(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photo by MLB via Instagram)
 Jen Pawol becomes first female umpire in Major League
Nederlands
  NEW YORK CITY, New York / ATLANTA, Georgia (USA) -
History will be written coming weekend, as Jen Pawol will become the first female umpire in a regular season-game in the Major League.
On Wednesday (August 6), it was announced that Pawol has been assigned to the final three games of the series between Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins in Atlanta, which includes a double-header.
The teams open the series on Thursday-evening, meet again on Friday-evening, play a double-header on Saturday and then close on Sunday-afternoon.
The first game of the double-header is a make-up game from April.
...Jen Pawol...
(© Photo: MLB via Instagram) |
It was reported by MLB-reporter Brian Murphy that a fifth umpire in the 4-man crew was necessary because of the double-header, as the Home Plate Umpire of these two games will not be active in the other game.
Pawol will work both games of the double-header and will be behind the plate on Sunday.
Major League Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. issued the following statement:
,,This historic accomplishment in baseball is a reflection of Jen’s hard work, dedication and love of the game.
She has earned this opportunity, and we are proud of the strong example she has set, particularly for all the women and young girls who aspire to roles on the field.
On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my congratulations to Jen and her family on this milestone''.
In February last year, Jen Pawol became the first female umpire in Spring Training in 17 years when she officiated in the game between Washington Nationals and Houston Astros in CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The next day, she was the Home Plate Umpire in the game between Miami Marlins and Washington at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, Florida.
Pawol then was the first female umpire in a Spring Training-game since Ria Cortesio in 2007.
The first was Pam Postema, who was in Spring Training in 1988 and 1989.
Postema was the first female umpire in Triple-A, Pawol became only the second at that level in 2023.
Pawol made her Minor League-debut in June 2016 in the Gulf Coast League (Rookie League) and then became the seventh female umpire in Minor League Baseball.
The first was Bernice Gera, who made her professional debut in 1972, which was an era when umpiring was strictly a male profession.
Gera initially was rejected in 1967, but after a 5-year legal battle in court, she got a contract in April 1972.
A week after she had turned 41, Gera made her debut in Single-A in June in the first game of a double-header.
Bernice Gera resigned after the game citing the resentment of other (male) umpires to cooperate with her on the field.
She passed away at age 61 in 1992.
Following in the footsteps of Gera were Christine Wren (1975-1977), Pam Postema (1977-1989), Theresa Cox Fairlady (1989-1991), Ria Cortesio (1999-2007) and Shanna Kook (2003-2004).
And in 2016, Jen Pawol.
At Hofstra University, Pawol was a catcher while playing softball.
Before becoming a professional umpire, Jen Pawol had been an amateur umpire for ten years.
In 2001, Jen Pawol was a member of the American Women's Baseball Team that participated in the first edition of the Women's World Series, which was held in Toronto (Canada).
Also participating in that event were the National Teams of Australia, Canada and Japan.
The USA won the tournament, which was the predecessor of the Women's Baseball World Championship/Cup, which was first organized in 2004.
The Women's World Series was held annually through 2006.
Last year and this season, the 48-year old Pawol is a crew chief in Triple-A and is part of a group of 17 Triple-A Umpires, who were named to the so-called MLB Call-Up List.
Umpires on the Call-Up List can be called up to fill in during Major League-games in case of injuries or sickness or when additional umpires are needed.
Including Pawol, there are currently eight female umpires in the Minor Leagues.
(August 7)
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