Ila Borders
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Ila Borders (born February 18, 1975, La Mirada, California, USA), was the first woman pitcher to start a men's professional baseball game, as well as the first woman to pitch in a men's college baseball game. In 1997, she signed with the St. Paul Saints of the independent Northern League and was quickly traded to the Duluth-Superior Dukes. That same year, she became the first woman to pitch in a men's professional baseball game while playing against the Sioux Falls Canaries. She spent a total of three years in the Northern League, ending with the Madison Black Wolves. Her three-year totals included a 2-4 record and an ERA of 6.73. Her best year was 1999, when she posted a 3.63 ERA. In 2000, Borders moved on to the Western League, where she played for the Zion Pioneerz. After that season, she retired from baseball.
On May 14th, 2004, Borders failed to strike out Howard Stern Show comedian Artie Lange during a radio show stunt in Las Vegas.
Borders has been elected to the Baseball Reliquary Shrine of the Eternals for her unique contributions to the game of baseball.
