Background
She was born in Weirton, West Virginia, the youngest of eight children, to parents John and Mary Kolanko.
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Mary Kolanko
Edit ProfileEducation
She studied at Weir High School, where she was head cheerleader.
Career
She had five older brothers. Her nickname was Klinky. She both threw and batted left-handed.
She measured in at 5 foot 2 inches and weighed 124 pounds.
Before she started playing professionally in the league, Mary Lou enjoyed playing with her five older brothers. But she never got the opportunity to play baseball in either high school or college.
However, she did enjoying playing fast pitch softball when she lived in Weirton and Steubenville, during her teenage years. And it was during those years, that she was scouted by the AAGPBL.
Mary Lou was asked to come to tryouts at Spring training in 1950 in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, followed by a training camp in South Bend, Indiana. She only played in one season, in 1950.
Mary Lou"s professional baseball league career was quite short.
She spent half of that time with the Peoria Redwings and the other half with the Springfield Sallies. She earned a reputation for being a fast runner. Even though she spent only one season with the league, during that time she traveled a lot, covering 17 states, as well as Canada.
One of her career highlights was playing at the Yankee Stadium and doing a warm-up with the Philosophy Rizzuto, the Hall of Fame shortstop.
She was honored in the Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, New New York Once she was done with baseball, she moved back to Weirton and took on a position at the Bank of Weirton.
She got a Masters Degree. Thereafter, she joined the convent and joined the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Saint Louis.
She also taught a school for a decade-and-a-half.
She was part of the movement to establish women"s sports programs in schools as well. Following her retirement, she enjoyed playing golf and jogging. She died after a short illness at the Saint Joseph Hospital, Tampa, Florida.
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Born
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Died
October 9, 2007 (aged 75) -
Nationality
American