Toni Palermo

Toni Palermo
Born	February 5, 1933 Forest Park, Illinois
Died	April 5, 2024
Burial place	Mt. Olivet Cemetery Milwaukee Wisconsin
Alma mater	Alverno College Milwaukee, University of Wisconsin Madison
Occupation(s)	Professional Baseball Player, Teacher
Years active	1956-2004
Known for	Inducted into the National Women's Baseball Hall of Fame, 1982 Honored at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY
Television	Palermo's team was featured in the film "A League of Their Own."

Toni Ann Palermo (February 15, 1933 – April 5, 2024) was an American baseball player with the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). She began playing as a child with neighborhood teams, eventually being recruited into the higher leagues. When she was twenty years old she joined the School Sisters of St. Francis in Milwaukee Wisconsin. She taught in Wisconsin grade and high schools before eventually attaining a PhD in interdisciplinary studies from the University of Wisconsin Madison.

Early life

Toni Ann Palermo was born in Forest Park, Illinois, in February 1933 to Fred and Elvira Palermo, both of Italian descent. Since the family spoke only Italian, Palermo began to learn English when she went to school at five years old. Palermo began to play baseball as a child. When she was eleven years old she was recruited into the Parichy Bloomer Girls, a farm team known as the National Girls Baseball League, organized by Mr. Parichy, a construction worker from the area. The following year, the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) invited her to go with them to Cuba for spring training. She refused the invitation, not knowing all that it would entail. However, three years later, at age fourteen, she was asked to go on tour with the AAGPBL. In the summers of 1949 and 1950, two of the teams barnstormed for the league, traveling throughout the United States. These were the Chicago Colleens and the Springfield Sallies. The two teams traveled together on busses and trains, playing each evening in a different city, to show their ability as women to play baseball.

few years later she became a member of their league as a shortstop.

Teams

Palermo was a shortstop who played with the Chicago Colleens in 1949 and 1950. She also played with the Springfield Sallies in 1950. She played professional softball as well with the Parichy Bloomer girls of the National Girls Baseball League.[1]

Stats

Year	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG
1950	33	117	30	24	0	0	0	6	14	39	13	.376

Life after baseball

Palermo became a nun. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in English, history and math from Alverno College. She then earned three master's degrees and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She taught in the Physical Education Department and the School of Social Work at the University.

Palermo died after a long illness on April 5, 2024, at the age of 91.

Awards

• She was recognized by the Baseball Association of Chicago for "Excellence as an AAGPBL Player, Educator and Leader."