Irene Hickson (August 14, 1915 – November 24, 1995) was an American catcher who played from 1943 through 1951 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.

[1] At age 27, Irene Hickson became one of the oldest players signed by the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League for its inaugural season.

A member of two champion teams, she won the batting title in the 1943 championship series and in 1946 set an all-time record with five walks received in a single game.

She also competed and won every field and track event ever held at the Warner Park Zoo, including 50-yard dash, relay race, throwing, long jump.

After making the league at tryouts held in Wrigley Field that May, Hickson was allocated to the Racine Belles, a team managed by Johnny Gottselig.

Mary Nesbitt, a knuckleball lefty and first sacker, posted a 26–13 record and hit .280 in 73 games, while Joanne Winter finished with an 11–11 mark to give Racine a strong one-two pitching staff.

Margaret Danhauser, Eleanor Dapkus, Maddy English, Sophie Kurys, Edythe Perlick and Claire Schillace, carried the offensive load and provided a solid defense.

Racine's Winter collected four wins in all series, including three against Rockford, despite allowing 19 base runners in a 14-inning, 1–0 shutout victory in decisive Game Six.

The only run in the marathonic game came in the bottom of the 14th, when Kurys hit a single off Mildred Deegan, then stole second base, and scored on an RBI-single by Betty Trezza.