1976 Laughlin Indianapolis Clowns Toni Stone Card #27

The 1976 Laughlin Indianapolis Clowns Toni Stone card is a retrospective collectible honoring one of baseball's most groundbreaking figures. Featured in the 1976 Laughlin set commemorating the legendary Negro League team, this card depicts Toni Stone, the first woman of any race to play professional baseball as a regular player on a major men's team in the United States. Stone joined the Indianapolis Clowns in 1953 as a second baseman, filling the position vacated by Hank Aaron, who had just signed with the Milwaukee Braves. This card stands as the first widely distributed collectible honoring Stone's historic achievements in both baseball and women's sports history.​​

Toni Stone's legacy is monumental: she shattered both gender and racial barriers in professional sports, playing alongside men in the Negro American League at a time when women were entirely excluded from professional baseball. Her courage, skill, and persistence opened doors and changed perceptions, making her an icon for women's sports and civil rights. The 1976 Laughlin card was one of the first efforts to preserve and celebrate the legacy of the Negro Leagues and its stars—and Stone's inclusion was a powerful acknowledgment of women's contributions to the sport. The card remains highly collectible and culturally significant as a rare artifact documenting women's professional sports history and Black baseball heritage.