Female Umpires in MLB?

[NetShrine]

Will it ever happen? How long? Here's a prospect on the farm:

Midwest League Gets Female Umpire
April 5, 2001
AP

BELOIT, Wis. (AP) Ria Cortesio, minor league baseball's first female umpire in 10 years, was promoted from the Pioneer League to the Midwest League.

The 24-year-old Cortesio, who lives in Rock Island, Ill., is the fifth woman who has umpired in the minors.

She attended Rice University before enrolling in the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring in 1996. She returned to Rice, where she majored in sports management.

"You don't find a lot of women in baseball umpiring," said George Spelius, president of the Beloit-based Midwest League. "She's good enough to get at this level."

The Midwest League, with 14 teams in six states, opens its 140-game season this week.

[Jen]

I don't see why it shouldn't happen. Mothers have been playing umpire since time began, and as long as she's qualified, why not?
Is there really any argument against this? Women might be better at admitting that they made a lousy call, less machismo clouding her vision...but she might also feel like she has "something to prove", and from my personal dealings with women in mostly-male professions, that's not always a good thing either. (Example: Ever been stopped by a female Highway Patrol? I rest my case.)

[NetShrine]

Well, just like the 1st ump to wear glasses, and the first black ump (who used to hear crap like "Lincoln was shot way too late"), the 1st lady ump should have a thick skin...............'cause she's gonna hear some nasty stuff during fights.

And, it will bring cause for separate dressing rooms and showers - yes, the umps get to have a locker and shower too.

Probably, some of the wives of umps will moan about these ladies being on the road with their hubbies - - - office romances do happen...............

.........this all said, the 1st one (just like Jackie Robinson) will need to be a special one (meaning she'll be able to handle all aspects of it).

[BuzzBuzzard]

The NBA began using female refs three seasons ago if memory serves correctly with relatively little incident. If they were capable of handling the players, I would argue that the insertion of women umps into baseball would be relatively easy. I think their biggest challenge would be dealing with the fans more than the players and managers.

[NetShrine]

Good point about the NBA.

How does it work there? (I don't follow basketball.) Are the officals as much of the game as in baseball? For example, if you watch enough baseball games, you get to learn the ump's names, sometimes their faces, etc.

Plus, you attach things to them - - Richie Garcia blew the Jeff Maier call, etc.

Do they have that much exposure in hoops? If not, maybe that's why it - the introduction of females - worked there?

[BuzzBuzzard]

I am no student of the NBA either and can't address your question. My suspicion, though, is that for fans of the game, the same can be said of the tags put of refs that exist in MLB.

[ChrisCary]

Net,

The same is true for basketball, the only difference is that the season is half as long and that's half the amount of games to see the refs, also in basketball often blown calls aren't magnyfied becasue the action doesn't stop and something else happens before a non-call is blown out of proportion and Reggie Miller is being sent for a new diaper.

They may suffer scrutiny at the sart, it may be a novelty for some in the beginning, but as long as they do the job, they'll be fine.
in my opinion

[BuzzBuzzard]

I am with you, Chris. They will be fine.

Hey - and what upside if there happens to be a hottie amongst them. With no cheerleaders in MLB, what better distraction than a hot ump during a four hour game. Then again, if they all fit the current male umpire mold, I may have to stay home more often.

[Mexicani Blue]

You're a guy - right Buzzard???? I was with you all along until the "hottie" comment.

[Jen]

Maybe the upside to that comment, Blue, is that they'll be stuck wearing those totally unattractive umpire uniforms.

:confused:

[NetShrine]

Originally posted by BuzzBuzzard
Hey - and what upside if there happens to be a hottie amongst them.

Playboy would come a callin' with a fist full of cash........
.........then she would lose her job, too much of a distraction if you ask me............

[BuzzBuzzard]

This coming from the guy who was just talking about eye candy in another thread. Make up your mind.

[Jen]

Originally posted by NetShrine


Playboy would come a callin' with a fist full of cash........
.........then she would lose her job, too much of a distraction if you ask me............

Haha! Net, I like the way you think! Who needs the hassles! Jeez...

[mainsr]

Getting back to the NBA issue - I remember reading several years ago that women journalists said that NBA players were by far the most accomodating of the four major sports when they starting going into locker rooms. I think the other three sports were all awful.

No reason for there not to be female umps, as long as they're good. The problem is, how good an ump is is pretty subjective, and my guess is that it'll be used against women for years.

[NetShrine]

Originally posted by mainsr
Getting back to the NBA issue - I remember reading several years ago that women journalists said that NBA players were by far the most accomodating of the four major sports when they starting going into locker rooms. I think the other three sports were all awful.

That's cause most of the guys in the NBA have big hands and big feet - - - in the other sports, well, maybe they're just embarrassed to let someone from the other side see their unknown short comings?