The Woman Who Set the Tone for Future Generations of Dean College Athletes
If you were to describe Barbara Parks as a student-athlete, you would be missing the majority of her story. Parks was not just an athlete - she was a trailblazer for future generations. Her efforts helped set the tone for many of today's collegiate and professional sports.
More importantly, Parks helped spark the conversation of equality in sports. She proved that women could not only compete in every sport but dominate in nearly every statistical category. Today's sports would not be where they are without the historic impact of Barbara Parks.
Dominating the Courts: A Hall of Fame Career at Dean College
Parks attended Dean College for two seasons. In that span, Parks tried out for the men's tennis team. There were no organized sports for women at Dean during this time.
Not only did Parks make the men's team, she dominated on the court. Parks would serve as the primary singles player for Dean, swiping the lead role from several of her teammates.
Parks remembers "upsetting" several of her male opponents. She found it satisfying to send an arrogant male player off the court, having lost to a female. She would continue her trail-blazing trend until her graduation in 1953.
For her remarkable talent, she became a core member of the College's inaugural Hall of Fame class. She was officially inducted in 1977 as the first female in the Hall of Fame's history.
Batter Up! Setting the Standard in the Game of Baseball
Although she played tennis at Dean, Parks was a superstar in multiple sports. In addition to tennis, Parks also played baseball. At the time, this was also a predominantly male sport. However, there was a small organization, the All American Girls Professional Baseball League, in which Parks and her sister played in.
Naturally, Parks excelled. She continued to play until she made it to what was known as the “Big League,” the highest level a player could reach in the AAGPBL. Parks traveled across the country, playing in big-time stadiums such as Wrigley Field (Chicago, Ill.) and Yankee Stadium (Bronx, N.Y.). She even had a small fan group that would follow her throughout her career. She would continue to play until her college days, prompting her return to Massachusetts and Dean.
For her exceptional talent and devotion to the game of baseball, Parks was inducted into the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988.
Later in Life: The Discovery of Golf
Parks, originally from Brookline, MA, settled down in New England after college. It was during her time at Dean that she met her husband, Bob. The two moved to Connecticut, having four children.
Bob gifted Parks a set of golf clubs as a Mother's Day gift, eventually prompting Parks' return to the national stage. Like her other two sports, she quickly picked up golf. She began playing in local and regional tournaments, sweeping the competition. Her talents took her all the way to the top, headlining national tournaments. Some of her notable tournament wins include: New England Women's Golf Assoc. Champion (1986,1991) Connecticut State Women’s Golf Assoc. Champion (1988, 1991) Connecticut State Women’s Amateur Champion, 6 times (1974, 1977, 1978, 1986, 1989, 1990) Eastern Women’s Golf Assoc. Senior Champion (1992) Canadian National Senior Ladies Champion (1992) New England Women’s Golf Assoc. Senior Champion, 9 times (1983-87, 1989-92) Connecticut State Women’s Senior Champion, 8 times (1983, 1985-1991) Connecticut Women’s Golf Association Senior Champion, 3 times ( 1983, 1991, 1992) North South Senior Champion at Pinehurst, 6 times (1983-86, 1988, 1991) Palmetto Dunes Senior Champion (1988, 1989) Women's Eastern Super Seniors, 3 times (1999-2001) Along with golf, Parks also played paddle tennis for a number of years, ranking amongst the nation's top 10 players. Her skills would lead to her induction into the Connecticut Golf Association's Hall of Fame in 2009.
After a life dedicated to building a foundation for the next generation of female athletes, Barbara passed away in 2024. Her legacy will forever be etched into Dean's history.
Special Thank You: AAGPBL, Dean College Archive Library