Kitty Burke was a nightclub entertainer from Cincinnati, Ohio who was noted for being the only female to ever attempt to bat in a Major League Baseball game, albeit unofficially.
On July 31, 1935, Burke was sitting in the stands at Crosley Field during a game between the Cincinnati Reds and the St. Louis Cardinals when she began heckling the players. In what may have been a publicity stunt, she then strode to the on-deck circle, took Babe Herman's bat and proceeded to "pinch hit". She ended up grounding out to first base; however, the appearance was purely informal, and the umpires did not count this as an official at bat or out, as she was not on the roster. Allegedly, the Reds later gave her a uniform which she used while performing her act.
References
- Zoss, Joel (2004). Diamonds in the Rough. U of Nebraska Press. p. 119. ISBN 978-0-8032-9920-7.
Kitty Burke baseball.
- "The Stories of Jackie and Kitty". The Ledger. April 28, 2002. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved 2009-05-30.
- Seymour, Harold (30 May 1991). "Baseball: The People's Game". Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-506907-5. Retrieved 2009-05-30.
- Seymour, Harold (30 May 1991). "Baseball: The People's Game". Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-506907-5. Retrieved 2009-05-30.
- Seymour, Harold (30 May 1991). "Baseball: The People's Game". Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-506907-5. Retrieved 2009-05-30.
- Smith, Curt (2003). Storied Stadiums: Baseball's History. Carroll & Graf. ISBN 978-0-7867-1187-1.
- "Baseball '99 -- the Cincinnati Enquirer". Archived from the original on 2012-07-16. Retrieved 2009-05-30.
- "The Stories of Jackie and Kitty". The Ledger. April 28, 2002. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved 2009-05-30.
- "The Stories of Jackie and Kitty". The Ledger. April 28, 2002. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved 2009-05-30.
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