Emily Marie “Red” Mahoney was born to Richard J. Mahoney and Emily Summers on September 21, 1924. She lived her first 90 years here on earth at the same address in the Rice Military area of Houston, before moving to Assisted Living in August of 2015.
Marie was preceded in death by her parents, Richard J. Mahoney and Emily Summers Mahoney; brother, RJ Mahoney; sister, Nora Mahoney-Dietz, and niece, Linda Dietz-Davlin. She is survived by nine nieces and nephews (Patrick Mahoney, Richard Mahoney, Mike Mahoney, Molly Mahoney-Crippen, Peggy Dietz-Jackson, Gordon Dietz, Jr., Mary Kate Askew, Anne Donner, and Rosie Epperson); many great nieces and nephews; many great great nieces and nephews; and at least a million friends that will never forget her.
Mahoney began playing softball at age nine. She also competed in basketball, tennis, and volleyball before joining a women's softball team when she turned 16. After graduating from San Jacinto High School, she continued her excellence on the diamond as a perennial ASA all-star who led her teams to several state championships. She was primarily a pitcher, and after a brief stint at third base, found her permanent home in the outfield. She played for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) from 1947 through 1948, and was the only Houstonian to play in the AAGPBL during its twelve years of existence.
Thanks to a recommendation by fellow AAGPBL catcher, Mary Baker, Mahoney became one of two hundred players to attend the first AAGPBL spring training outside the United States, which was held in Cuba at Gran Stadium de La Habana before the 1947 season. She made the grade and was assigned to the South Bend Blue Sox. She played two years, and returned to Houston after the 1948 season.
Mahoney played softball after returning to Houston. She also worked as a microfilm technician for Eastman Kodak for 32 years, retiring in 1983. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993, but recovered after treatment and returned to her daily life without any difficulty.
She is part of Women in Baseball, a permanent display at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York, which was unveiled in 1988 to honor the entire All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. In addition, Casey Candaele, former Houston Astros infielder and son of AAGPBL star Helen Callaghan, introduced her for induction into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.
An accomplished bowler for 30 years, Marie Mahoney was also a great golfer, and worked at the Texaco Golf Course until late in her 80’s to support her golf habit. She also enjoyed attending SABR meetings until very recently.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Heights Funeral Home (1317 Heights Blvd.) on Saturday, February 6th at 3:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in her memory to the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL), St. Theresa (Memorial Park) Catholic Church, or another charity of your choice.
Marie Mahoney embodied the “all for one, and one for all” spirit of the AAGPBL, and those that knew her were proud to call her a friend.
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