Breast cancer survivor swings for the big leagues

Sunday, March 15, 2009

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Rathbone is a first basewoman. She is also a breast cancer survivor.

LAKELAND (Bay News 9) -- Hundreds of hopefuls head to spring training sites across the Bay area each year in hopes of making it in the big leagues.

But this year, one player in particular hopes to prove more than just her skills.

Nearly 250 players showed up to open tryouts in hopes of securing a spot on the Detroit Tigers' roster. Anyone can come to the open tryouts, but a few were invited by the team, including one player from Nevada.

Norine Rathbone, 51, is a breast cancer survivor, a fact that hasn't kept her from her passions for sports.

"Cancer can destroy the body but it cannot kill the heart," she said.

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Rathbone is also a first baseman - or basewoman.

"I've been playing baseball in the men's league for the Vegas Valley Men's Baseball League for the last 10 years," Rathbone said.

At the end of the day of tryouts, she told a coach she thought she did a good job - for an old woman.

"And he says, 'No, Norine, you put the age and your gender aside,'" she said. "He said, 'You're a real baseball player. You're a baseball player.' He says, 'Your age and gender have nothing to do with what you did today on the field.' That was thrilling. I waited my whole life to hear that."

Rathbone didn't make the team, which she said she didn't expect. For her, just trying out was a dream come true.

She still has another goal she'd like to fulfill - to swing a pink bat at a Major League Baseball game on Mother's Day.

The league started the Pink Bat program a few years ago to support the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, but a male player has always stepped up to the plate to swing the bat.