Growing up in Hondo, Alberta, Canada, Shirley Topley excelled in different sports, but it would be softball in which she established herself as one of the greatest players of all-time. As a member of several Canadian teams, Topley displayed outstanding abilities at-bat and on defense. She was second-team All-America in 1960 for the South Hill Queens of Vancouver, BC. This earned her a spot on the roster for the 1961 Women’s Major Fast Pitch All-Series against the national champion. Orange, CA second baseman and owner Ricki Caito was so impressed with Topley that she asked her to join the team in 1962. That year, Shirley helped the Lionettes win the national title and earn another All-America selection. For the next two years, Shirley played for the Raybestos Brakettes of Stratford, CT before re-joining the Lionettes in 1965 and remaining through 1975. The two years Shirley played for the Brakettes she led in batting with averages of .372 and .340. Between 1967 and 1972, Topley coached the Lionettes to 389 wins, 67 losses and three ties. In this span, the Lionettes won two ASA national titles (1969 and 1970), seven Pacific Coast Women’s League titles and a silver medal in the 1970 ISF Women’s World Championship. She participated in 16 ASA nationals and was a member of five national championship teams and five runners-up. She was an ASA All-American 11 times. Topley served as one of the assistant coaches for the 2000 USA Olympic Team.Topley was born April 14, 1934.
