Joan Joyce (born August 1, 1940, in Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S.) has been a leader in women's softball for more than 50 years. [1] Joyce was a player for the Raybestos Brakettes.
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Softball
Records
Records held (played from 1954–63, 1967–75/19 seasons):
- Most consecutive all-star team selections (18)
- Eight-time MVP in the National Tournament
- Most victories in a season (42) (in 1974)
- Two no-hit, no-run games in National Tournament (four times)
- Shutouts in a season (38 in 1974)
- Most innings pitched in a game (29 in 1968 against Perkasie)
- Career doubles (153)
- Doubles in a season (22 in 1968)
- Career triples (67)
- Team batting champion (1960, 1962, 1967–69, 1973)
All-American
15 All-America selections (First Team unless noted):
- 1958 (Utility) — Second Team
- 1959 (1B)
- 1960 (Utility)
- 1961 MVP (Pitcher)
- 1962 (Pitcher)
- 1963 MVP (Pitcher)
- 1964-1966 (Played for the Orange Lionettes)
- 1967 (1B)
- 1968 MVP (Pitcher)
- 1969 (Pitcher)
- 1970 (Pitcher)
- 1971 Co-MVP (Pitcher)
- 1972 (Pitcher)
- 1973 MVP (Pitcher)
- 1974 MVP (Pitcher)
- 1975 MVP (Pitcher)
During her softball career, Joyce's pitches were sometimes clocked at more than 116 mph (186 km/h). In exhibition games, she struck out Ted Williams in 1961 (also during a brief stint in 1966) and Hank Aaron in 1978. [2] Joyce was co-founder (with Billie Jean King, Jim Jorgensen and Dennis Murphy) of the Women’s Professional Softball League in 1976 and the coach and part owner of the Connecticut Falcon Team (which won the Championship all four years of the leagues history). Joyce was inducted into the National Softball Hall of Fame in 1983.
Coaching
She was the coach at Florida Atlantic University:
- 1995 A-Sun runner-up, Coach of the Year
- 1996 A-Sun runner-up
- 1997 A-Sun Champions, Coach of the Year
- 1998 A-Sun Champions
- 1999 A-Sun Champions, NCAA Tournament, Coach of the Year
- 2000 A-Sun Champions, NCAA Tournament, Coach of the Year
- 2001 A-Sun Champions, NCAA Tournament
- 2002 A-Sun Champions, NCAA Tournament, Coach of the Year
- 2003 A-Sun Champions, NCAA Tournament
- 2004 A-Sun Champions, NCAA Tournament
- 2005 Second place in A-Sun
- 2006 A-Sun Champions, NCAA Tournament
Golf
- 19-Year Member of LPGA Tour (1977–1995)
- Best finishes included sixth-place in tournaments in 1981 and 1984
- Best round was a 66
- Listed in Guinness Book of World Records for lowest number of putts (17) in a single round (both men and women)
Volleyball
- Served as player/coach in the United States Volleyball Association with the Connecticut Clippers
- Competed in four National Tournaments
- Named to the All-East Regional team
Basketball
- Four-time WBA (Women's Basketball Association) All-American
- Three-time AAU All-America
- Set national tournament single game scoring record in 1964 with 67 points
- Played on U.S. National Team in 1965
Notes
- ^ http://www.hickoksports.com/biograph/joycejoan.shtml
- ^ http://www.hickoksports.com/biograph/joycejoan.shtml
- ^ http://fausports.cstv.com/sports/w-softbl/mtt/joyce_joan00.html
