Jennie Finch is retiring from softball this summer, following a 10-year career in which she helped elevate the sport to new heights. The 29-year-old pitcher plans to finish this season with the Chicago Bandits of the National Pro Fastpitch league, before calling it quits to focus on her family.
Finch has been a breakthrough star since her days at Arizona, where she was a three time All-America and broke the record for consecutive wins (51). After college, she led the U.S. National Team to a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and a silver medal at the 2008 Games.
She has been described by TIME magazine as the most famous softball player of all-time. She used a combination of incredible talent, engaging personality and, of course, somewhat attractive looks (we guess, maybe) to emerge as a mainstream celebrity from a previously niche sport.
Finch is married to pitcher Casey Daigle. They have one child together, Ace, who was born in 2006.