Toni Stone was born on July 17th, 1921 in St. Paul, Minnesota (Her given birth name was Marcenia Stone but we will discuss the change to Toni later). She was one of four children born to her parents, Willa and Boykin Stone. Toni Stone had a love for the game ever since she was a child. As Toni was growing up, her parents discouraged the playing of baseball. She had to purchase her first glove from the Goodwill for twenty-five cents after she had earned enough from working around the neighborhood. When Stone was twelve, her parents had her sit down with Father Keefe thinking he would try to talk her out of playing baseball, but the Priest did just the opposite. Father Keefe asked Stone if she would be interested in playing on the Catholic boys’ baseball league.  She helped the boys win so they welcomed her onto the team. Despite Stone’s obvious love for the game of baseball, her mother, Willa, thought she could be more lady like. Willa bought Toni a pair of figure skates and proposed that she try that and learn how to be graceful. Toni Stone put on her skates and won the citywide competition. Remembering the competition, Stone said, “I took the trophy home, and gave it to my mother and picked up my glove and bat.” Stone was known as one of the best female athletes in St. Paul.