This is huge news, ladies and gentlemen. A female umpire is scheduled to work a major league exhibition game for the first time in almost 20 years.
Ria Cortesio, who will start the season at Double-A, will be on the bases Thursday for an Arizona Diamondbacks spring training game against the Chicago Cubs.
"I'm looking forward to it," she said. "There will be a lot more people in the stands than I'm used to... I don't do this job to get on TV, but I hope it will raise the awareness a little."No female umpire has ever worked in the majors during the regular season. Pam Postema was the last lady blue to call big league exhibitions, back in 1989. She was in spring training for two years before being released.
Cortesio is the one and only female umpire in professional baseball. At the age of 30, she is beginning her ninth year overall and fifth in Double-A. As a
Cortesio was on the field last season for All-Star festivities at PNC Park, called the minor league Futures Game, then worked the Home Run Derby the next night.
She started her umpiring career in the Pioneer League, but doesn't consider herself a "pioneer" in a profession completely dominated by men. For several years, she's been an instructor at the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring.
While working in the Florida State League, George Steinbrenner once criticized her strike zone after she worked a game that Roger Clemens pitched while recuperating from an injury.
This year, Cortesio hopes for the move to AAA, as she is next in line for the promotion when a vacancy occurs. Once umpires reach AAA, they are evaluated by major league supervisors, rather than minor league staff.
[ESPN] | [Ria Cortesio]
11 Comments:
awesome story.
Great news! As a lady who tried umpiring years ago (and failed miserably) I'm happy to see her getting a chance to show what she can do. Good luck to her!
clearly this woman fails to understand that women are supposed to be barefoot, pregnant, and, at the very least, able to determine that everything "Rocketman" throws is a strike. Duh.
Cool. And she's short and skinny, so she'll take up less space behind the plate then those overweight umpires, thus giving more fans a better view of the game. We all win!
I just read the Encyclopedia of Women in Baseball a couple weeks ago (it doesn't read like an encyclopedia).
Included of course is a history of female umpires. There are some very cool stories about clinics started for female umpires that surprised even the ones who supported it, it in terms of turnout, interest and dedication. The example I'm thinking of was in Canada, I'm pretty sure. It's also surprising how much successful women's baseball is in Canada and Australia.
In any case, it's a good book. Definitely worth checking out.
Satchmo - I'll have to check that out! Sounds interesting. I watched the story of Amanda Clement, the first female umpire in history, on the History channel a while back. She was a true pioneer, very interesting program.
I read Postema's autobiography. It made for a good read. I admire her. She got the screw job, IMHO. I don't think there will ever be a female umpire in MLB calling regular season games. There will always be "someone better" or some such nonsense.
Every time I see Larry Bowa's name, I think about Postema and how he treated her. I'd never hire him.
Wow, I've never been described as "petite" before. It's funny how some things get a little lost in translation. I'm actually taller than half the catchers in pro ball, so sorry, mcbias, I may block your view once in a while. And I've got hugemongous feet.
Anyway, thanks for the nice comments. joe, i hope you're wrong about women never working the regular season. I'm tired of living in poverty, and I want a hot tub...
Ria my dear, I do believe you are the first famous person to comment on our humble blog.
Thanks so much for stopping by and best of luck to you in your future as an umpire.
wow. sooze thats awesome. we talked about ria tonight on the show and had nothing but positives for her. i wish her well..
Wow, a real live famous person read my comment. Ria, I only wish you the success you deserve and have earned. I think umping in the Majors is harder to get to than trying to get there as a player. Not only do you have to be really good, but there has to be a spot open for you at the time you're at the front of the line. Its not like you can be better and take a job away from someone else, like a player can.
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