Eastern Michigan Athletics
E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame
Cione, Jean S.
Jean S. Cione
- Induction:
- 1986
- Class:
- 1953
Jean Cione, a 1986 Eastern Michigan University Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, died, Nov. 22, 2010, in Bozeman, Montana where she had moved after retiring in 1992. She was 82 years old. She is survived by her partner, Ginny Hunt of Bozeman, and her sister, Linda Gillespie.
Cione taught high school physical education for 10 years and was a professor of sports medicine at Eastern Michigan University for nearly three decades. She was EMU's first women's athletic director as her alma mater established a women's athletic program. She also coached women's track and women's basketball teams while on the EMU staff.
Born in Rockford, Ill. in 1928 Cione tried out for the Rockford Peaches of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League in 1945. The Rockford team was based on the 1992 film "A League of Their Own."
She played for four AAGPBL teams, helping the Kenosha Comets to a league championship in 1952. During her 10-year career, she pitched three no-hitters, had three 20-win seasons and compiled a 76-65 record with a 2.33 ERA.
Cione was Inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame as well as the Eastern Michigan University Athletic Hall of Fame and she also served as vice president of the AAGPBL Players Association.
She co-wrote and co-hosted "Dirt on Their Skirts: The Story of Women in Baseball," a 90-minute electronic "field trip" available for school children through the National Baseball Hall of Fame. She was also interviewed for "Diamond Dreams," a film that runs as a continuous loop in the hall of fame's exhibit on women in baseball.
Cione taught high school physical education for 10 years and was a professor of sports medicine at Eastern Michigan University for nearly three decades. She was EMU's first women's athletic director as her alma mater established a women's athletic program. She also coached women's track and women's basketball teams while on the EMU staff.
Born in Rockford, Ill. in 1928 Cione tried out for the Rockford Peaches of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League in 1945. The Rockford team was based on the 1992 film "A League of Their Own."
She played for four AAGPBL teams, helping the Kenosha Comets to a league championship in 1952. During her 10-year career, she pitched three no-hitters, had three 20-win seasons and compiled a 76-65 record with a 2.33 ERA.
Cione was Inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame as well as the Eastern Michigan University Athletic Hall of Fame and she also served as vice president of the AAGPBL Players Association.
She co-wrote and co-hosted "Dirt on Their Skirts: The Story of Women in Baseball," a 90-minute electronic "field trip" available for school children through the National Baseball Hall of Fame. She was also interviewed for "Diamond Dreams," a film that runs as a continuous loop in the hall of fame's exhibit on women in baseball.
Had a blast at our homecoming tailgate!
Monday, September 22
⏳ The wait is almost over ⏳
Sunday, September 21
Postgame Press Conference: Football vs. UL
Sunday, September 21
Football Downs Louisiana, 34-31, on Homecoming
Saturday, September 20
