by Atlanta (AP) As the first female umpire to officiate a major league regular-season game, Jen Pawol experienced love and support from her coworkers, family, fans, and players.
“When we took the field, it was incredible,” Pawol remarked. Many individuals appeared to be clapping and yelling my name. That was quite passionate and dramatic.
In the opening game of the Atlanta Braves vs. Miami Marlins split doubleheader on Saturday, Pawol made his eagerly awaited debut as the first base umpire. The debut went smoothly.
According to Braves manager Brian Snitker, she performed admirably. She obviously understands what she’s doing.
According to Pawol, she was at the game with a group of roughly thirty friends and family members, including her father, and she saw right once that working in a major league stadium was very different. It was difficult to locate those well-known faces at Truist Park.
According to Pawol, when I looked them up, they weren’t in the minor leagues or anything. It took me a long time to look it up. They’re up there, whoa! I will always remember that. That was simply fantastic.
Today, the dream did indeed come true. I still reside there. I’m really appreciative of my family and Major League Baseball for fostering such a fantastic workplace. I simply feel so grateful.
When she pronounced Braves catcher Sean Murphy safe on a close play in the third inning of Atlanta’s 7-1 victory, it was Pawol’s first major test. Clayton McCullough, manager of the Marlins, did not contest the call.
Additionally, Pawol demonstrated her ability to make animated calls. Xavier Edwards of Miami grounded into a double play in the third inning, and when Pawol called him out, she elevated her leg and pumped her fist.
Pawol couldn’t help but notice that people were paying close attention to her debut. The umpire was forced to peek at her image as the video board focused on her in between innings, and the fans responded with a hearty ovation.
In the second game of the doubleheader, Pawol worked third base. When she calls pitches behind the plate in the series’ final game on Sunday, she will be the center of attention. She will then be waiting for her next task as a rover.
The umpire cap she wore in her first game will be traveling to the Baseball Hall of Fame while she waits.
According to crew chief Chris Guccione, this is one of my finest moments of my career. I’ve had the good fortune to work playoffs, two World Series, and All-Star games, and this is on par with those. The thought of it chills me to the bone. Additionally, the enormity of this situation and the amount of effort she has put in just dawned on me.
I’m so pleased of her since she is an amazing role model for women and girls everywhere. This is a unique occasion. I’m so proud of her.
Her historic debut on Saturday was eagerly awaited. Waiting for the umpires to enter the field from their entry ramp close to the Marlins dugout, a group of photographers gathered.
Before the game, lineups were switched at home plate, and Pawol was greeted by McCullough and Braves bench coach Walt Weiss. The first base line was then jogged down by Pawol. Before taking her place on the right field line for the first pitch, she shook hands with Tyler Smarslok, the first base coach for the Marlins.
Thursday, PawolsaidWhen she learned that she would be making her Major League Baseball debut this weekend, she became extremely emotional.
Since being assigned to the Gulf Coast League in 2016, Pawol, 48, has been employed in the minor leagues. She worked spring training games in 2024 and this year, and she was given the Triple-A championship game in 2023.
Snitker stated, “I don’t care who it is, it’s a tough thing anytime anybody grinds their way through the minor leagues.” I’m pleased for anyone who perseveres.
When asked if she would be ready to approach a manager who is furious with a call—including some who have a reputation for kicking dirt into umpires—Pawol replied that it wouldn’t be the first time.
She stated, “More than dozens of times.” For him, things don’t go very well. For him, the night is usually over. It is merely a component of the game.
Pawol, a native of New Jersey, had just a few days to get ready for the doubleheader on Saturday. She said that on a conference call with vice president of umpire operations Matt McKendry and director of umpire development Rich Rieker on Wednesday, she was informed of her long-awaited promotion.
At Hofstra, Pawol was selected to the all-conference softball team three times. From 2010 to 2016, she served as an NCAA softball umpire.
Pawol’s ascent to prominence in MLB occurred ten years after the NFL hired its first full-time female official and twenty-eight years after the NBA cracked the gender barrier for game officials. Three years ago, the World Cup of men’s soccer employed its first female referee. There have never been any female on-ice officials in the NHL.
