BU Athletics Mourns the Passing of Hall of Famer and Women’s Sports Pioneer Mary Pratt
May 12, 2020 | General, Softball
BOSTON – The Boston University Department of Athletics is saddened to learn of the recent passing of BU Hall of Famer Mary Pratt ('40).
Most recently living in Braintree, Massachusetts, at the age of 101, Pratt is most well known for being a women's sports advocate and an original member of the Rockford Peaches, a professional women's baseball team featured in the 1992 Hollywood blockbuster hit, A League of Their Own.
"A pioneer and matriarch of BU Athletics has passed away," said director of athletics Drew Marrochello. "Mary simply never settled, and we are all better for it. I cherish the interactions I had with her as they were priceless. Our university will remember her energy and passion, which will live on forever."
Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in 1918, she moved to Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1932 and later graduated from BU's Sargent College in 1940 with a degree in physical education. During her collegiate athletic career, she made every team she ever tried out for and competed in basketball, softball, fistball, volleyball, lacrosse, field hockey, sailing, tennis and archery.
In the summer of 1939 and 1940, she pitched for the Boston Olympets, a softball team organized by Boston Celtics founder Walter Brown that competed inside Boston Garden. Off the diamond, she competed with the Boston Lacrosse Association and was a member of the U.S. national touring team that played international opponents. The opportunities led to her joining the All-America Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL), where she pitched for both the Peaches and Kenosha Comets from 1943-47.
She made $60 a week, doubling her pay as a physical education teacher. The extra money made allowed her to further her education and earn her master's degree in education and a certificate of advanced graduate study (C.A.G.S.) at BU. Once her professional athletic career ended, she still remained devoted to sports as a teacher, mentor and advocate. She taught for over 40 years in Quincy and nearby Braintree while also assisting summer recreation programs as a coach and referee. She even spent three years as an associate professor and coach at Salem State College from 1965-68.
In 1986, she was a co-founder of New Agenda-Northeast Project, which helped create more athletic opportunities for women. She later donated many of her mementos to the National Baseball Hall of Fame for the unveiling of the "Women in Baseball" exhibit in 1988. Nearly 15 years later, Boston Globe writer and ESPN personality Jackie MacMullan presented her with the Legacy Award with other New England sports legends like Tommy Heinsohn and Red Auerbach on stage at the Sports Museum's annual "The Tradition" ceremony.
Pratt always remained involved with her alma mater, whether attending Sargent College alumni events, serving on the Athletics Hall of Fame committee, talking with student-athletes or participating in events like the 2000 panel that honored the 25th year of varsity intercollegiate athletics for women at BU.
Most recently living in Braintree, Massachusetts, at the age of 101, Pratt is most well known for being a women's sports advocate and an original member of the Rockford Peaches, a professional women's baseball team featured in the 1992 Hollywood blockbuster hit, A League of Their Own.
"A pioneer and matriarch of BU Athletics has passed away," said director of athletics Drew Marrochello. "Mary simply never settled, and we are all better for it. I cherish the interactions I had with her as they were priceless. Our university will remember her energy and passion, which will live on forever."
Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in 1918, she moved to Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1932 and later graduated from BU's Sargent College in 1940 with a degree in physical education. During her collegiate athletic career, she made every team she ever tried out for and competed in basketball, softball, fistball, volleyball, lacrosse, field hockey, sailing, tennis and archery.
In the summer of 1939 and 1940, she pitched for the Boston Olympets, a softball team organized by Boston Celtics founder Walter Brown that competed inside Boston Garden. Off the diamond, she competed with the Boston Lacrosse Association and was a member of the U.S. national touring team that played international opponents. The opportunities led to her joining the All-America Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL), where she pitched for both the Peaches and Kenosha Comets from 1943-47.
She made $60 a week, doubling her pay as a physical education teacher. The extra money made allowed her to further her education and earn her master's degree in education and a certificate of advanced graduate study (C.A.G.S.) at BU. Once her professional athletic career ended, she still remained devoted to sports as a teacher, mentor and advocate. She taught for over 40 years in Quincy and nearby Braintree while also assisting summer recreation programs as a coach and referee. She even spent three years as an associate professor and coach at Salem State College from 1965-68.
In 1986, she was a co-founder of New Agenda-Northeast Project, which helped create more athletic opportunities for women. She later donated many of her mementos to the National Baseball Hall of Fame for the unveiling of the "Women in Baseball" exhibit in 1988. Nearly 15 years later, Boston Globe writer and ESPN personality Jackie MacMullan presented her with the Legacy Award with other New England sports legends like Tommy Heinsohn and Red Auerbach on stage at the Sports Museum's annual "The Tradition" ceremony.
Pratt always remained involved with her alma mater, whether attending Sargent College alumni events, serving on the Athletics Hall of Fame committee, talking with student-athletes or participating in events like the 2000 panel that honored the 25th year of varsity intercollegiate athletics for women at BU.
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