Julie Croteau
Encyclopedia
Julie Croteau is recognized as the first woman to play men’s NCAA baseball, as well as the first woman to coach men’s NCAA Division I baseball. She is one of two women to ever play in an Major League Baseball
-sanctioned winter league, and her baseball glove and photo are on permanent display at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.
In 1988, Croteau sued Osborne Park High School in Manassas, Virginia
for the right to play on the boys' baseball team in 1988, but lost. At St. Mary's College of Maryland
(Division III), she made the men's baseball team as a freshman walk on. She received national media attention for this accomplishment. After playing in college, Croteau continued her career by coaching men's NCAA baseball at Western New England University (Division III) and then at the University of Massachusetts
(Division I).
Croteau was a baseball double for actress Anne Ramsey, who portrayed first basewoman Helen Haley, in the 1992 Columbia Pictures film A League of Their Own
.
In 1994, Croteau played with the Colorado Silver Bullets
, a women's professional baseball team, in its inaugural season. After one season, she and teammate Lee Anne Ketcham joined the Maui Stingrays
of the Hawaiian Winter Baseball League, becoming the first women to play in a Major League Baseball-sanctioned league.
In 2004, Croteau was selected to be the third base coach for the United States Women's National Team, which captured the gold medal at the 2004 Women's World Cup of Baseball in Edmonton. In 2006, Croteau was promoted to become the manager of the Women’s National Team which won the Women’s World Cup in Taiwan.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
-sanctioned winter league, and her baseball glove and photo are on permanent display at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.
In 1988, Croteau sued Osborne Park High School in Manassas, Virginia
Manassas, Virginia
The City of Manassas is an independent city surrounded by Prince William County and the independent city of Manassas Park in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Its population was 37,821 as of 2010. Manassas also surrounds the county seat for Prince William County but that county...
for the right to play on the boys' baseball team in 1988, but lost. At St. Mary's College of Maryland
St. Mary's College of Maryland
St. Mary's College of Maryland, established in 1840, is a public, secular liberal arts college located in St. Mary's City, Maryland. It is a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges and designated as a Public Honors College . St. Mary's College is a small college, with about 2,000...
(Division III), she made the men's baseball team as a freshman walk on. She received national media attention for this accomplishment. After playing in college, Croteau continued her career by coaching men's NCAA baseball at Western New England University (Division III) and then at the University of Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts
This article relates to the statewide university system. For the flagship campus often referred to as "UMass", see University of Massachusetts Amherst...
(Division I).
Croteau was a baseball double for actress Anne Ramsey, who portrayed first basewoman Helen Haley, in the 1992 Columbia Pictures film A League of Their Own
A League of Their Own
A League of Their Own is a 1992 American comedy-drama film that tells a fictionalized account of the real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League . Directed by Penny Marshall, the film stars Geena Davis, Lori Petty, Tom Hanks, Madonna, and Rosie O'Donnell...
.
In 1994, Croteau played with the Colorado Silver Bullets
Colorado Silver Bullets
The Colorado Silver Bullets was an all-female professional baseball team that played in the United States in the mid-1990s. The Bullets were the first such team since the folding of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in 1954.- History :...
, a women's professional baseball team, in its inaugural season. After one season, she and teammate Lee Anne Ketcham joined the Maui Stingrays
Maui Stingrays
The Maui Stingrays were a minor league baseball team in the Hawaii Winter Baseball league. They were based in Wailuku, Hawaii. They played their home games at Maehara Stadium.-Team Record:-External links:*...
of the Hawaiian Winter Baseball League, becoming the first women to play in a Major League Baseball-sanctioned league.
In 2004, Croteau was selected to be the third base coach for the United States Women's National Team, which captured the gold medal at the 2004 Women's World Cup of Baseball in Edmonton. In 2006, Croteau was promoted to become the manager of the Women’s National Team which won the Women’s World Cup in Taiwan.