sports Illustrated magazine. This made her the first Little League baseball player ever to be on the cover of a major US sports magazine. When asked about it, Mo'ne said she was "kind of surprised" but that it was "fun."

Paul Graziano, who had announced games at the Little League World Series for 34 years, said he had never seen so much excitement so early in the tournament. He believed Mo'ne was a big reason for this. Crowds cheered loudly every time she pitched or batted. She even received standing ovations during her shutout win on August 15, 2014.

Media Attention and Challenges

On August 19, 2014, Mark Hyman, a professor at George Washington University, told The New York Times that Mo'ne was "the most talked-about baseball player on earth right now." Her presence helped increase TV ratings for ABC and ESPN. She was on the front page of The Philadelphia Inquirer for five days in a row.

Josh Peter, a writer for USA Today, wrote about concerns regarding merchandise and marketing around Mo'ne. For example, a baseball supposedly signed by Mo'ne appeared on eBay for a high price. There were also companies selling unauthorized jerseys with her name.

Honors and Recognition

In September 2014, Mo'ne donated her jersey to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Her teammates from the Anderson Monarchs joined her. Mamie Johnson, one of the few women who played in Negro league baseball, was also there.

In October 2014, Time magazine named Mo'ne one of "The 25 Most Influential Teens of 2014." Also that month, a 16-minute documentary about her, called I Throw Like a Girl, was released. It was directed by Spike Lee.

On October 25, Mo'ne threw out the first pitch at Game 4 of the MLB 2014 World Series in San Francisco. She was also named Sports Illustrated Kids' "SportsKid of the Year" for 2014. ESPNW also included her in their Impact 25 list for 2014.

In March 2015, a college baseball player named Joey Casselberry made a rude comment about Mo'ne on Twitter. He was suspended from playing. After he apologized, Mo'ne asked his school to let him play again. The university said her request showed her maturity and kindness.

Mo'ne was featured in Marie Claire magazine's list of "The 8 Greatest Moments for Women in Sports." In July 2015, she won the Best Breakthrough Athlete ESPY Award.

On March 12, 2025, a statue of Mo'ne Davis was revealed at the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. This made her the first non-Major League Baseball player to have a statue there.

Mo'ne Davis as a Broadcaster

In 2019 and 2021, Mo'ne briefly worked as a broadcaster for ESPN. She helped announce some Little League World Series games. She has also appeared on baseball and softball broadcasts for the MLB Network. This included the MLB Network Showcase: Clubhouse Edition with CC Sabathia. In the summer of 2022, Mo'ne was one of the announcers for the DC Grays baseball team.

Interesting Facts About Mo'ne Davis

In September 2014, Mo'ne donated her jersey to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
In October 2014, Time magazine named Mo'ne one of "The 25 Most Influential Teens of 2014."
A 16-minute documentary about Mo'ne, called I Throw Like a Girl, was released in October 2014. It was directed by Spike Lee.
On October 25, 2014, Mo'ne threw out the first pitch of Game 4 of the MLB World Series in San Francisco.
Mo'ne was named Sports Illustrated Kids' "SportsKid of the Year" for 2014. She was also named one of ESPNW's Impact 25 in 2014.
Marie Claire magazine featured Mo'ne in its "The 8 Greatest Moments for Women in Sports."
In July 2015, Mo'ne won the Best Breakthrough Athlete ESPY Award.
On March 12, 2025, a statue of Mo'ne Davis was shown at the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. This made her the first person who wasn't a Major League Baseball player to have a statue there.

Mo'ne Davis Quotes

"Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone deserves a second chance."
"If I just keep being myself, then a lot of opportunities will come for me."