Pam Postema
Encyclopedia
Pam Postema is a baseball
umpire
most notable for being the first female to ever officiate a Major League Baseball
spring training
game. For her unique contributions to the game, she was inducted into the Baseball Reliquary
Shrine of the Eternals in 2000.
Postema first applied to the Al Somers Umpire School, now the Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School
, in 1976, and after rejecting her twice, the school admitted her. In 1977, Postema received an offer for a job in the rookie Gulf Coast League
. She spent two years there, after which she had two year stints in both single-A and double-A, becoming the first female to umpire at those levels, before being promoted to triple-A baseball in the Pacific Coast League
. During her six years at the AAA level, Postema was looked highly upon by many players, although other players objected to the notion of a female umpire.
Although often considered a prospect for major league umpiring, Pam Postema never received the call until 1988, when Baseball Commissioner
Bart Giamatti offered her a contract to officiate at the MLB level during spring training. Later that year, Giamatti also offered her a chance to umpire at the "Hall of Fame Game" between the New York Yankees
and the Atlanta Braves
. Both opportunities looked promising, but Giamatti died soon thereafter in 1989, and Postema never again got the chance to umpire in the major leagues. In December of 1989, the Triple-A Alliance cancelled Postema's contract after 13 years of well-regarded experience in the minor leagues. She then filed a sex-discrimination lawsuit at the federal level, which was settled out of court.
In 1992, Postema published a book entitled You've Gotta Have Balls to Make It In This League. Following her umpiring career, she worked as a trucker, a factory worker, and later a welder, but quit in order to take care of her father, who was afflicted with Alzheimer's disease
. On March 29, 2007, Ria Cortesio
became the second female umpire to work a Major League spring training game.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
umpire
Umpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
most notable for being the first female to ever officiate a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
game. For her unique contributions to the game, she was inducted into the Baseball Reliquary
Baseball Reliquary
The Baseball Reliquary is a nonprofit, educational organization "dedicated to fostering an appreciation of American art and culture through the context of baseball history and to exploring the national pastime’s unparalleled creative possibilities." The Reliquary was founded in 1996 in Monrovia,...
Shrine of the Eternals in 2000.
Postema first applied to the Al Somers Umpire School, now the Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School
Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School
The Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School is one of two schools training umpires for professional baseball. It is located in Ormond Beach, Florida. It runs for five weeks each early January through early February...
, in 1976, and after rejecting her twice, the school admitted her. In 1977, Postema received an offer for a job in the rookie Gulf Coast League
Gulf Coast League
The Gulf Coast League is a minor league baseball league which operates in Florida. It is a Rookie League, with a season running from mid-June to late August. The season is 60 games long and teams in the league are divided into three divisions, East, North and South...
. She spent two years there, after which she had two year stints in both single-A and double-A, becoming the first female to umpire at those levels, before being promoted to triple-A baseball in the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. During her six years at the AAA level, Postema was looked highly upon by many players, although other players objected to the notion of a female umpire.
Although often considered a prospect for major league umpiring, Pam Postema never received the call until 1988, when Baseball Commissioner
Baseball Commissioner
The Commissioner of Baseball is the chief executive of Major League Baseball and its associated minor leagues. Under the direction of the Commissioner, the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball hires and maintains the sport's umpiring crews, and negotiates marketing, labor, and television contracts...
Bart Giamatti offered her a contract to officiate at the MLB level during spring training. Later that year, Giamatti also offered her a chance to umpire at the "Hall of Fame Game" between the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
and the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
. Both opportunities looked promising, but Giamatti died soon thereafter in 1989, and Postema never again got the chance to umpire in the major leagues. In December of 1989, the Triple-A Alliance cancelled Postema's contract after 13 years of well-regarded experience in the minor leagues. She then filed a sex-discrimination lawsuit at the federal level, which was settled out of court.
In 1992, Postema published a book entitled You've Gotta Have Balls to Make It In This League. Following her umpiring career, she worked as a trucker, a factory worker, and later a welder, but quit in order to take care of her father, who was afflicted with Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
. On March 29, 2007, Ria Cortesio
Ria Cortesio
Ria Cortesio is a former American baseball umpire, working games at the Double A level. On March 29, 2007, she became the first woman since Pam Postema in 1989 to work a Major league exhibition game, serving alternately as the first and third base umpire in a spring training game between the...
became the second female umpire to work a Major League spring training game.