There have been very few things about MLB in 2020 that have given me delight. Today was exception upon learning the Miami Marlins had hired Kim Ng to be their General Manager.
Not only is Ng the first woman to be named a general manager in any professional sport, but is also the first person of Asian descent to be hired in such a capacity.
I was singing Ng's praises long ago. Alas most of that praise has been scrubbed from the web but there this tiny nugget from 2011 when I hoped the Chicago Cubs would hire her.
Frankly, Ng should have been a GM 15 years ago - at least. Lord knows Ng, who turns 52 next week, has paid her dues. Her career in MLB began 30 years ago when she was an intern with the Chicago White Sox. She remained with the Chisox and in 1995 was promoted to the team's Assistant Director of Baseball Operations. In 1997, she spent a year working at the office of the American League and was in charge of approving all waivers.
The following year, the New York Yankees named Ng the team's Assistant General Manager working under Brian Cashman. She spent three seasons in the Bronx (during which they won three World Series rings) before joining the Los Angeles Dodgers in the same capacity in 2001. After the Dodgers fired Paul DePodesta following the 2005 season, Ng was in the running for GM but the team opted for Ned Colletti. To his credit, Colletti kept Ng on as Assistant General Manager. In the years that followed, Ng was interviewed for GM vacancies with the Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Angels and the San Francisco Giants without success.
Since 2011, Ng has been MLB's Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations. Frankly, I thought Ng would have a shot at succeeding Rob Manfred as MLB Commissioner (and do we need a successor). But I did not think any MLB team would take that leap of faith.
Then again if we can have a female Vice-President of the United States then we can surely have a female baseball general manager. I'm glad it is Ng who will be the first.
No comments:
Post a Comment