Women Umpires

by No Southern Belle on Feb 27, 2008 12:38 PM CST Comment 9 comments

Four women umpires called an exhibition game between the Mets and the University of Michigan yesterday.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/content/sports/epaper/2008/02/26/0226umps.html

The article says it's probably the first time four women have ever called a game. Let's hear it for women chasing their baseball dreams!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Cool!

I'm all for it! And it was nice to see they got good reviews from the players.

by Mike Vails Evil Twin on Feb 27, 2008 12:56 PM CST reply actions

Last year...

... at spring training in Mesa, Ria Cortesio, a female umpire then assigned to the Southern League, was one of the base umpires in a Cubs/D'backs exhibition game. From what I could see she did a good job; in fact at one point when there was a controversial call at one of the bases to which she was NOT assigned, someone in the stands yelled out, "Put the girl over there!" (thus, the title of that link)

Unfortunately, Cortesio was let go at the end of the 2007 season. By all accounts she was on track to make the major leagues in a couple more years, based on her age and experience and seniority. It's too bad MLB seems to have a blind spot on this. There have been female NBA referees. As was stated in the Palm Beach Post article you linked, the players don't seem to care as long as they can do a good job.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Feb 27, 2008 1:50 PM CST reply actions

Cortesio

I think there was a lot more to this story than Cortesio being let go because she was a female. Every year lots of umpires are let go. The way that the process works is that you move up, or you move on. Umps who move from AA to AAA are under the purview of MLB while A and AA umps are a part of minor league baseball. There is very little turnover at the major league level and so for there to be room for Cortesio, at least one AAA ump would either need to move up to the major league staff or retire, and that assumes that Cortesio was at the top of the list to move up to AAA. Of late, MLB has filled some of their umpire vacancies with a few of the umps who lost their jobs a few years back due to the union resignations.

Bottom line is that if you don't make it to AAA by a certain number of years, regardless of how good you are, you're going to be out of a job.

DmL

by dmlichte on Feb 27, 2008 5:46 PM CST up reply actions

With all the grumbling I've heard...

...about the sorry state of umpiring in Major League baseball, I don't see how it could hurt to open the field to women. Plus, I mean c'mon...anyone who's ever been married knows how good women are at pointing out guys' mistakes.

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2008 Chicago Cubs starting outfield: Soriano-Pie-Fukudome. Let it be.

by dat cubfan daver on Feb 27, 2008 1:55 PM CST reply actions

Here here!

Go Cubbies!

by NC Cubs Fan on Feb 27, 2008 3:41 PM CST up reply actions

Women umpires?

How many men that have had to deal with a woman picking out an outfit for a party, or a pair of shoes at the mall, reaaaaaly wants one behind home plate making a decision on a ball or a strike?

Goodbye 3 hour games!

Topeka, Kansas huh! Let the good times roll!

by Kurt on Feb 27, 2008 7:28 PM CST reply actions

At least as an umpire....

there would be no question which outfit and shoes she was going to wear each day. None of this, "Honey, which one do you like better?" stuff. Sorry, ladies. All in good fun. :)

"Don't complain to me about the stormy weather, boys. Just bring the ship into port." --Steve Stone, September 2004

by ctcoff99 on Feb 27, 2008 7:40 PM CST up reply actions

re: At least as an umpire....

True, but you might hear, "Honey, does this ventilated chest protector make me look fat? Do I walk funny in these double-knee leg guards?" (Again, just a joke, ladies! I keed! I keed!)

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2008 Chicago Cubs starting outfield: Soriano-Pie-Fukudome. Let it be.

by dat cubfan daver on Feb 28, 2008 10:03 AM CST up reply actions

Women umpires

If someone is qualified, then they should be permitted to be a MLB umpire. Gender shouldn't matter. Having male physical traits isn't a job requirement to be an umpire.

by MDBNIU on Feb 28, 2008 2:16 PM CST reply actions