Biographical information Summary

Written by Jean S. Cione

Birth date - 6/23/28

Hometown - Rockford, Illinois (present population approx. 250,000 - 3rd largest city in Illinois) - birthplace and public school grades 1-12;

Education -  Graduated from Rock River Grade School, 1942; Lincoln Jr. High School,1943;  and East Rockford Senior High School, 1946

Earned a BS Degree from Eastern Michigan University,1953, an MS from the University of Illinois, 1962, and enrolled in Post MS study at the University of Michigan.

Work History

Physical Education Instructor & Department Head - Trenton High School, Trenton, MI (4 yrs)

Physical Education Instructor - West Rockford High School, Rockford, Illinois (4 yrs)

Physical Education Instructor & Dept. Head - Gilford High School, Rockford, Illinois (l yr)

Physical Education Professor- Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan (29 yrs)

Retired Professor -- Eastern Michigan 1992

All-American Girls Professiional Baseball League (AAGPBL) History - 10 years, 1945-1954 

             1945 - Rockford Peaches --reserve rookie 1st baseman

1946 - Peoria Red Wings -- starting 1st baseman

 1947-1953 - Kenosha Comets -- left-handed pitcher (played some 1st base and outfield)

Kenosha gave up its franchise after the 1951 season and the team was based in Battle Creek & Muskegon, MI, in subsequent years. In 1954, the team was disbanded and the player was assigned to other teams.

1954 - Rockford Peaches

Former AAGPBL-Players Association Positions - AAGPBL-Players Association Vice President and Website Liaison

Growing Up

I was born in Rockford, Illinois, and attended pubic school (grades 1-12) in the Rockford Public School System. I attended a county school (grades 1-8) and when in the 8th grade, I was the only girl and played 1st base on the Rock River School Boys' Softball Team that competed with other league schools. In 1942 (age 14), I earned the first letter ever awarded to a girl by Rock River School.  As I grew up, I developed a love for the out-of-doors and all outdoor activities. Athletics and outdoor activities became my primary interest and served as a template for my vocation and avocation throughout my life.

My 10 year career in the All American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL)

 This began in 1945.  As a young 17 year old junior in high school, I attended a try-out in Rockford, Illinois. Max Carey, a member of the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, conducted the day long try-out. I was selected and invited to the league spring training session in Chicago, Illinois (spring training in subsequent years was held in places like Havana, Cuba, Biloxi, Mississippi, Opa Locka, Florida and other Southern locations). I "made" the league roster, and was assigned to the Rockford Peaches. I was a young girl who could run, hit and throw.  During that first year with the Rockford Peaches, I sharpened those raw skills and learned the strategies of the game from a manager that I consider the best manager in the league, Bill Allington from Van Eyes CA. He was a student of the game and held practice sessions for us "rookies" and "bench warmers" every day that the team played at home. I attribute my 10-year longevity in the league to my first year under this outstanding manager.

Among the many "good" memories of my AAGPBL playing days

 These include (1) pitching three no hit games, and (2) while playing 1st base, making an unusual tag play put-out at 3rd base to help secure a 1-0 win for a pitcher who was close to being released and thus preserving her place on the team roster.

Background Information of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League

The AAGPBL was the women's baseball league that was portrayed in the 1992 movie "A League of Their Own."  After my tenure in the AAGPBL, my playing days became a "been there, done that, now lets move on to the rest of my life event."  Interest in the AAGPBL exploded when the movie was released.  An AAGPBL website was created (AAGPBL.org).  An example of the interest in the AAGPBL via the website is exhibited by the 27,815 hits the site received in April 2003.  Hits come from all over the world -- from all of the 50 USA states & other North American Countries, Canada, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Oceana & Africa.  I served as the website Liaison between the AAGPBL-Players Association and those contacting the website until 2006.

In July 1982 (40 years after the league was formed by PK Wrigley)  the first National Reunion of players and interested fans was held in Chicago, Illinois.  Beginning in 1986, annual or bi-annual player reunions were held in various parts of the country, and In May, 1987, the AAGPBL-Players Association was formed

On September 12, 2003, The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, NY, welcomed the AAGPBL to a return celebration in Cooperstown. Fifteen years prefiously--in November 1988, the NBHOF recognized the AAGPBL with a permanent exhibit in their prestigious facility.

In 2003, the 15th anniversary of the opening of the permanent exhibit, the NBHOF's Jane Forbes Clark, Chairperson of the Board of Directors; Tim Wiles, Director of Research; and Jeff Arnett, Director of Education announced that an Italian sculptor had been commissioned to sculpt a life sized bronze scupture of an AAGPBL Batter.   The figure is displayed on the Hall of Fame grounds and was unveiled in May 2006. It is displayed alongside two other beautiful bronze sculptures done by the same sculptor--one of a pitcher, Johnny Padres, and one of a catcher, Roy Campanella. They are all impressive.

These recognitions by the baseball world are deeply appreciated by all AAGPBL personnel.

Places Lived & Travels

My tenure in the AAGPBL and my career in education afforded me travel opportunites.  In addition to my hometown, I lived in Peoria, Illinois; Kenosha, Wisconsin; and Battle Creek & Muskegon, Michigan while I played baseball.  Spring training was held in various locations such as Havana Cuba; Biloxi, Mississippi; Opa Locka, Florida, and French Lick, Indiana.

My 29 year teaching career took me to schools and universities in Rockford, Illinois; Trenton, Michigan; Champaign-Urbana, Illinois; and Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti, Michigan.  I made many lasting friendships wherever I played and lived.

During the "off season" of my baseball playing days, I pursued a BS degree in education at Eastern Michigan University, and after my playing days, earned an MS at the University of Illinois and pursed post Masters work at the University of Michigan.  I taught on the high school level for 10 years before accepting a position at my undergraduate university where I retired in 1992 after a 29 year tenure..

Professional Work Experiences

During my years of teaching, I assumed many positions.  Among my many diverse responsibilities during my 10 years of high school teaching, I established and chaired a physical education department in a newly built school (Guilford HS), and of course organized a GAA.  As a synchronized swimming specialist, I directed many student synchronized swimming shows (Trenton HS in MI and West HS in Rockford, IL). Just as when I was a high school and university student, there was no competitive athletics for girls, and therefore no coaching positions. 

My university tenure included serving as the First Women's Athletic Director at Eastern Michigan University.   The University established a Women's Athletics Program to establish gender equity in athletics in the early 1970s to comply with the then new federal regulations of Title IX.

After establishing the Women's program and seeing it through its initial growth period, I returned to my first love, teaching in the Sports Medicine curriculum.

In 1985, Eastern Michigan University inducted me into their Athletic Hall of Fame recognizing my athletic achievements and contributions to establishing the Women's Athletic Program at EMU.

Some excerpts are based on Jean's Obituary published in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, Nov. 28, 2010

Jean Cione died peacefullly surrounded by loved ones.  She is greatly missed by family and friends.

See "Related Article" above "Player/Profile Search" for Jean's obituary.