A Long-Awaited Call: Jen Pawol's Umpiring Debut and the Legacy of Women in Officiating
The debut of Jen Pawol as the first female umpire in a Major League Baseball game is an emotional feat, but it's a milestone that stands on the shoulders of a pioneer: Bernice Gera. Fifty years ago, Gera fought a relentless battle for the same opportunity, setting the stage for more inclusivity in sports.
Jen Pawol makes a call during the game between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves (Todd Kirkland/Getty)
The Story of Bernice Gera
Bernice Gera worked as a secretary, but a lifelong passion for baseball fueled her aspirations to work with a major league organization. After countless rejections, she decided to go for it and set her sights on becoming an umpire. She was originally accepted into the Al Somers School for Umpires, but her offer was rescinded after Somers realized that she was a woman. Her spirits were still high, and she enrolled in the Florida Baseball School. Still, unfortunately, she endured harassment by her male colleagues and even had to live in a motel because the program did not accommodate female students. Even after completing the program and receiving the proper certifications, she was still rejected by the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues. Their reasoning? She didn’t meet the physical requirements, which in itself shouldn’t be about height and weight, but instead general agility and stamina.
Bernice Gera poses after confirming receipt of an umpiring contract with the New York-Pennsylvania Class A Baseball League in 1969 (B Bennett/Getty)
But Bernice had already completed her training, so she wasn’t going to let it go to waste. She wrote letters, filed formal complaints, and after finally receiving justice, she was signed to a one-year contract for the minor leagues in April of 1972. She got what she wanted, but at what cost?
On June 24, 1972, Gera called her first and last game as a professional umpire. In what was an incorrect call that was quickly reversed, Auburn manager Nolan Campbell said to her, “You made two mistakes. The first mistake was that you should have stayed in the kitchen peeling potatoes.” Of course, Campbell doesn’t recall saying that. Regardless of his words, the message was clear. While Gera did get the last laugh by throwing him out of the game, Gera resigned after regulation, marking the end of her short-tenured career.
Gera’s Long-Standing Impact
Violet Palmer officiates a Cleveland Cavaliers game (Mark Duncan/AP Photo)
While her story ended quickly, Bernice Gera should be applauded for her bravery to advocate for herself when she knew nobody else would. To this day, we are seeing the ripple effect of her sacrifice and struggle. In 1997, Dee Kantner and Violet Palmer became the first female referees in the NBA, also marking the first women officials in any major U.S. professional men’s sport. While they were scouted by trailblazer Darell Garretson and his assistant, who helped start the first union for NBA referees, they were still victims of implicit bias. Yet, they embrace their roles and are glad that they were able to carry on Bernice Gera’s vision.
Sarah Thomas calling at Super Bowl LV (Mark Humphrey/AP Photo)
Sarah Thomas, the first full-time female referee for the NFL, offers a different perspective on this movement. She didn’t become an official with the intent of proving people wrong; she did it because it’s her passion. That principle shaped her upbringing, from trying out for the boys' basketball team in 5th grade to being voted out of a men’s league. Thomas always viewed outside noise as just that, noise.
Jen Pawol, who has been working in the minor leagues since 2016, received the call last Wednesday that she was promoted and would be umpiring the matchup between the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins. This moment was a long time coming, and it might’ve marked the first time that the fans applauded for the umpire. After her highly anticipated debut, she donated her cap to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, cementing her position in history.
Jenn Pawol Makes History
Jen Pawol calling her first MLB game this past weekend (Jordan Godfree/Imagn Images)
What lesson can we learn from these trailblazers? If you have a dream, don’t let anyone tell you that it’s not worth fighting for. If not for you, your efforts might have a lasting impact on someone else. Work tirelessly so that when your time comes, nobody can tell you it wasn’t earned.