Female Ump to Work MLB Exhibition Game

[JeepingBaseball]

Female Ump to Work MLB Exhibition Game
Tue Mar 27, 4:22 AM


A rookie fresh from the minors is about to change the face of baseball: A female umpire is set to work a major league exhibition game for the first time in almost 20 years.

Ria Cortesio, ready to start the season in Double-A, will be on the bases Thursday for a game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago Cubs in Mesa, Ariz.

"I'm looking forward to it," she said Monday night. "There will be a lot more people in the stands than I'm used to."

No female umpire has ever worked in the majors during the regular season. Pam Postema was the last woman ump to call big league exhibitions, back in 1989 - she was in spring training for two years before getting released.

Cortesio is the only female umpire in professional baseball. At 30, she is starting her ninth year overall and fifth in Double-A.

Slender and athletic, she cut her ponytail a few years ago so she wouldn't stand out on the field. She also uses a low grunt to call strikes.

"It's awesome," Cubs star Derrek Lee said. "I think it's about time. Female eyes are as good as male eyes. Why can't they be umpires? Good for her."

Triple-A and Double-A umpires routinely join major league crews in spring training, especially when extra games fill the schedule.

"I was kind of expecting it," Cortesio said. "Umpires with my seniority usually get picked."

Cortesio has been working minor league exhibition games in Arizona this month. This week, she'll move over to HoHoKam Park when a Diamondbacks split squad plays Chicago.

Cubs reliever Scott Eyre liked the idea.

"She's doing our game? Oh, cool," he said. "How do I feel about it? I could care less. If she can call a game, she can call a game."

"If she rings somebody up for me, I don't care. You know what I mean? I wouldn't have a problem with it," he said.

Cortesio was on a big league field last season for All-Star festivities at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. She called the Futures Game for minor league prospects, then worked the Home Run Derby the next night.

Cortesio started her umpiring career in the Pioneer League, yet doesn't trumpet herself as a pioneer in a profession dominated by men.

"I don't do this job to get on TV," she said last July. "But I hope it will raise the awareness a little."

She later worked in the Florida State League. There, New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner once criticized her strike zone after she worked a game that Roger Clemens pitched while recuperating from an injury.

For several years, she's been an instructor at the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring for several years.

This year, Cortesio hopes to move to Triple-A - she's on deck for promotion when the next vacancy occurs. Once umpires reach Triple-A, they are evaluated by major league supervisors, rather than minor league staff.

Life in Double-A isn't luxurious. Last year, she made about $2,600 a month for the six-month season and her per diem was $25, with her hotel room paid for; big league umps can earn well over $100,000 and get $357 daily to pay for their meals and hotel.

Plus, there's the travel. Major league umpires jet around the country, a three-person crew in the Southern League drives itself 24,000 miles over a full season.

All that, and no guarantee they'll ever make the majors because jobs rarely open up. Fact is, a player in Double-A has a much better chance of reaching the big leagues than an umpire.

Mike Winters will lead Cortesio's crew Thursday. It'll mark the first time she's worked a game with a major league umpire.

"I think I'm as excited about that as anything," she said.

---

AP Sports Writer Rick Gano in Tempe, Ariz., contributed to this report.

[digglahhh]

Good for her!

All eyes will be on her though, she'll be held to a highest standard of all the umps.

[Ceannsaich]

I wish her the best of luck. In my opinion, I think that once the officials are integrated into coed things maybe the that might open the doors for more exceptance of womens baseball.

[Mattingly]

I wish her the best of luck. In my opinion, I think that once the officials are integrated into coed things maybe the that might open the doors for more exceptance of womens baseball.
You mean more female umpires or women playing on men's teams? If so, at which level?

[Ceannsaich]

What I meant was maybe if you see more and more female umps, you would assume that females would be more common place in the male game. THat would pave the way for an easier time for a woman baseball player to integrate the big leagues or professional baseball. Im not sure if this makes sense but it makes sense to me lol. I guess what Im saying is that maybe Jackie Robinson would have had an "easier time" if there had been black umps in the majors previosuly (and im pretty sure there werent...). Not to compare the two, just the only thing I could come up with to comapre it.

[bluezebra]

What I meant was maybe if you see more and more female umps, you would assume that females would be more common place in the male game. THat would pave the way for an easier time for a woman baseball player to integrate the big leagues or professional baseball. Im not sure if this makes sense but it makes sense to me lol. I guess what Im saying is that maybe Jackie Robinson would have had an "easier time" if there had been black umps in the majors previosuly (and im pretty sure there werent...). Not to compare the two, just the only thing I could come up with to comapre it.

You can bet your sweet bippy that there were no Black umpires in Organized Baseball. Even for years after Jackie Robinson broke the "Color Barrier". There were foreign-born players, but Blacks born in the Good Old US of A were kept out. What a country.

Bob

[Mattingly]

What I meant was maybe if you see more and more female umps, you would assume that females would be more common place in the male game. THat would pave the way for an easier time for a woman baseball player to integrate the big leagues or professional baseball. Im not sure if this makes sense but it makes sense to me lol. I guess what Im saying is that maybe Jackie Robinson would have had an "easier time" if there had been black umps in the majors previosuly (and im pretty sure there werent...). Not to compare the two, just the only thing I could come up with to comapre it.
I guess that whenever there's a male game, it seems unexpected to have a female in-game official. Let me ask a few questions:

How many women umps are there in the Minor League, where Ria Cortesio has always worked? Are there any (or many) women umps in men's college baseball? Or women's college baseball (or softball)?

I don't follow tons of other sports, but I've never seen a female ref in the NBA, NCAA basketball, NHL, NFL or NCAA football. Are there any major pro sports in which men play that often have female refs, umps, etc? For the women's basketball, volleyball, etc, are there many women referees?

I'd have to get a better source as to the times when Robinson played. I just remembered, that he'd complained about the lack of black managers, but I'm unsure about umps.

I'd say that had Robinson had more blacks in the game, be they umps, managers, stadium announcers, GMs, etc, then he wouldn't have been under such a microscope, with some unfortunately hoping that he fails. Since he so greatly affected others' chances, especially with his graceful mannerism, he had to do it all by himself.

Ms Cortesio doesn't have anywhere near the stigma of her gender that Robinson had with his race. I don't expect any women managers anytime soon, but the LA Dodgers' Jamie McCourt (http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/team/front_office.jsp?c_id=la) (Frank's wife) is the highest-ranking woman in baseball.

Sooner or later, I'd like to see how well she does behind the plate calling balls & strikes. If so, we'll see how good she is, since she's also been teaching umpiring for some time.

[Ursa Major]

BTW, Violet Palmer has been officiating in the NBA for ten years now -- so long that she's just old news.

The color barrier's affect on players and officials is of little comparability here, because far more people of color were capable of playing professional ball in 1947 than there are woman so capable now -- or at any time. The real issue is simply whether women can officiate, not play.

And Jamie McCourt is a poor example of how women make break into professional sports' executive levels. While she's a well educated woman, she got the job because her husband owned the team and largely is derided in the LA area as a nitwit (as is her husband, who's largely an absentee owner). A much better example is Amy Trask of the Raiders, who worked her way up through the ranks entirely on her own merits.

[Mattingly]

Please do excuse the rambling nature of this post, but a few points I'm trying to make:
BTW, Violet Palmer has been officiating in the NBA for ten years now -- so long that she's just old news.
I hadn't even realized we'd had a woman ref in the NBA. Hear anything about how good a ref she is?
The color barrier's affect on players and officials is of little comparability here, because far more people of color were capable of playing professional ball in 1947 than there are woman so capable now -- or at any time. The real issue is simply whether women can officiate, not play.
Yeah, there's that little thing called the Negro Leagues where Jackie came from that had many blacks who were very capable.

As to officiating, I think that she works both 1B and 3B there. I think that the real people who get noticed are the home plate umps. It all depends upon their mannerism, but if an ump can be fair, spell the rules out, know which one is to be used, the specific rules of the ballpark they're in (like what's a HR in a domed stadium, etc), then that would likely alter how fans feel about her.

I don't necessarily agree about whether or not a woman can be an MLB ump. To me, it's not some humongous job that only a man can do. It's her decision-making ability as an individual, how well she exercises these, and how fairly the players, the media, the fans, feel she's done her job.

If she's a home plate ump, does she do like some and call "Strike 3" on a pitch that looked a bit low and inside? Does she favor one pitcher over the next? Heck, I've even seen the ump delay, when the home crowd cheered their pitcher, the ump called what looked like a ball, to be a strike. To me, there's lots of things going on. Even if a ball is fair, foul, was the base-runner really tagged out, stuff like that, I believe all go well beyond gender.

As to her gender, someone will eventually ask how a woman will handle getting yelled at by an irate manager, or a player being called out, yet he needs to be restrained by his manager and a teammate. Like it or not, someone will likely ask how she will deal with it. As such, she'll be under a microscope.

I remember Billy Martin, who used to pick up dirt and put it at the ump's feet before being ejected. Sweet Lou is Martin's disciple. Then again, guys could just try being "nicer" to her than the other umps, so as not to be on the news (the entertainment/sports media can get carried away at times).
And Jamie McCourt is a poor example of how women make break into professional sports' executive levels. While she's a well educated woman, she got the job because her husband owned the team and largely is derided in the LA area as a nitwit (as is her husband, who's largely an absentee owner). A much better example is Amy Trask of the Raiders, who worked her way up through the ranks entirely on her own merits.
That's in the NFL. How many woman have made it up the executive ranks in MLB? Other than the Yanks' own Jean Afterman, who's Brian Cashman's Asst GM, I can't think of many right now.

I'll agree with you re Jamie McCourt. I've only heard negative things about him, but not her. Sometimes I wonder, if they're really that bad, then how in the world did they get so rich? I should try figuring out their formula sometime. ;)

Tom Verducci did a cameo as an ump: My Trip to The Show (Part II) (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/the_bonus/03/28/verducci.umpire0402/index.html). Here's the Photo Gallery (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0703/gallery.mlb.verducci/content.1.html).

[bluezebra]

How many woman have made it up the executive ranks in MLB? Other than the Yanks' own Jean Afterman, who's Brian Cashman's Asst GM, I can't think of many right now.

Effa Manley, Co-Owner & Business Manager, Newark Eagles, Negro league, 1936-1948.

Grace Comiskey, Principal Owner, Chicago White Sox, American League, 1940-56.

Dorothy Comiskey, Principal Owner, Chicago White Sox, American League, 1956-58.

Jean Yawkey, Chairwoman of the Board of directors, Majority Owner, General partner, Boston Red sox, American League, 1976-88.

Bob

[Mattingly]

Effa Manley, I remember, since she'd been put into the HoF. I remember something about Jean Yawkey, but I thought it was her husband who'd owned this the whole time. The Comiskeys (mother-daughter?), I hadn't known of.

I'm not sure how she'd gotten there, but Marge Schott, regardless of her personal reputation, was principal owner of the Cincinnati Reds.

Thx. :)

[VTSoxFan]

I remember something about Jean Yawkey, but I thought it was her husband who'd owned this the whole time.



FYI, Matt--

Mrs. Yawkey was chairwoman of the board of directors of the JRY Corporation, the majority owner and general partner of the Red Sox. She became president of the club following her husband Tom’s death in 1976. In addition to attending virtually every home game, Mrs. Yawkey actively participated along with other JRY Corporation officers in management issues involving the team.

http://www.answers.com/topic/jean-r-yawkey

[Brian McKenna]

How many woman have made it up the executive ranks in MLB? Other than the Yanks' own Jean Afterman, who's Brian Cashman's Asst GM, I can't think of many right now.

Effa Manley, Co-Owner & Business Manager, Newark Eagles, Negro league, 1936-1948.

Grace Comiskey, Principal Owner, Chicago White Sox, American League, 1940-56.

Dorothy Comiskey, Principal Owner, Chicago White Sox, American League, 1956-58.

Jean Yawkey, Chairwoman of the Board of directors, Majority Owner, General partner, Boston Red sox, American League, 1976-88.

Bob

All these women gained control through their husbands. A couple that didn't:
Joan Payson
Marge Schott

[Mattingly]

All these women gained control through their husbands. A couple that didn't:
Joan Payson
Marge Schott
I hadn't realized that Effa Manley had inherited the team from her husband also. The Comiskeys were pretty easy to figure out.

I see that Joan Payson (according to her Wikipedia page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Whitney_Payson)) was once a minority owner of the NY Giants who'd voted against the move to San Francisco, and was later a majority owner of the Mets, posthumously inducted into the Mets' HoF.

How did Marge Schott get her ownership of the Cincy Reds?

[Iron Jaw]

Women umps.:crazy


I can't picture Earl Weaver and Billy Martin dealing with one. Especially if it's a big woman who's built like Ron Luciano.

Funny thing: a few years ago a friend of mine's wife was the ump in an adult softball game. She absolutely blew the call on an unassisted triple play (she had no clue what had happened - the batter lined out to short with runners on first and second. He quickly tagged the runner on second who was darting for third. He then tagged the runner from first who ran to second. She argued that he had to tag the runner at second before he touched base. I was the player coach and I advised her that the runner had no right to advance to second - ball caught on liner - without a tag-up, so touching second was irrelevant. She began screaming at me saying she was right and she was going to toss me....all that.....her hubby, also on the team came over and started making cow sounds. That was it. She tossed her own hubby. Fortunately, the field manager, boss of the umps saw the play happen and corrected the young lady on the decision. But she still tossed her husband. I wonder what kind of night they had?).

I remember when Emmett Ashford became the first black man to umpire major league baseball in 1966. Actually, with the number of black players in MLB back in the 60's, it went almost unnoticed. Though I do remember him and Frank Robinson going at it that season after a disagreement. It took Boog Powell to hold Frank when he went after Emmett.

Emmett worked throught the 1970 season then retired. He was a minor league umpire for 25 years prior to his entry into the big leagues.

[digglahhh]

Women umps.:crazy


I can't picture Earl Weaver and Billy Martin dealing with one. Especially if it's a big woman who's built like Ron Luciano.

Funny thing: a few years ago a friend of mine's wife was the ump in an adult softball game. She absolutely blew the call on an unassisted triple play (she had no clue what had happened - the batter lined out to short with runners on first and second. He quickly tagged the runner on second who was darting for third. He then tagged the runner from first who ran to second. She argued that he had to tag the runner at second before he touched base. I was the player coach and I advised her that the runner had no right to advance to second - ball caught on liner - without a tag-up, so touching second was irrelevant. She began screaming at me saying she was right and she was going to toss me....all that.....her hubby, also on the team came over and started making cow sounds. That was it. She tossed her own hubby. Fortunately, the field manager, boss of the umps saw the play happen and corrected the young lady on the decision. But she still tossed her husband. I wonder what kind of night they had?).

I remember when Emmett Ashford became the first black man to umpire major league baseball in 1966. Actually, with the number of black players in MLB back in the 60's, it went almost unnoticed. Though I do remember him and Frank Robinson going at it that season after a disagreement. It took Boog Powell to hold Frank when he went after Emmett.

Emmett worked throught the 1970 season then retired. He was a minor league umpire for 25 years prior to his entry into the big leagues.

I don't really see what the above anecdote has to do with anything. How does her lack of knowledge about the unassisted triple play relate to her being a woman? If you are going to respond that you were just telling a funny story that's one thing, but in the context of the overall debate, I think the implications of the story are obvious.

I could tell you hours worth of stories about male official scorers of Double and Triple A teams who didn't know things that as basic as, any run scored by a player who reached on an error is automatically unearned. I could tell you stories about perfectly clean games scored by female OSes. I could tell you a lot of anecdotes in general, but they don't prove anything, so I haven't done it.

[CuriousBoston]

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/sports/2007/mar/30/033003361.html

[Iron Jaw]

I don't really see what the above anecdote has to do with anything. How does her lack of knowledge about the unassisted triple play relate to her being a woman? If you are going to respond that you were just telling a funny story that's one thing, but in the context of the overall debate, I think the implications of the story are obvious.

I could tell you hours worth of stories about male official scorers of Double and Triple A teams who didn't know things that as basic as, any run scored by a player who reached on an error is automatically unearned. I could tell you stories about perfectly clean games scored by female OSes. I could tell you a lot of anecdotes in general, but they don't prove anything, so I haven't done it.

The point was, arguing with females is probably more difficult for males than male vs. male. At least, it isn't easy for me (especially with the wife of a friend, who was the ump in question). I tend to take the gloves off a little more for the male umps. Human nature, I guess.

Which is why I preceeded the story with an Earl Weaver/Billy Martin comment.

[digglahhh]

The point was, arguing with females is probably more difficult for males than male vs. male. At least, it isn't easy for me (especially with the wife of a friend, who was the ump in question). I tend to take the gloves off a little more for the male umps. Human nature, I guess.

Which is why I preceeded the story with an Earl Weaver/Billy Martin comment.

Okay, that wasn't completely clear to me. That could easily be my fault.

It is tough not to feel that way. I know that the old gentlemanly tradition of showing women the utmost respect looms here. Perhaps, the real problem is that us men are too willing to show disrespect to male umpires.

As amusing as the antics were, Weaver and Martin (not to mention Pinella and others) often appeared as buffoons. We were laughing AT them. That behavior is probably unbecoming in general, regardless of the gender of whom it is directed at.

I'm just throwing out the idea that a little more incentive to show restraint is probably not necessarily a bad thing.

[NotAboutEgo]

Women umps.:crazy


I can't picture Earl Weaver and Billy Martin dealing with one. Especially if it's a big woman who's built like Ron Luciano.

Funny thing: a few years ago a friend of mine's wife was the ump in an adult softball game. She absolutely blew the call on an unassisted triple play (she had no clue what had happened - the batter lined out to short with runners on first and second. He quickly tagged the runner on second who was darting for third. He then tagged the runner from first who ran to second. She argued that he had to tag the runner at second before he touched base. I was the player coach and I advised her that the runner had no right to advance to second - ball caught on liner - without a tag-up, so touching second was irrelevant. She began screaming at me saying she was right and she was going to toss me....all that.....her hubby, also on the team came over and started making cow sounds. That was it. She tossed her own hubby. Fortunately, the field manager, boss of the umps saw the play happen and corrected the young lady on the decision. But she still tossed her husband. I wonder what kind of night they had?).

I remember when Emmett Ashford became the first black man to umpire major league baseball in 1966. Actually, with the number of black players in MLB back in the 60's, it went almost unnoticed. Though I do remember him and Frank Robinson going at it that season after a disagreement. It took Boog Powell to hold Frank when he went after Emmett.

Emmett worked throught the 1970 season then retired. He was a minor league umpire for 25 years prior to his entry into the big leagues.

Plenty of male umps blow plenty of calls, too. I just saw one yesterday at the Tigers home opener who was behind the dish... I was at the game sitting behind the plate in the 14th row off the field. He was absolutely HORRIBLE for both the Tigers and the Blue Jays.

Some people still think women are inferior to men in all ways. Get over it!

[NotAboutEgo]

Okay, I that wasn't completely clear to me. That could easily be my fault.

It is tough not to feel that way. I know that the old gentlemanly tradition of showing women the utmost respect looms here. Perhaps, the real problem is that us men are too willing to show disrespect to male umpires.

As amusing as the antics were, Weaver and Martin (not to mention Pinella and others) often appeared as buffoons. We were laughing AT them. That behavior is probably unbecoming in general, regardless of the gender of whom it is directed at.

I'm just throwing out the idea that a little more incentive to show restraint is probably not necessarily a bad thing.

I can't stand it when men think they have to show women more respect than they show men. I take great offense when men do that to me. I threw around a few cuss words yesterday at the Tigers game, and this guy in front of me had to make comments about it. I wanted to say, "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you... since I'm a female who said a few cuss words!"

It's time that society let that traditional garbage go. It's so sickening to me. If there are women out there who can't handle equality in that way and who manipulate guys to be that way with them, that's their problem. They are just as much to blame as the male chauvinists out there.

I also can't stand it when men think they have to open doors for women and when women take advantage of that. I say, whoever gets to the door first opens the door for everyone else who is behind them... respect for all.

[digglahhh]

Well, I'm of the opinion that we should try our best to be courteous and respectful to women and men, not because they are women or men, but because that's the way I'd like to be treated. I've actually had more than one experience in which I did something nice for a woman, such as held the door or offered to help carrying heavy packages and was looked at as a sexist for it. You have to be cautious about being overly defensive yourself, NAE. The respect line is tricky to walk and prematurely ascribing motives to the actions of others is often a recipe for misunderstanding. Respect for all, as people, is the call!

The second base umpire blew the call in yesterday's Bal/Min game when he called Morneau out at second on that ball he hit off the baggy in right. The 3B coach also blew the call by not sending Mauer on that same play. He blew another one when he sent Morneau on the play where he was gunned down trying to score and collided with Bako. So, he had a bad game and he's a guy. Somewhere in the stands, some woman probably blew the scoring of the play in her scorebook, and so did some kid, and a couple of Jewish guys and several men over six feet tall...

See the problem, just like my story about the woman thinking I'm a chauvinist for holding the door, all this crap is anecdotal.

To quote the signature of one of the Stats forum regulars, Pizzacutter, "the plural of anecdote is not data."

[Iron Jaw]

I also can't stand it when men think they have to open doors for women and when women take advantage of that. I say, whoever gets to the door first opens the door for everyone else who is behind them... respect for all.

That part of me will never change. I was raised a gentleman and will always be that. Over the years I've found that most women appreciate the respect.....the chivalry. Knightly virtues, honour and courtly love. That's the real me. And at 51 years of age, I can't really be expected to change my ways.

[NotAboutEgo]

That part of me will never change. I was raised a gentleman and will always be that. Over the years I've found that most women appreciate the respect.....the chivalry. Knightly virtues, honour and courtly love. That's the real me. And at 51 years of age, I can't really be expected to change my ways.

I disagree that people "can't" change because of their age. That's an excuse to me. Not trying to beat you up here, but just saying people can change if they want to. I respect that you were brought up that way. At the same time, I don't agree with that perspective.

One of my co-workers thinks the same way. He's a great guy... always kind and polite and is a great person. Whenever we are coming through the door at the same time, he insists on opening the door for me, and it drives me absolutely crazy! He could have 5 things in his hands, and yet, he still tries to open the door instead of letting me do it for him. He refuses to let me open the door for him.

I think, from his eyes, he was raised to serve women... and I highly disagree with that point of view. I think everyone needs to respect everyone else, regardless of gender, color, language they speak... whatever.

Then there are guys who work in my company who are completely chavinistic and won't accept a woman holding a door open for them. That is the worst case I've ever seen!

When guys think it's their duty, their responsibility, their right, or whatever to have to open doors for women, it really gets to me. I know that your perspective is that you are being a gentleman and all that, and that's fine, and you have the right to see it that way. But, the underlying reason for people/society sending that message stems from the traditional viewpoint that women are weak, and therefore, they need to be taken care of by a man. I don't need to be taken care of by a man. It doesn't mean I don't like men... that's not true at all... believe me. But, I am a completely self-reliant, self-supporting woman, and I don't need anyone to take care of me.

What does this have to do with baseball? It has to do with it in the way that the whole "power struggle" thing between men and women stems from the traditional belief that women are weaker than men, and so weak in fact, that they need to be taken care of by a man. This is what drives the idea that women can't play baseball and should play softball.

[JeepingBaseball]

To the men who were raised that way, hold open doors, pays the check, ect ect... you're a rare breed these days. Nice to see some still exist out there. Now, I'm a women and I like to take care of myself. I like doing things my way and dont care for someone to try to help me when Im quite capable of doing it myself. Would it rile me up if a man opens a door for me? No... not at all. A quick scan, and i can decide in 10 seconds if I want to flirt with him or not :p

Common sense and respect for all, is all these type of men are doing. I highly doubt they think women are soooooo weak, they cant open a door for themselves. For those men, I have a great deal of respect for. We need more people in the world like that and perhaps maybe there would be less bickering and arguing. Personally, I rather see the respect and smiles and thank you's over the ugliness of anger, hostility, and verbal slander.

This really has nothing to do with baseball at all. In any shape or form.

[NotAboutEgo]

Well, I'm of the opinion that we should try our best to be courteous and respectful to women and men, not because they are women or men, but because that's the way I'd like to be treated. I've actually had more than one experience in which I did something nice for a woman, such as held the door or offered to help carrying heavy packages and was looked at as a sexist for it. You have to be cautious about being overly defensive yourself, NAE. The respect line is tricky to walk and prematurely ascribing motives to the actions of others is often a recipe for misunderstanding. Respect for all, as people, is the call!

The second base umpire blew the call in yesterday's Bal/Min game when he called Morneau out at second on that ball he hit off the baggy in right. The 3B coach also blew the call by not sending Mauer on that same play. He blew another one when he sent Morneau on the play where he was gunned down trying to score and collided with Bako. So, he had a bad game and he's a guy. Somewhere in the stands, some woman probably blew the scoring of the play in her scorebook, and so did some kid, and a couple of Jewish guys and several men over six feet tall...

See the problem, just like my story about the woman thinking I'm a chauvinist for holding the door, all this crap is anecdotal.

To quote the signature of one of the Stats forum regulars, Pizzacutter, "the plural of anecdote is not data."

I apologize for not making my point more clear. I wasn't calling you a chauvinist. Rather, I was making a comment that is related to what you said about treating everyone equally. I agree with you 100% on what you said. What I'm saying is, I hate it when guys think they need to hold the door open for a person or help them in some way, just because she's a woman, and he thinks it means she needs his help just because she's a woman.

Again, I apologize for the misunderstanding.

[NotAboutEgo]

To the men who were raised that way, hold open doors, pays the check, ect ect... you're a rare breed these days. Nice to see some still exist out there. Now, I'm a women and I like to take care of myself. I like doing things my way and dont care for someone to try to help me when Im quite capable of doing it myself. Would it rile me up if a man opens a door for me? No... not at all. A quick scan, and i can decide in 10 seconds if I want to flirt with him or not :p

Common sense and respect for all, is all these type of men are doing. I highly doubt they think women are soooooo weak, they cant open a door for themselves. For those men, I have a great deal of respect for. We need more people in the world like that and perhaps maybe there would be less bickering and arguing. Personally, I rather see the respect and smiles and thank you's over the ugliness of anger, hostility, and verbal slander.

This really has nothing to do with baseball at all. In any shape or form.

I think it's fine if a guy wants to open the door for a woman or a man or a child. To me, that's respect. What I have a problem with is when a guy refuses to let a woman open a door for him, even if he is a gentleman and isn't chauvinistic (In a way, it is being chauvinistic, even if he's not trying to be). It happens to me all the time.

If a guy is a true gentleman, he will be a gentleman with everyone... like Digglahhh stated... not just with women.

[CuriousBoston]

That part of me will never change. I was raised a gentleman and will always be that. Over the years I've found that most women appreciate the respect.....the chivalry. Knightly virtues, honour and courtly love. That's the real me. And at 51 years of age, I can't really be expected to change my ways.

Please don't!:applaud: As an older female, sometimes with a cane, I expect from anyone capable the courtesy of an opened door. If I see an older person that needs help, or a parent looking a bit overwhelmed, I help. If I see a group walking four or five abreast on the side walk, I may just stop walking, may make a joke, make it clear in a nice way they need to be more considerate.

If I'm bumped because someone is in a hurry, or I see a vunerable person not given enough space, I am not happy, let people know it.

People with respect and courtesy should be treated the same way. If the guy with 50 packages tries, let him know politely, "I've got it."

I may notice a gentleman that I think should have the door opened for him. But be careful. Your smile and thank you will mean a lot to him. If you insist on doing it yourself, feelings may be hurt. :think:

Baseball: If I'm lucky enough to be at a game, and some nitwit walks blocks my view of Ortiz at bat, I may not be a lady. I will watch my language, because there are children at ballgames. I know enough words to get my point across without being coarse. ;)

[NotAboutEgo]

Please don't!:applaud: As an older female, sometimes with a cane, I expect from anyone capable the courtesy of an opened door. If I see an older person that needs help, or a parent looking a bit overwhelmed, I help. If I see a group walking four or five abreast on the side walk, I may just stop walking, may make a joke, make it clear in a nice way they need to be more considerate.

If I'm bumped because someone is in a hurry, or I see a vunerable person not given enough space, I am not happy, let people know it.

People with respect and courtesy should be treated the same way. If the guy with 50 packages tries, let him know politely, "I've got it."

I may notice a gentleman that I think should have the door opened for him. But be careful. Your smile and thank you will mean a lot to him. If you insist on doing it yourself, feelings may be hurt. :think:

Baseball: If I'm lucky enough to be at a game, and some nitwit walks blocks my view of Ortiz at bat, I may not be a lady. I will watch my language, because there are children at ballgames. I know enough words to get my point across without being coarse. ;)

Anyone who is in need of help should receive it. I agree with that. I would kindly help you or anyone else if you were in need of it.

I may notice a gentleman that I think should have the door opened for him. But be careful. Your smile and thank you will mean a lot to him. If you insist on doing it yourself, feelings may be hurt. :think:

If I have read this correctly... if a guy's feelings are hurt when a woman chooses to open the door for herself, then he has emotions to deal with. I have no problem with a guy (or a woman) who's being courteous enough to open a door for someone. It's the instances where I or another woman get to the door first and hold it open for a guy who follows us, and he refuses to let us open the door for him, or if it's a case like my co-worker who can't ever accept a woman holding a door open for him, regardless of the reason behind it. There is an underlying reason for such a thing to happen, and in my opinion, it stems back to the times when women were told their place was in the home.

A guy may think he's being respectful to women when he insists on holding the door open for them and never lets the woman open the door for him. I disagree. It's respectful when one holds the door open for everyone.

I like your style, CuriousBoston.

[digglahhh]

I apologize for not making my point more clear. I wasn't calling you a chauvinist. Rather, I was making a comment that is related to what you said about treating everyone equally. I agree with you 100% on what you said. What I'm saying is, I hate it when guys think they need to hold the door open for a person or help them in some way, just because she's a woman, and he thinks it means she needs his help just because she's a woman.

Again, I apologize for the misunderstanding.

Oh, I didn't think you called me a chauvinist. We've had many exchanges on this forum, surely if you were going to call me a chauvinist, it would have happened already (and probably in no uncertain terms).

I'm just saying that somebody holding a door open for you or not holding a door open for you can happen for a lot of reasons. "Small sample size" as they say in the Stats Forum.

I think it is common courtesy to offer help to somebody who looks like they might want some. It is common courtesy for that person to politely refuse the help if they would rather not be helped. And it is common courtesy for the initial offerer to respect the other person's refusal.

It is also common courtesy to not block the view of David Ortiz's at bat during a baseball game! However, it is also common courtesy to offer to block my view of first base if he makes a cameo on defense...:laugh

[CuriousBoston]

Hey! Ortiz hasn't done too bad at first base. He made one play last year that was good, considering.:pray:

Thank you. Please let all Yankee fans know you appreciate my style.

When I referred to a guy that might have his feelings hurt, I was thinking of an older man, and not in the work enviroment. In the work enviroment it's tricky ; I might have a private talk with a peer in the same department, and insist he stop. With planning beforehand, talking to one of the other guys, asking a couple of other women, but they gotta be people who can keep their mouths shut. Plan it carefully. If I detected an inkling of "I'm stronger=better", I would have to have a talk.

A peer from another department, maybe a "That's not necessary, but thank you." My boss, must have a private talk. Gotta keep at front of mind: unless you are positive, you gotta realize they were trained "right".

If they have reps as backstabbers, egomanics, that's different, call 'em out. One guy from work wanted a date; the grapevine worked, we knew that admin were so many points, techs so many points, managers so many points. He showed up at work Monday with a broken arm. (I warned him twice; good metal door. Had someone waiting in the apartment, too.) I can't imagine why so many people were nervous....ACK! IT'S SNOWING!!! :disbelief:

Teddy Ballgame was right, cut ten games off the front, ten off the back. Do we need a thread on the effects of global warming on baseball?

[BigStellyPADRES4LIFE]

Who in their right mind would wanna be an umpire..... Nah this is totally feasible. If someone wants to ump a game i really dont think gender is much of an issue.

[BigStellyPADRES4LIFE]

Of course.... baseball wouldnt sound as good with a female voice saying strike or ball or youre outa there.

[Mattingly]

Of course.... baseball wouldnt sound as good with a female voice saying strike or ball or youre outa there.
I'm curious, have you ever been to a game that had a female umpire?

To me, like a radio announcer, it all depends upon the voice. Perhaps people were raised to expect the male voice in certain situations, of which an ump or announcer (stadium, TV or radio) would be included. However, if the voice isn't very good, is too weak, then that person will have trouble capturing the fans regardless of his/her gender.

I wouldn't automatically dismiss her outright, and unless she's behind home plate, I won't even hear what she says unless I'm at the stadium. behind 1B and she's the 1B ump.

So long as she's decisive and fair to both sides, I wouldn't say it's the end of the world of baseball fan enjoyment of a game. :)

[NotAboutEgo]

I'm curious, have you ever been to a game that had a female umpire?

To me, like a radio announcer, it all depends upon the voice. Perhaps people were raised to expect the male voice in certain situations, of which an ump or announcer (stadium, TV or radio) would be included. However, if the voice isn't very good, is too weak, then that person will have trouble capturing the fans regardless of his/her gender.

I wouldn't automatically dismiss her outright, and unless she's behind home plate, I won't even hear what she says unless I'm at the stadium. behind 1B and she's the 1B ump.

So long as she's decisive and fair to both sides, I wouldn't say it's the end of the world of baseball fan enjoyment of a game. :)

Yeah, I agree 100%. I could care less what gender an announcer is. What matters is how good of an announcer they are and how nice their voice is. For example, the Tigers stadium announcer is horrible. He has a very high voice and isn't good in my opinion, and he doesn't get the crowd going at all with his voice and mannerisms.

On the other hand, the stadium announcer for the White Sox is great. He has a deep voice, and he has a lot of enthusiasm when he speaks and gets everyone going.

There are plenty of women out there who have great announcing voices. People need to let their inhibitions about most traditions go and free their minds so they can experience and perceive life events free from the limits that they have placed upon themselves.

[Mattingly]

Yeah, I agree 100%. I could care less what gender an announcer is. What matters is how good of an announcer they are and how nice their voice is. For example, the Tigers stadium announcer is horrible. He has a very high voice and isn't good in my opinion, and he doesn't get the crowd going at all with his voice and mannerisms.

On the other hand, the stadium announcer for the White Sox is great. He has a deep voice, and he has a lot of enthusiasm when he speaks and gets everyone going.

There are plenty of women out there who have great announcing voices. People need to let their inhibitions about most traditions go and free their minds so they can experience and perceive life events free from the limits that they have placed upon themselves.
We Yankee fans had a similar situation when YES started in 2002. Suzyn Waldman did play-by-play for the TV program. Unfortunately, people routinely couldn't stand her hi-pitched voice. In fact, the more respected women forumers I'd asked (on another board), they didn't like her voice either, so it wasn't just a guy thing reacting to her. However, we pretty much all loved her pre- and post-game interviews. She'd been reporting for the Yanks since the '80s, so she wasn't exactly a fly-by-nighter.

She ended up going from being the "color person" (color man/woman?), and is now doing the radio job Michael Kay did in the past, along with John Sterling. She makes nice comments, her voice isn't so hi-pitched (perhaps she's toned down the "line SHAWT" thing a bit).

For an ump in general, all I ask for is decisiveness, knowledge of the game, its rules, and being in the right position to make the call as to whether he was safe or out. Since she's done games at 1B and 3B (or was this 1B & 2B?), if the home plate ump isn't sure about a call with a righty batter, to make the call on that pitch not swung at.

As to herself, all I ask is that she represent women properly and in a very nice way, so that she's seen moreso as a quality ump, and I feel there will likely be other women getting opportunities to be in a position to umpire. Not necessarily in MLB right away, but if seen a few times in AA & AAA, the MLB games won't be too far behind.

[NotAboutEgo]

We Yankee fans had a similar situation when YES started in 2002. Suzyn Waldman did play-by-play for the TV program. Unfortunately, people routinely couldn't stand her hi-pitched voice. In fact, the more respected women forumers I'd asked (on another board), they didn't like her voice either, so it wasn't just a guy thing reacting to her. However, we pretty much all loved her pre- and post-game interviews. She'd been reporting for the Yanks since the '80s, so she wasn't exactly a fly-by-nighter.

She ended up going from being the "color person" (color man/woman?), and is now doing the radio job Michael Kay did in the past, along with John Sterling. She makes nice comments, her voice isn't so hi-pitched (perhaps she's toned down the "line SHAWT" thing a bit).

For an ump in general, all I ask for is decisiveness, knowledge of the game, its rules, and being in the right position to make the call as to whether he was safe or out. Since she's done games at 1B and 3B (or was this 1B & 2B?), if the home plate ump isn't sure about a call with a righty batter, to make the call on that pitch not swung at.

As to herself, all I ask is that she represent women properly and in a very nice way, so that she's seen moreso as a quality ump, and I feel there will likely be other women getting opportunities to be in a position to umpire. Not necessarily in MLB right away, but if seen a few times in AA & AAA, the MLB games won't be too far behind.

I agree. And once a woman or two make it in the minors and in MLB, when they're allowed to, then more women will be less intimidated to follow in their footsteps if they choose to umpire.

It's like Captlid said in the other thread... a lot of females would love to continue playing baseball beyond little league and beyond 18 years old, but most don't want to be the only girl on the team, so they either stop playing or they go to fast pitch softball. A lot of people are intimidated in different ways when going outside of the norm to do something they enjoy and love. One way to give women the opportunities they should have is developing our own leagues from tee ball all the way up. Then, there's no reason to not have our own pro league. The same holds true for females who want to umpire.

[digglahhh]

I've been as critical of Stelly as anybody, but I think his comment here was just a pretty innocent joke.

[TyrusRaymondCobb]

Are there any major pro sports in which men play that often have female refs, umps, etc?

Sandra de Jenken was the chair umpire for this year's Australian Open (tennis) Mens Singles Final. Female chairs are quite prevalent in professional tennis.

[NotAboutEgo]

Sandra de Jenken was the chair umpire for this year's Australian Open (tennis) Mens Singles Final. Female chairs are quite prevalent in professional tennis.

Interesting. That's one sport out of how many?

[catbox_9]

I'm pretty sure the NBA has female officials

[TG Coach]

I'm pretty sure the NBA has female officials

Violet Palmer #12

NBA experience: Nine seasons, currently in her 10th NBA season
Born: July 20, 1964 (Lynwood, CA)
Resides: Los Angeles, CA
HS: Compton (Compton, CA)
College: Cal Poly Pomona '87

- Only woman official in the NBA
- Officiated 500 regular season games and one playoff game.
- Only current active female official in the NBA and one of only two women (along with Dee Kanter) to officiate regular season games in one of the four major sports (NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL).

[Mattingly]

Sandra de Jenken was the chair umpire for this year's Australian Open (tennis) Mens Singles Final. Female chairs are quite prevalent in professional tennis.
Interesting. I've only noticed the mail chair umpires (of which John McEnroe was more than willing to impart his opinion to) in the men's singles. Any women chair umps in the women's singles of other major tennis games, such as Wimbledon, US Open, etc?

I don't follow the WNBA, but if there are any there, I wouldn't mind hearing of this, or even if it's college basketball, baseball, etc.

[CubNZ]

Interesting. That's one sport out of how many?

There are a few women soccer referees who officiate the mens game at the highest level, and one or two top women rugby refs have worked top level mens competition recently. Many sports seem to be changing.

Seems like given the limited number of good umps we'd better look at the "other" 50% of the population. :D

[TyrusRaymondCobb]

Interesting. I've only noticed the mail chair umpires (of which John McEnroe was more than willing to impart his opinion to) in the men's singles. Any women chair umps in the women's singles of other major tennis games, such as Wimbledon, US Open, etc?

Gerry Armstrong was the chair who announced the default in 1990 (4th Rd Australian Open McEnroe v Pernfors). 3rd code violation (McEnroe said something totally disgusting to the Grand Slam Supervisor, Ken Farrar (1 step below tournament referee), which I will not repeat here), but even as an isolated incident it would have been enough to get him thrown out.

Code Violations committed by McEnroe that match:
1st Code - Unsportsmanlike Behaviour (intimidating stare at female line judge (who also does GS matches in the chair) while bouncing the ball on the strings of his racquet
2nd Code - Racquet Abuse (cracked the racquet. In those days, a cracked racquet was as bad as a broken one, and pretty much was an automatic Code)
3rd Code - Audible Obscenity (as described above)
The Code of Conduct was changed before the Open to be a 3 strikes policy, rather than a 4 strikes policy. It has been somewhat modified nowadays, but not in reaction to the McEnroe incident

Types of Code of Conduct Violations:
1. Withdrawal from Tournament
2. Commencement of Play
3. Dress and Equipment
4. Physical Abuse
5. Verbal Abuse
6. Unsportsmanlike conduct
7. Unreasonable delays
8. Audible Obscenity
9. Visible Obscenity
10. Abuse of Racquets or Equipment
11. Abuse of Balls
12. Leaving the Court
13. Rest Period
14. Best Efforts
15. Coaching
16. Spectator Interference

Chair Umpires do not have the power to default players in 99.995% of cases. They would get the Tournament Referee or Supervisor (if there is one) and explain the situation, who would then make a decision (that's why they get more money!).

Uually only Gold Badges work the higher rounds of the Grand Slams (Semis & Finals) for singles. There are 12 Gold Badges with full time contracts from the ITF (International Tennis Federation). There are other Gold Badges as well, but maybe only half-a-dozen. To earn one takes a LOT of extremely hard work and willingness to travel globally. Most of the higher level officials do not have a family life from what I have observed, and one or two bad enough mistakes may see you stripped of your badge.

The hierarchy of ITF badges:
Gold
Silver
Bronze
White

White Badges have to be recommended by their National Association from the ranks of the unbadged officials (Chair Umpires & Referees). They then go to a Level 2 school, where they are placed in match situations, and have to pass an examination (pass mark is more than 80%, I think).

White badges take the same route to earning their Bronze badge, but along the way are assessed by Silver and Gold badge Chairs/Referees. They then go to a Level 3 school, where they are placed in match situations, and have to pass an examination (pass mark is more than 80%, I think).

Any progress beyond Bronze is marked on various things of which I have no idea. Level 3 is the highest Level school that the ITF runs.

The vast majority of officials do not have badges. They are the ones who you usually see calling the lines.

To get back to your question, though, there is no barrier to men umpiring women or vice versa.

Hopefully this provides a small insight into a different sport ...

[DriftersGM]

Ria Cortesio


It looks like I may be a little late to this discussion, but I wanted to speak up on what I have seen from this umpire.

I have watched Ria for three seasons in the AA Southern League, and she compares favorably to most of the other umps. She seems to have stronger aspects of her game, getting a good look at the plays and making quick calls.


As an umpire she is just about par for the course or a little better. She took a fair amount of disrespect in her first couple seasons at this level, but seems to have overcome most of that kind of thing in the past year and a half or so.

There are certainly umpires in the southern league who are worse!


Here she is in action as crew chief
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA8thZWDWQs

[JeepingBaseball]

ehh...

what exactly did she do that was so great in this video? The decision had already been made. Why would you argue with an ejected coach? She just stood there for less than a minute till he finally left and the game resumed shortly after.

Now if that was a video of her making the call and the coach arguing with her... total different story. She really had nothing to do with this at all.

[NotAboutEgo]

Seeing how MLB umps have really sucked it up lately (for quite a while, actually), most ten year olds could do the job better than most MLB umps. It's not that hard calling pitches behind the plate, yet they make some really assanine calls so they can show their control and authority. This is making MLB go downhill really fast and is cheapening the game.

Getting back to Ria and any other female umps, people need to focus on their skills and how well they call a game... rather than focusing on the fact that they are females in a male dominated world fighting ignorant and unnecessary stereotypes. Who cares if an ump is a female or a male, as long as they call a good game and are fair to both sides?

Let's focus on what's important rather than focusing on ignorance.

P.S. This post is not a comment to the previous two posts; rather, it's my opinion.

[DriftersGM]

ehh...

what exactly did she do that was so great in this video? The decision had already been made. Why would you argue with an ejected coach? She just stood there for less than a minute till he finally left and the game resumed shortly after.

Now if that was a video of her making the call and the coach arguing with her... total different story. She really had nothing to do with this at all.




If you read my post you would have seen that I never claimed anyones greatness, just a chance to see a minor league umpire honing their craft.

Since most folks have only seen Cortesio on one MLB exhibition game, I thought my vid would be a good way to get another look. Sorry I dont have a video of her reaction to an angry manager leaving a frying pan on homeplate for ya, but I wasnt at that game!



Ria is the crewchief, and in the altercation between the 1b ump and an ejected manager in the vid, I thought she handled it like a pro. Especially when one considers the fact that the 1b umpire completely blew the call on a ball hit down the line (chalk flew when the ball landed, but was called foul).

This umpire had missed calls during the series already, and both managers ended up being ejected during the series.

So what we are seeing here is a crew chief letting a manager have their say about a mistake without it escalating into a problem, and preventing contact. In that situation, there isnt much more that can be asked of an umpire, no matter who they are or what level of play it is.

[Brian McKenna]

Ria is the crewchief, and in the altercation between the 1b ump and an ejected manager in the vid, I thought she handled it like a pro. Especially when one considers the fact that the 1b umpire completely blew the call on a ball hit down the line (chalk flew when the ball landed, but was called foul).

This umpire had missed calls during the series already, and both managers ended up being ejected during the series.

So what we are seeing here is a crew chief letting a manager have their say about a mistake without it escalating into a problem, and preventing contact. In that situation, there isnt much more that can be asked of an umpire, no matter who they are or what level of play it is.

Nice post - thanks for the insight.

[NotAboutEgo]

If you read my post you would have seen that I never claimed anyones greatness, just a chance to see a minor league umpire honing their craft.

Since most folks have only seen Cortesio on one MLB exhibition game, I thought my vid would be a good way to get another look. Sorry I dont have a video of her reaction to an angry manager leaving a frying pan on homeplate for ya, but I wasnt at that game!



Ria is the crewchief, and in the altercation between the 1b ump and an ejected manager in the vid, I thought she handled it like a pro. Especially when one considers the fact that the 1b umpire completely blew the call on a ball hit down the line (chalk flew when the ball landed, but was called foul).

This umpire had missed calls during the series already, and both managers ended up being ejected during the series.

So what we are seeing here is a crew chief letting a manager have their say about a mistake without it escalating into a problem, and preventing contact. In that situation, there isnt much more that can be asked of an umpire, no matter who they are or what level of play it is.

Thanks for focusing on the quality of the umpire (the quality of Cortesio's skills and knowledge of her job and how she handles herself in disagreements) rather than on the fact that she is female umpiring baseball. It's great to see umpires umpiring out of the love of the game and with understanding rather than out of whatever superficial sense of security and power they receive out of umpiring with insincerity.

[Brian McKenna]

Cortesio was released by MLB.

Any info given? Any inside info?

Is this release normal for minor league umps?

Is it normal to ump at Double-A for five years?

[NotAboutEgo]

I found this story while doing a search on Google...

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7396468


Cortesio released by minor leagues
Associated Press, Updated 20 hours ago

Ria Cortesio, pro baseball's only female umpire, was released by the minor leagues this week. Earlier this season, she became the first woman in nearly 20 years to call a major league exhibition game.

"I've been prepared for it, to some extent, for a long time," she told The Associated Press on Wednesday from her home in western Illinois. "But I was surprised a little bit."
Cortesio spent nine years in the minors, the last five in the Double-A Southern League, and hoped someday to become the first female ump in the majors. In March, she worked a spring training game between the Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks.

Her mask made it to the Hall of Fame. She handled the Futures Game and Home Run Derby at the All-Star game in Pittsburgh last year. She once was called out by George Steinbrenner for squeezing the strike zone when Roger Clemens made a rehab start.

Cortesio cut her ponytail several years ago and lowered her voice for making calls, trying to be more inconspicuous. At 5-foot-10, she was slender — Prince Fielder once gently lifted her out of the way so he could charge the mound.

She was at her offseason job, helping run the music system at the arena where the Quad City Flames of the American Hockey League play, when she got a call Tuesday from minor league baseball's umpire organization.

"They let you know around the World Series about next year. If they want to keep you, they send a letter. If they're going to let you go, they call," she said. "When I saw the number on my cell phone, I thought, 'Whoa, this is it."'

There are about 300 umpires in the majors and affiliated minors. Several minor league umps get released each offseason, with baseball trying to make a decision on their futures within a few years.

At 31, Cortesio wants to map out what's next. Her family runs a wine business and she's been a substitute teacher in high school. When she went to Rice University, she worked the scoreboard at the Astrodome.

"It does feel freeing, in a way," she said. As she spoke, she said she was putting on her Joan Jett-style makeup to go to work on Halloween night.

There have been six female umpires in the affiliated minor leagues, and none have made the majors. Pam Postema spent several years in Triple-A during the 1980s; after being fired, she filed a sex discrimination suit against baseball and settled out of court 5 1/2 years later.

Cortesio said she had not decided whether to pursue legal action.

Her release came in a call from Mike Fitzpatrick, executive director of the Professional Baseball Umpire Corporation. He did not immediately return a call for comment.

Cortesio started this season as the top-ranked umpire in all of Double-A. If there had been an opening in Triple-A, it would've been hers.

There were no vacancies and when the new ratings by minor league supervisors came out in midseason, her ranking substantially dropped. So, too, did her chance of getting a promotion and possibly making it to the majors someday.

A move up would have greatly changed her status - umpires in Triple-A are under the auspices of major league supervisors.

"I don't know if they wanted to make a call on me in the majors," she said.

Cortesio started out in the rookie Pioneer League in 1999 and later worked in the Midwest and Florida State leagues. She was an instructor at the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring.

As a crew chief in the Southern League, she made about $2,700 per month. Her three-person crew drove an average of 24,000 miles during the six-month season.

[NotAboutEgo]

Cortesio was released by MLB.

Any info given? Any inside info?

Is this release normal for minor league umps?

Is it normal to ump at Double-A for five years?

That's what I'm wondering. It seems kind of strange since she was rated as one of the top Minor League umpires. It also seems strange since she has a lot of seniority.

[Brian McKenna]

I don't really know anything about her specific case but five years at AA does seem like a long time for someone looking to bounce up. Which just suggests that a diecision had to be made one way or the other.

What is also strange (if it is accurate) is how someone could be the top umpire at the start of a season and fall that fast w/o some good reason or at least a hint as to why.

She may very well have run her course so I can't say that organized baseball stacked the deck against her, but it sure would have been nice to see her on a ML field.

[NotAboutEgo]

I don't really know anything about her specific case but five years at AA does seem like a long time for someone looking to bounce up. Which just suggests that a diecision had to be made one way or the other.

What is also strange (if it is accurate) is how someone could be the top umpire at the start of a season and fall that fast w/o some good reason or at least a hint as to why.

She may very well have run her course so I can't say that organized baseball stacked the deck against her, but it sure would have been nice to see her on a ML field.

I would have liked to have seen her as well. Are you familair with what happened to Pam Postema?

[Brian McKenna]

I would have liked to have seen her as well. Are you familair with what happened to Pam Postema?

Yes, I included her in my book actually.

One overlooked period in baseball history is how Bart Giamatti stood in the way of Postema and Dave Pallone. In fact, the internet is filled with Giammati as some sort of savior here.

[NotAboutEgo]

It does seem that Giamatti is seen as a hero. What are the details about how he was in the way of Postema and the other guy?

[tonypug]

I am surprised at how quiet Cortesio's release has been. After hearing so much about her, reading that she was released came as quite a surprise to me.Something must have happened. You don't go from the penthouse to the outhouse that quickly.

[vptpt]

Something must have happened.

Yeah, she was born a woman.

Maybe there's more to the story than what we know. She seemed like a good umpire. She was good enough to hang around as long as she did. Surely she was better than some of the other crap we see on the ML field. I'd take her over CB Bucknor any day. That guy is useless. And that other ump, what was his name? The guy that got suspended at the end of last season?

Yeah, we really need to keep the women off the field... :rolleyes:

[Brian McKenna]

Tonypug,

How much did you actually hear about her? Are you in a minor league community or otherwise in tune? I live in Baltimore and she rarely made the papers - so here her career was just as quiet as her release.

Vptpt,

There is always more to a story than we know but do you have any facts relevant to her release due to the fact that she was female? Are there other reasons that a Double-A umpire should somehow be replacing major league umps?

[vptpt]

Yeah, I admitted above that there is most likely more to the story than what we know. But baseball is a male-dominated sport. Nobody can really argue that. Women have come a long way in baseball, but there's still a lot of closed doors to women in baseball. I'm beginning to think we'll never see a female ML umpire.

And no, I never expected her to go from AA to the ML. Come on, give me some credit! I just threw that in about bad umps because I'm frustrated with bad umpiring.

[tonypug]

Tonypug,

How much did you actually hear about her? Are you in a minor league community or otherwise in tune? I live in Baltimore and she rarely made the papers - so here her career was just as quiet as her release.

Vptpt,

There is always more to a story than we know but do you have any facts relevant to her release due to the fact that she was female? Are there other reasons that a Double-A umpire should somehow be replacing major league umps?
I live in the middle of the Florida State League, I am a High School and College umpire and talked to guys who worked with her. I never heard anything other then she was a good competent umpire with potential. Thats why I was shocked to hear of her release.

[Brian McKenna]

I live in the middle of the Florida State League, I am a High School and College umpire and talked to guys who worked with her. I never heard anything other then she was a good competent umpire with potential. Thats why I was shocked to hear of her release.

Thanks, glad to hear from someone with umpire contacts. How often are Double -A umps given the boot? How many either move up or are canned after five years? Would be interesting to get your input about the job security of minor league umps.

[NotAboutEgo]

I know a bunch of former pros who are coaching in the minors now. I should see some of them within the next couple of weeks. I'll ask them if they know anything about Cortesio's release.

[NotAboutEgo]

Working with the count against her
Cortesio aspires to become first woman umpire in majors

By DAN MANOYAN
of the Journal Sentinel staff
Last Updated: May 9, 2001
Geneva, Ill. - Ria Cortesio has done the research and the arithmetic.

Ria Cortesio says she expected to have a rough go of it while umpiring in the Midwest League but she says everything has gone smoothly so far.

When people think of an umpire, they think of dirty, grouchy, fat old men.
-- Ria Cortesio,
minor league umpire

As a female umpire in the macho world of professional baseball, she understands her odds of making it to "The Show" are roughly akin to those of an all-Chicago World Series. She knows of four pioneer women who have called balls and strikes in professional baseball before her, none of whom ever got a whiff of major-league coffee.

The best known of her predecessors, Pam Postema, labored for 13 years in the obscurity of backwater minor-league venues, seven of them in Class AAA and four as a crew chief.

The story goes that then baseball commissioner Bart Giamatti was grooming Postema for the majors in 1989 and even promoted her to doing National League spring training games. But Giamatti suffered a fatal heart attack that year and Postema never got her call.

She gave up her quest in frustration.

Call it baseball's grass ceiling.

"From what I've heard, Pam was one of the best balls and strikes umpires around," said Cortesio recently, before working a Class A Midwest League contest here. "It's a shame she never got her shot. I heard she's a mechanic in Ohio, now."

Cortesio, 24, knows what the stereotype of a baseball umpire is and she knows she is not it.

"When people think of an umpire, they think of dirty, grouchy, fat old men."

She stands as a living, breathing breaker of the mold. She's everything that umpires aren't supposed to be - clean, young and sleek.

"I just want to be an umpire," she said. "Not a female umpire, just an umpire."

Cortesio, who was raised in a small farming community in Iowa near the Quad Cities, grew up playing sandlot baseball with her cousins. When she was old enough to drive, she started going to Quad City River Bandits games in Davenport.

"I always loved baseball, but I knew I could never play it professionally," she said. "Isn't it ironic that they call it "America's Pastime" yet 50% of the population is excluded from playing the game? I don't consider softball an alternative - I think it's a joke.

"We started going to River Bandits games in 1993, the year their stadium got flooded and they had to play their games on local high school diamonds," Cortesio explained. "The umpires had to change (clothes) in their cars because there were no locker rooms, so we would go up to them and talk with them.

"We talked with every crew that came through and the more I talked with them, the more interested I got in the lifestyle. I guess I liked the part about traveling so much.

"One of them told me about umpire school and I decided to look into it."

Following dreams
Cortesio eventually enrolled in the Jim Evans Umpire School in Florida in 1996 at the age of 19. After finishing in the top 10% of her class, she was assigned to the Pioneer League, which has teams in Utah, Montana and Idaho.

She spent two years there, earning a promotion to the Class A Midwest League this year. She is one of 14 full-time umpires (seven two-person teams) employed by the league.

She and partner Scott McClellan of Fort Wayne, Ind., will spend the summer traversing the Midwest, calling games in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and Michigan. The league includes Brewers affiliate Beloit (Snappers), and the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, based in Appleton.

By all accounts, things have gone smoothly for Cortesio in all aspects of the challenge.

"It's gone real smoothly, but of course that's subject to change at any time," Cortesio said. "I expected things to be a lot worse because I read Pam Postema's book and the abuse she went through.

"But I think times have changed, luckily for me. These guys just want to get on base, score a run, get to the majors - just like me. They don't care what sex you are.

Although Cortesio claims she never has had a player or coach make a sexist comment to her, she has felt an underpinning of resentment.

"Nobody has ever said anything to me outright, but there have been a couple managers who you could tell didn't want me on the field. My thinking is that's their problem, not mine.

While most managers and players seem willing to give Cortesio the benefit of the doubt, there are traces of resentment below the surface.

"I don't comment on any umpires until I make out my report at the end of the year," brusquely stated Russ Morman, manager of the Kane County Cougars, when asked to assess Cortesio's work.

Favorable impression
But Cedar Rapids Kernels manager Tyrone Boykin is not only tolerant of Cortesio's effort, he is supportive.

"From what I've seen she handles herself with a lot of poise behind the plate," Boykin said. "She's a female in a male's world, but she does as good a job as any I've seen.

"It's sad that there haven't been many female umpires because I'm sure there are others who would like to be given the opportunity. We should all treat her like she should be treated - and that's like an umpire."

For McClellan's part, his partnership with Cortesio has worked out just fine.

"When they told me I would be paired with a woman, I knew it would be different," said McClellan, who like Cortesio is in his first season in the Midwest League. "But I didn't have any expectations. I decided to judge for myself and I think she's doing really good.

"I haven't heard any of the players complain about her, about anything out of the ordinary."

It may be a more enlightened world from when Postema and the other female pioneer umpires tried to get into baseball in the '70s and '80s, but Cortesio understands her chances of ever working a game at Miller Park still are slim at best.

"Why should I be discouraged because the others (women) didn't make it?" she said. "There are 13 other umpires in this league and the odds of any of us ever making it to the big leagues aren't good.

"Maybe the other women had the talent to make it. . . .maybe they didn't. I don't know; I wasn't there.

"I just know I'm going to give it my best shot and we'll see what happens."

__________________________________________________ _______________

Women become lawyers, doctors, surgoens, teachers, physicists, astronauts and astronomers, CEOs, CFOs, presidents of companies, engineers, firefighters, paramedics, healers, professors, etc., etc., etc.; yet, many people still think that women aren't capable of becoming umpires and playing baseball.

We also go through childbirth. There are things that are harder to get through than that, but umpiring isn't one of them.

[tonypug]

Thanks, glad to hear from someone with umpire contacts. How often are Double -A umps given the boot? How many either move up or are canned after five years? Would be interesting to get your input about the job security of minor league umps.

Below the AAA level, minor league ups have very little job security. An umpire graduating from umpire school, is hopeful to get placed in any level. It has also become very political and not how good you are but who you know. You are starting to see sons , grandsons and other relatives of former umpires making it to the big leagues very quickly these days. You would think in this day and age baseball would be out working hard to recruit female umpires, and that just isn't being done. I have worked with female umpires and have found the ones I have worked with to be as good as any male partner I have worked with. They do however get a lot more crap from managers and players and that is something that is tough to deal with. I have sent out a couple of E-Mails ionquiring about Cortesio, I'll let you know if I hear anything.

[Brian McKenna]

Below the AAA level, minor league ups have very little job security.


This is what I thought.

The situation is probably much worse today than decades ago when considering that about 150 minor league teams are feeding 30 ML franchise - in the 1950s over 800 minor league teams were feeding 16 ML teams.

It has also become very political and not how good you are but who you know.

Things have always been that way throughout the business world - it's extremely frustrating for those who don't have those "ins."

[tonypug]

This is what I thought.

The situation is probably much worse today than decades ago when considering that about 150 minor league teams are feeding 30 ML franchise - in the 1950s over 800 minor league teams were feeding 16 ML teams.



Things have always been that way throughout the business world - it's extremely frustrating for those who don't have those "ins."

Yes, but nepotism is still nepotism.

[Brian McKenna]

How many women are completing the approved umpiring schools, percentage-wise? It would be logical to suggest that if say 5% are woman than roughly 5% of people entering organized baseball through these schools should be female. Currently, I believe the ratio lies at about 0.0%.

Since it's been established that AA and below umps are constantly in jeopardy for their jobs, it seems to me that the better question here is not why Cortesio was canned but why she didn't make it to Triple-A?

[tonypug]

I received some answers to my inquiries. The Professional Baseball Umpires Association hires, promotes and fires umpires up through AA. There is very little movement on the major league level, with most umpires having a long career. PBUC, isn't looking for career minor league umpires and in order to keep young fresh umpires in the system, releases 50-75 umpires each season. If they don't feel an umpire is ready for AAA after being in the lower minors for 6-8 years, those umpires are the candidates to be released. Apparently it was felt that Cortesio didn't have the necessary qualities to go higher then AA.

[Brian McKenna]

I received some answers to my inquiries. The Professional Baseball Umpires Association hires, promotes and fires umpires up through AA. There is very little movement on the major league level, with most umpires having a long career. PBUC, isn't looking for career minor league umpires and in order to keep young fresh umpires in the system, releases 50-75 umpires each season. If they don't feel an umpire is ready for AAA after being in the lower minors for 6-8 years, those umpires are the candidates to be released. Apparently it was felt that Cortesio didn't have the necessary qualities to go higher then AA.

That's interesting stuff. Who decides which umps make it to Triple-A - Major League Baseball? Do they then become property of MLB? Any related info would be most helpful. Thanks.

[NotAboutEgo]

I received some answers to my inquiries. The Professional Baseball Umpires Association hires, promotes and fires umpires up through AA. There is very little movement on the major league level, with most umpires having a long career. PBUC, isn't looking for career minor league umpires and in order to keep young fresh umpires in the system, releases 50-75 umpires each season. If they don't feel an umpire is ready for AAA after being in the lower minors for 6-8 years, those umpires are the candidates to be released. Apparently it was felt that Cortesio didn't have the necessary qualities to go higher then AA.

That's interesting, since Cortesio was considered good enough to umpire an MLB exhibition game. They had to have thought she's good enough to have been considered for it. I don't know how that game turned out, in terms of umpiring, but from what has been said, she was at the top at her level, then she got canned. I don't know the details, but even if you are trying to keep the umpire crews fresh, it seems that someone who's at the top would stick around longer. Did her partner get canned, too? Out of the others who get canned year after year, how many of them are considered the tops umpires at their level?

Judging from the quality (or lack there of) of umpires at the MLB level, maybe MLB needs to start promoting more minor league umpires. I think the overall, collective umpiring of MLB is truly horrible now days.

But, in order for that to happen, both MLB and the minors need to change their status of being good ole' boys organizations. Who knows if that will ever happen.

[tonypug]

That's interesting, since Cortesio was considered good enough to umpire an MLB exhibition game. They had to have thought she's good enough to have been considered for it. I don't know how that game turned out, in terms of umpiring, but from what has been said, she was at the top at her level, then she got canned. I don't know the details, but even if you are trying to keep the umpire crews fresh, it seems that someone who's at the top would stick around longer. Did her partner get canned, too? Out of the others who get canned year after year, how many of them are considered the tops umpires at their level?

Judging from the quality (or lack there of) of umpires at the MLB level, maybe MLB needs to start promoting more minor league umpires. I think the overall, collective umpiring of MLB is truly horrible now days.

But, in order for that to happen, both MLB and the minors need to change their status of being good ole' boys organizations. Who knows if that will ever happen.
Mlb is a good old boy network for sure. As I said the umpire ranks are full of nepotism. What actually happened in Cortesio's case is a mystery and nobody including Cortesio has shed any light on the situation. What I have talked about above are generalities, and what normally takes place. The questions you ask are very valid.How did she go from working an MLB exhibition game and be top ranked in her classification at the start of the season to being released at the end of the season. Probably the only one who can shed light on that is Cortesio herself.

[NotAboutEgo]

Mlb is a good old boy network for sure. As I said the umpire ranks are full of nepotism. What actually happened in Cortesio's case is a mystery and nobody including Cortesio has shed any light on the situation. What I have talked about above are generalities, and what normally takes place. The questions you ask are very valid.How did she go from working an MLB exhibition game and be top ranked in her classification at the start of the season to being released at the end of the season. Probably the only one who can shed light on that is Cortesio herself.

It will be interesting to see if any details come forth from Cortesio or other sources. Perhaps we will have to dig further with the contacts that some of us have.

[tonypug]

It will be interesting to see if any details come forth from Cortesio or other sources. Perhaps we will have to dig further with the contacts that some of us have.
I am exploring a couple of other options to find out more. One of my contacts did say however, until Cortesio herself speaks up, very little will be known. Certainly PBUC isn't going to elaborate.