10 Things Most People Don't Know About Joan Joyce
/Joan Joyce - Not just the best female pitcher in fast-pitch softball history, but the best female athlete who ever lived.
If you have ever seen the likes of Monica Abbott, Cat Osterman, or Yukiko Ueno on the mound, it may be hard to believe that a woman who is over double their age was once a better and more accomplished pitcher. And what’s more, she did it with a slingshot delivery - not a windmill motion.
Who is this incredible softball pitcher, you ask? It is none other than the recently deceased Joan Joyce, 81 year old Head Softball Coach of Florida Atlantic University, where she resided at the helm for 28 years while also coaching Women’s golf for much of that time. You also may have heard of the Brakettes. Joan Joyce put them on the map.
If you’re thinking to yourself, “How could this woman’s statistics ever compete with a modern day fast-pitch hurler who tops 70mph and breaks it in multiple directions while changing speeds? Let’s just name a few of her most impressive achievements:
Over 19 seasons, her record was 753-42
She threw 150 no-hitters & 50 perfect games
She struck out over 10,000 batters
Her lifetime ERA was 0.90
She went 229 innings straight without anyone scoring off of her
She struck out the great Ted Williams and Hank Aaron
She is in 19 Halls of Fame
Ted Williams was once asked which pitcher was hardest to hit off of during his career and he said, “Believe it or not, it was a teenage girl named Joan Joyce.”
Another name you might know was a partner of Joyce in their quest to build the International Women’s Professional Softball League in 1976: Billy Jean King!
In addition to being a pitcher of national and international prominence and success, she was also a world class basketball player, and LPGA top golfer. Did I mention she also played volleyball at the elite level? How about state-championship bowler? Oh - and she was also one heck of a hitter at softball too, with a lifetime career batting average of .327.
Did we mention that as a Fastpitch coach, she won over 1000 games, won 11 conference titles and accumulated 11 NCAA post-season berths. And of all the incredible things that this woman accomplished across the world of sports, she passed away during her 28th season as Head Softball Coach at Florida Atlantic.
In 2019 my former student, Lila Ryadi, traveled to Florida Atlantic for a high school camp. Her and her mom admitted they a were a bit “awestruck” by being around such a legend.
My former student, lila ryadi, and joan joyce at a high school prospect camp in FL
Though typically modest, Joan once was quoted as saying: “I would have hated to bat against me.” Well Joyce, I am certain I would have both loved AND hated to have that humbling honor.
Rest In Peace, Joan. You were a true Trailblazer for all of women’s athletics. Thanks for helping us build a path to even more opportunities today!
