A native of Flint, Michigan, Kurys was by far the greatest base stealer in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League history.

She also amassed a World Record with a career 1,114 stolen bases, more than Ty Cobb (892), and later more than both Lou Brock (938) and Japanese star Yutaka Fukumoto (1,065), until her mark was surpassed by Rickey Henderson in 1994.

Kurys did not even play second base until joining the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, yet she immediately became the best in the game at the position.

A founding member of the AAGPBL when it was organized in 1943, Kurys entered the league with the Racine Belles, playing for them for eight years.

She also set season-league records with 93 walks in 113 games and for fielding percentage by a second baseman, at .973, being named Player of the Year.

In addition to her 1946 campaign, Kurys capped the season as the top hitter in the playoffs and stole five bases in the 16-inning, title-winning Game Six against the Rockford Peaches, where she singled in the bottom of the 13th, stole second, then hustled home with the winning run on a short single by Betty Trezza.