Batter Up!

Ever since I’ve been a baseball fan, I’ve secretly wanted to be an umpire. Not because the facemask and chest protector are especially flattering, but because of othe power – to call the game, to scrutinize the plays up close…I also thought I’d be good at it. I love the signs and signals, the signature grunts and bellows that identify each umpire, and one in particular, who spirals up his right arm while growling something that sounds like, “hyuuuuuuuuuuppppppp!” to signify each strike.

But today, another woman gets that chance. Today marks a milestone in baseball history. This afternoon, for the first time in nearly 20 years, a female umpire will work an exhibition major league baseball game.

Ria Cortesio, who will start the season in double-A ball, is set to ump today’s spring training game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago Cubs in Mesa, Arizona.

This hasn’t happened since Pam Postema called an exhibition game in 1989. But she only made it as far as spring training for two seasons before she was given her walking papers. And before that, in one of the greatest mysteries in baseball, Bernice Gera fought her way to become the first female umpire in professional baseball when she worked a New York-Penn League (single A) game on June 24, 1972, She then, promptly, resigned and never umped again..

However Cortesio, 30, seems in it to stay. Currently the only woman umpire in professional baseball, she’s starting her ninth year overall and her fifth in AA ball.

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

Cubs reliever Scott Eyre also liked the choice.

"I could care less. [if she’s male or female] If she can call a game, she can call a game."

However this will not be Cortesio’s first appearance on a big-league field. She worked some of the All-Star exhibitions last year in Pittsburgh, and also worked the Home Run Derby.

Although she began her career in baseball’s Pioneer League, she doesn't see herself as a pioneer in a male-dominated profession.

"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 also earned one of baseball’s uncelebrated badges of honor – criticism by New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. He complained about her strike zone after she umped a game thrown by Roger Clemens when he was in the Florida State league recuperating from an injury.

Also an instructor at the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring, this year she’s in line for a promotion to Triple A ball and has major league aspirations. Although a move to Triple A would give her a chance to be evaluated by major league supervisors, it puts her in no greater stead than a Double A ump to be drafted to the majors, as a Double A player has a greater chance of being picked up than an umpire.

Still, this is a great milestone for her and I hope it inspires more women to follow in her cleat-prints.

Read more about Rita at the Pioneer League's web site.