Jen Pawol Takes the Field as a Big-League Umpire

 

This afternoon, the Atlanta Braves defeated the Miami Marlins 7-1. 

If one looks at the box score, one will see that Braves starter Hunter Waldrep and Marlins starter Ryan Gusto each pitched six innings. 

If one looks at the box score, one will see that Braves centerfielder Michael Harris II hit a 3-run HR to break it open for the Braves

If one looks at the box score, one will see that Jen Pawol was the first base umpire. 

In so doing, Pawol became the first woman to be part of an umpiring crew in a regular season MLB game.

There have been other female umpires such as Pam Postema and Ria Cortesio who toiled in the minor leagues and got the opportunity to umpire at the big-league level in spring training. However, Postema and Cortesio not only didn't call to the big leagues in the regular season, but they were also pushed out of the game. 

But Postema and Cortesio laid down the foundation as Pawol paid her dues for nearly a decade umpiring in the minor leagues (with one big league spring training game last year). Unlike Postema and Cortesio, Pawol had the support of her umpiring colleagues, the respect of the players and greater openness within organized baseball itself. There have been many bad things about MLB in recent years (i.e. the ghost runner, the universal DH, ending the All-Star Game with a swing off). But this is one thing MLB got right.

Of course, MLB was far behind of the NBA and NFL where female officials began officiating games in 1997 and in 2012, respectively. Now it's the NHL's turn to stop pucking around.

Well, guess what? Pawol is back at work. The second game of the Marlins-Braves doubleheader is now underway. 

And tomorrow, Pawol will be the home plate umpire and gets to say, "Play Ball!!!"