Patty Becker had a record setting softball career at the University of Minnesota Duluth from 1989 to 1992. She became the first Bulldog to receive All-American recognition (NAIA first team in 1990 and NAIA honorable mention one year later) and the first to be named to the All-Northern Sun Conference team on four occasions. She left UMD owning lifetime marks for hitting (.405), runs (138), hits (194) and sacrifices (51) while appearing in 157 games as the team’s leadoff batter. She was chosen the Bulldogs’ Most Valuable Player for an unprecedented third straight time as a senior after she set a then school-record for batting average (.484), hits (44), stolen bases (8) and sacrifices (10) during her farewell collegiate season. Those numbers also earned her NCAA Division II All-Midwest first team honors. Becker helped UMD claim three NSC titles and post a 34-1 league mark in the process while the Bulldogs also qualified for two NAIA National Tournament berths during her four-year stay. Becker was the co-winner of UMD’s Outstanding Senior Female Athlete Award for 1991-92 academic year before graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication.
Becker went on to play a pair of seasons in the Women’s Professional Fastpitch League with the Carolina Diamonds and Virginian Roadsters in 1997 and 1998.
Becker, the youngest of 11 siblings, worked as an instructor at the Bryman Institute in its massage therapy program before moving to hospice care as a massage therapist. Becker will be unable to attend the Hall of Fame Banquet on July 10th due to a conflict. Becker will be in Portland, Ore. playing in a qualifier for the USSSA Women’s Softball.