Getting your player ready...
Ila Borders works in relative anonymity these days as a firefighter and EMT in Gilbert, Ariz., far from her time as a gender barrier-breaker in pro baseball. In 1997, Borders made headlines as one of the first women in pro baseball, embarking on a four-year independent minor-league career. In 52 games with four teams, the left-hander posted a 2-4 record with a 6.75 ERA. Now 36, Borders is facing real heat. “Baseball has helped me in this job tremendously,” she said. “Dealing with stressful situations and thinking quickly on your feet, getting along with others and having to be a team player and perform.”
