"A top-notch pitcher, Ruth Born became one of the first professional athletes to have attended Valparaiso University.

Using a fastball and a change-up as her main pitches, she played baseball during World War II when many men were out of the country. Born was an original member of the South Bend Blue Sox in 1943, as the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was formed. Pitching for the Blue Sox, she compiled a 4-5 record in her lone season in the league.

In the summer of 1945, a Valparaiso University men's softball team was organized with Born as the pitcher. She also played softball with the Valparaiso Queens beginning in 1947 and helped lead the team to the Amateur Softball Association Championship playoffs each of their first seven years. One summer, Born had the opportunity to play on a men's fastpitch softball team, an opportunity that was unheard of during that time period.