Female ump to work exhibition in majors

[MaineDem]

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.

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/articles/2007/03/27/female_ump_to_work_mlb_exhibition_game/

Over 15 years since a woman ump worked a game in the majors. This is a long time coming.

[bmbmd]

1. Go, girl.

Don't take any lip from those guys.

[LisaM]

2. Good! Let's see if MLB is up to the challenge

Years ago I had some roommates who umped softball. One of them was gay, and the crap she had to take from some of the men's teams was fierce.

[Bluzmann57]

3. And she's from Rock Island, IL

Which is where I was born and still live in the area. Sounds like she did good.

[Reverend_Smitty]

4. I'm so glad to see women break into positions in professional sports...

There is no good reason why a woman can't be a MLB umpire or member of the medical staff or whatever so it's great to see stuff like this happening. I know there is a female referee in the NBA, she's been there for a few years now and she's doing her job quite well.

[Forkboy]

5. I can't imagine a single reason why a woman couldn't do that.

Or a ref in any other sport either.

[Counciltucky]

6. If she's as competent as any male umpire, she should have a chance. n/t

[Bluzmann57]

7. Hell, there are male umps who shouldn't be there

I won't mention any names but there are some umpires who simply are not qualified(imo) to be MLB umps. Strike zones about three feet off the plate, second basemen and shortstops getting in the vicinity of the bag and getting the out call on force outs, so on and so forth. Ms. Cortesio can do that.