Year Inducted: 1992
Nominated By: James D. Sandford, Jr. (Son)
Sports Competed In: Softball
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete
High School:
Attended Pueblo Central H.S.
Related Activities:
High School:
Pitched for numerous women's softball teams for 40 years (1943-83):
● Pueblo Simmons Ace High (1943-47)
● Pueblo Co. Ordinance Depot “Podettes” (1948-50)
● South Bend, Indiana "Blue Sox" (1951-52)
● Gary, Indiana "Chicks" (1953-59)
● Valpara 150, Indiana "Queens" (1954-56)
● Pueblo Walters Brewery (1960-74)
● Pueblo - Art's Place (1970-73)
● Pueblo - Merchants (1973-80)
● Pueblo - Coors (1981-83)
Achievements:
1948: Won Women's Softball Association (WSA) Title B State Tournament - four- game series (Faced 97 Batters had 37 strikeouts).
1949: Won WSA Title B State Tournament - Defeated Dupler's Fur's from Denver, Colorado, 12-2
1950: WSA National Tournament - Team finished 5th Place: 1st game: Lost to Orange, CA 16-9. Pitched 5 out of 7 innings and allowed only one hit and no runs.
* GAME THAT MADE HISTORY: Became the first black woman to play in a WSA National Tournament.”
2nd Game: Won 5-2 over San Antonio, TX. “Pi” Credited with win.
3rd Game: Came in and won 2-1 over Ft. Worth, TX, she pitched a one-hitter and struck out 10.
4th Game: Team won - Sanford didn't pitch.
5th Game: Lost 3-2 to Buffalo, NY. Entered game and pitched a one-hitter.
● Inducted into the Pueblo Softball Hall of Fame (2009).
● Received offers to play professional, but always said family came first.
Personal:
Lived in Pueblo with her husband James Sanford, Jr...Passed away on May 28, 2005.
