Courtesy: Stevens Mortuary
A Knoxville native who played professional baseball has died.
Doris Jane "Sammye" Sams, 85, died Thursday.
She played professional baseball from 1946 to 1953, according to her biography on the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Web site.
Sams was a right-fielder turned pitcher who was selected as the league's Player of the Year following the 1947 season, during which she pitched a perfect game. She was named to the All-Star team for both positions -- an feat no other player accomplished in the league's 12-year history.
She won the batting championship in 1949 and and was home-run champion in 1952 with 12 homers.
Sams was inducted into the Women's Professional Baseball Hall of Fame in 1970.
The family will receive friends from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, with the funeral service set for 6 p.m. at Stevens Mortuary Chapel, 1304 Oglewood Ave.
A graveside service is set for 10:45 a.m. Monday at Woodlawn Cemetery, with burial following at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that memorial donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 2200 Sutherland Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37919, or Vestal United Methodist Church, 115 Ogle Avenue, Knoxville, TN, 37920.