Throwback Feature: Lizzy Murphy
Read about the Rhode Island native who was the first woman to play in a pro baseball against Major League players.
Long before women had professional leagues of their own and long before girls regularly dreamed of playing baseball at the highest levels, Lizzie Murphy was proving she belonged on the diamond.
Known as the “Queen of Baseball,” Mary Elizabeth “Lizzie” Murphy shattered barriers during the early 20th century, becoming one of the sport’s first true pioneers. At a time when women were often discouraged-or outright forbidden-from competing alongside men, Murphy built a reputation not as a novelty act, but as a legitimate baseball player whose talent demanded respect.
Born in Warren, Rhode Island in 1894, Murphy developed a love for baseball as a child. She left school at a young age to work in local textile mills, but whenever she had the opportunity, she was on the baseball field. Playing against boys and later men, she quickly established herself as an exceptional first baseman with reliable hands, strong instincts and a dependable bat. By the age of 17, she had signed with the Providence Independents, becoming one of the first women to earn a living playing professional baseball.
Throughout the 1910s and 1920s, she traveled across the United States and Canada with independent and all-star teams, often drawing thousands of spectators eager to see the woman who could compete with the game’s best male players. While promoters frequently advertised her gender to boost attendance, Murphy ensured fans remembered her for her ability.
That ability reached the national stage on Aug. 14, 1922.
In a charity exhibition at Boston’s Fenway Park, Murphy took the field with an American League All-Star team against the Boston Red Sox, becoming the first woman ever to play against a Major League Baseball team. Rather than simply making a ceremonial appearance, Murphy played two innings at first base, handling defensive chances cleanly as her team defeated the Red Sox 3-2. Nearly a century before conversations about women playing alongside men became common, Murphy had already shown it was possible.
Her list of accomplishments only continued to grow.
In 1928, Murphy appeared with a National League All-Star squad against the Boston Braves, making her the first player to suit up for both American League and National League all-star teams.
Murphy retired from baseball after a career spanning nearly two decades, returning to work in Rhode Island’s mills and oyster industry. Unlike many modern sports stars, she never became wealthy from her athletic achievements. Yet her influence extended far beyond her playing days.
Today, Murphy’s legacy continues to grow as historians and baseball fans recognize her contributions to the sport. Today’s generation is now introduced to her as she is the namesake for the WPBL team, the Los Angeles Queens.