Joan Joyce has been called the “greatest female athlete of all time,” an extraordinarily well-rounded athlete who excelled in a variety of sports and has accomplished unbreakable records. Throwing a ball at 119mph, Joan Joyce famously struck out Ted Williams and Hank Aaron, is in 21 Halls of Fame, has an ERA of 0.09, and still holds the 40-year title in the Guinness Book of World Records for 17 Putts in one round of Golf. She changed the world forever by starting America’s FIRST Women’s Professional League, the first chance for female athletes to reap the same rewards male athletes have enjoyed since Babe Ruth made it our national pastime.

Joyce is an inspiration for all, and her life story encourages young women to follow their dreams, never give up, and work hard to become all they can be. 

Joan Joyce! The Musical

Joan Joyce! The Musical is an uplifting and heartfelt theatrical experience that will set your spirits soaring. This show premiered at the Legacy Theatre in Branford, CT in 2021 to multiple sold out performances! This musical had its second successful run at the Seven Angels Theatre in Waterbury, CT in 2023 (Joan’s hometown!).

 Joan Joyce: The Wonder Girl

This delightful children’s book has playful wording and colorful illustrations. Joan is an inspiration to many, especially to young children. She teaches us that the sky is the limit and, if you work hard, anything is within your reach. The book is available in English and Spanish.

 Slingshot! The Joan Joyce Movie

Joan Joyce is a multi-sport superstar and the greatest female athlete of all time, but no one knows her name because she’s a woman. Joan’s story reads just like a movie- so now it will be one! 

  Connecticut Softball Legend Joan Joyce (Joan Joyce’s Biography)

Joan Joyce will always be known as the unbeatable pitcher for the Raybestos Brakettes and the Connecticut Falcons, whose numerous career records–including an incredible 150 no-hitters and 50 perfect games–made her the best in the game. However, she was also one of the most gifted athletes the state has ever produced, as she also set records in basketball and later went on to a stellar career in the LPGA. A true pioneer of women’s sports, Joan is currently the head softball coach at Florida Atlantic University. Join author Tony Renzoni as he profiles the multifaceted career of one of the country’s greatest athletes.

Joan Joyce’s Achievements:

to name of few…

1. 21 Halls of Fame inductions, starring at a very high level in fast-pitch Softball,
Basketball, “power” Volleyball, Golf, Bowling, etc.
2. 753-42 win-loss record
3. 150 no-hitters
4. lifetime Earned Run Average (ERA) of 0.09
5. 50 perfect games
6. An incredible Lifetime earned run average of 0.09
7. Struck out Ted Williams (on several occasions), home run king Hank Aaron, and other
MLB stars (at a young age).
8. Her pitches were extremely fast—equivalent to a 119-mph baseball, in terms of reaction
time, with an unhittable drop ball and rise ball.
9. Two no-hitters in her first two National Championship games (quarter final 1958 game)
and National Championship game (1958).
9. Struck out an incredible 67 batters in a Triple Header – all in one day!
10. Most no-hitters in a World Tournament (3)—(a World Tournament record)
11. Most perfect games in a World Tournament (2)—(a World Tournament record)
12. Set an LPGA (women’s) and PGA (men’s) record, needing only 17 putts in one round of golf—a record that still stands after 40 years!
13. Highly regarded basketball Referee – 34 years
14. University Golf Coach – 18 years
15. Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Head Softball Coach – 28 years, Eight-time College
Coach of the Year while at FAU with over 1,000 wins.
16. A long and distinguished coaching career – over 60 years!
17. Six-time Brakettes team batting champion—(1960, 1962, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1973), with
a Lifetime batting average of .367. Single-season batting average was .406 in 1973
(ironically tying Ted Williams .406 batting average in 1941).
18. Co-Founder of the Women’s Professional Softball League, along with Billie Jean King
and Dennis Murphy
19. Co-Owner, Player, Coach of the Connecticut Falcons professional softball team
20. Behind Joan’s brilliant pitching, Connecticut Falcons won the Championship in ALL 4
years of the league’s existence.
21. Set a National Tournament Basketball single-game scoring record of 67 points in 1964
(long before the 3-point shot was established). Played on the 1965 U.S. National Team.
22. Set a National AAU Basketball record by scoring 44 points in the Eastern Seaboard AAU
Championship (at age 17)
23. Averaged 30 points per game
24. At the time, the only woman to make both the Basketball and Softball All-Star teams.
25. Set an LPGA (women’s) and PGA (men’s) record, needing only 17 putts in one round of
golf—a record that still stands after 40 years!
26. In front of an overflow crowd of 45,000 in Lanzhou (Lanchow) China, Joan pitched a no-
hitter, barely missing a perfect game. The only batter to reach base for the Chinese team
was by a walk in the third inning.
27. The “Joan Joyce – Outstanding Pitcher Award” is presented on an annual basis
28. Softball field was renamed Joan Joyce Field. The field is part of Municipal Stadium
where Joan struck out Ted Williams on several occasions. Also, FAU renamed their
softball field the “Joan Joyce Field”
29. Joan Joyce league formed in Joan’s honor. One of the very few (if any) athletes to have
both a field and a league named after her.
30. Only female in the top 3 ranking of Athletes of the Millennium in Connecticut.
31. No. 2 ranked athlete in Women’s Sports National Magazine’s Athlete of the Year (1976).
Dorothy Hamill was ranked No. 1.
32. Led the Orange (CA) Lionettes to the 1965 National Championship
33. Won the bowling competition (181 average) in the nationally ABC televised Superstars
Competition.
34. The “Joan Joyce–Outstanding Pitcher Award” is presented on an annual basis at the
Women’s Major Softball National Championship tournament to the outstanding pitcher
in the Women’s Major Softball tournament.
35. “Joan Joyce Day” proclaimed on August 15, 2015 AND September 27, 2022 in
Waterbury, Connecticut.

This is just the tip of the iceberg…

Lauren Salatto-Rosenay

Co-Writer of Joan Joyce! The Musical, Joan Joyce: The Wonder Girl and Slingshot! The Joan Joyce Movie

laurenrosenay@gmail.com