Sue Parsons’ death reminds many of her role in advancing opportunities for women in sports.
The world of women’s sports is mourning the death of Sue Parsons Zipay, a former player for the iconic Rockford Peaches of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). She passed away at the age of 91.
Family And Friends Mourn The Loss Of Sue Parsons
Sue Parsons made her mark on the baseball diamond during the 1953 and 1954 seasons, when she played under her maiden name for the Rockford Peaches.
A versatile athlete, she played second base, third base, outfield, and also pitched. In the 1954 season alone, she took the mound in 17 games.
Her love for the game never faded. Parsons Zipay remained actively involved in preserving and promoting women’s baseball long after her playing days ended.
She served as a board member of the AAGPBL Players Association and founded American Girls Baseball (AGB), an organization dedicated to advancing opportunities for girls and women in the sport through training and instructional programs.
Beyond the baseball field, Sue Parsons Zipay found another lifelong passion: tennis.
After raising three children, she embarked on a second career in tennis in the 1970s.
She trained under renowned instructors like Jack Barnaby and Vic Braden and began teaching in 1973 at the Pilgrim Tennis Club in Kingston, Massachusetts.
She quickly became a respected figure in New England’s tennis community, earning both regional and national rankings in the 40+ division.
In addition to teaching, she opened a specialty tennis shop on Cape Cod and became Massachusetts’ first certified USRSA stringer.
Sue Parsons Zipay moved to Florida in 1987 and, alongside her son Bob, co-owned the Englewood Tennis Club from 1989 onward.
There, she continued to lead and inspire as a league coordinator for USTA Junior Team Tennis and later as a league director for youth tennis programs across multiple Florida counties.
When public funding cuts threatened middle school tennis programs in Sarasota County, she took the initiative to organize new leagues through partnerships with local professionals and private facilities.
Her passion for leadership extended into community service as well. Sue Parsons Zipay chaired the Recreation Commission in Marshfield, Massachusetts, and served as President of the Placida Harbour Condominium Association in Florida.
Originally from Hingham, Massachusetts, Parsons Zipay was inducted into the Hingham High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.
In 1988, she and her fellow AAGPBL players received recognition from the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, solidifying her legacy as a pioneer for women in sports.
Many also remember Sue Parsons Zipay for her brief but memorable cameo alongside her Peaches teammates in the final scene of the 1992 film A League of Their Own, a nod to the history she helped create.
She leaves behind three grown children and six grandchildren, all of whom carry forward her remarkable legacy of athleticism, leadership, and passion for sport.
Sue Parsons’ death marks the passing of not just an accomplished athlete, but a tireless advocate for opportunities in sports for generations of women and girls to come.
