Trailblazing Major League Umpire Just Made Herstory
When you go to a major league baseball game, the umpires have all been men, at least up until now. History was just made on Saturday, August 9, 2025, when the first female umpire worked a regular-season game.
AP News reported that this long-anticipated debut had Jen Pawol, 48, a New Jersey native, take the field as the first base umpire for a doubleheader between the Atlanta Braves and the Miami Marlins at Truist Park.
While Pawol has been working in the minor leagues since 2016, she also worked Triple-A- Championship games since 2023 and spring training games for the past two years. Still, it was quite a shock when she received notice that she would make her Major League debut.
An Extraordinary Day
Pawol brought around 30 friends and family to the game, but she immediately saw the differences between minor and Major League stadiums. It was difficult for her to find them.
“When I looked up they weren’t in the lower tier like in the minor leagues,” Pawol told AP “When I looked up it took me a while. Whoa, they’re up there! I’ll never forget that. That was just awesome.”
The atmosphere was also quite different from what she expected. When Pawol entered the stadium people were cheering, clapping and calling her name. This shows a growing popularity for women in sports.
She said, “The dream actually came true today. I’m still living in it. I’m so grateful to my family and Major League Baseball for creating such an incredible work environment. … I’m just so thankful.”
A Highly Skilled Umpire
Pawol showed she had the right stuff and made some difficult calls like when she called the Braves catcher Sean Murphy safe on a close play during the third inning. She also made some animated calls that the crowds loved.
The goal of an umpire is to not have a big impact on the game, according to MLB, the official news site about Major League Baseball. Wrong or disputed calls can impact a game and elicit players’ complaints, but none were forthcoming on Saturday.
“I think Jen did a really nice job. I think she was very composed back there. She handled and managed the game very well. And big day for her, big day for Major League Baseball,” Clayton McCullough, the Marlins manager told MLB.
Right now, Pawol is a rover and not a permanent Major League umpire, but she has proved her worth, reported AP. The umpire cap she wore in her first game will be displayed in the Baseball Hall of Fame. She certainly made herstory.
