
Lizzie "Spike" Murphy
queen of baseball
Decades before the Rockford Peaches learned there's no crying in baseball, Lizzie Murphy was an MVP of the "Bloomer Girls" ~ female semipro baseball players. The first to play for All-Star teams in both the National and American Leagues, she was also the first female holdout, refusing to play without pay.
Her gamble paid off. And, led to a 25-year career barnstorming all over New England + Canada, playing 100 games a summer. Sadly, being a pioneering athlete didn't pay in the long-run. Retiring from baseball for good at 40, Lizzie had to return to the wool mills she worked in as a kid to make ends meet. But, her legacy left a lasting mark on America's favorite pastime.
first baseman | "the best woman baseball player in the country"
LIZZIE MURPHY | her name ~ in all caps ~ was stitched on the front and back of her uniform so fans could easily see who they had come to see
entrepreneurial spirit | in between innings, she sold autographed postcards of herself for 10 cents each, making as much as $50 per game
first woman holdout | after not receiving her share of the collection from a game, she demanded $5 per game and her share, telling the manager just before a big away game, "No money, no Newport."
sly play | taking advantage of her French-Canadian roots to translate the play calling of her international competitors
1909 | at age 15, began playing on area men's baseball teams
August 14, 1922 | first woman to play for a major league baseball team ~ American League All-Stars ~ in an exhibition game {at the legendary Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts}
1928 | played in the National League All-Star fame…the first person {man or woman} to play for All-Star teams in each league
her position then | her position now
mill town girl | baseball hall-of-famer
born on
April 13, 1894
born in
Warren, Rhode Island
birth name
Mary Elizabeth Murphy
nickname
Spike
citizen of
United States of America
daughter of
hard-working parents
sister of
1 older brother | Henry
worked at
woolen mills, oyster boats
also good at
running, soccer, ice skating, soccer…and violin
married to
Walter Larivee
~ married in 1937; he died 6 years later ~
died on
April 17, 1964
a quote about Lizzie
"She swells attendance, and she's worth every cent I pay her.
But most important, she produces the goods and, all in all, she's a real player and a good fellow."
~ Eddie Carr
image credits
Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame | public domain
collapse bio bits"I didn’t have any trouble with the boys. Of course, they cursed and swore, but I didn’t mind. I knew all the words."
Warren Woman Recalls Life as a Baseball Star | circa 1937
"I never go into anything unless I feel sure I'm going to make good."
Warren Woman Recalls Life as Baseball Star | february 1938
"When I was too small to play, I used to beg the boys to let me carry their bats. Finally, I was allowed to join the team for only one reason: I used to 'steal' my father's gloves and bats and bring them along, so I was a valuable asset to them when I could furnish some of the equipment."
Queen Lizzie Plays First Base | june 1965
"I've always loved boys’ sports. They’re so active, they wake you up."
Today I found out ... | unknown
"Playing ball is the same as everything else in life. Mind your own business and concentrate on what you are doing, and you will be alright."
Lizzie Murphy: Queen of Diamonds | published in june 1994
for further reading about Lizzie "Spike" Murphy:
curated with care by Pauline Weger
postcard | Lizzie Murphy
Lizzie usually took to the stands to sell postcards for a dime apiece to supplement her income, a practice not unusual at the time. Here she's pictured in her uniform from the Warren Shoe team, her first team. Her favorite towns were the ones where she sold lots of postcards—ones with tight purses publicly went straight on her bad list!
Warren Athletic Hall of Fame | Rick Harris Cards
photo | her famous uniform
Just so fans wouldn't miss her, Lizzie Murphy had her name stitched across the front and back of her uniform.
Warren Athletic Hall of Fame