Post Postema

While Major League Baseball has never witnessed a woman umpiring an official regular season game, it is crawling towards that historic moment courtesy of Ria Cortesio, currently a AA league umpire in the Southern League. However, the majors are paying attention, giving Cortesio the nod for the All-Star Futures Game at PNC Park on Sunday. Cortesio was excited, but stated rather humbly:

Until I work a regular-season Major League baseball game, I haven't done anything. I don't want to be a pioneer. I just want to do my job.

Of course, Cortesio isn't the first woman to ump in professional baseball. The best prospect for MLB success was Pam Postema in the 1980s, who was royally screwed out of a well deserved post in the majors. Having been denied the privilege of watching Postema call balls and strikes, we can at least read her witty, revealing memoir You've Got to Have Balls to Make It in This League.

Some day it'll happen for real. And, Jesus Christ, why not? As Cubs star Derrek Lee says:

It's awesome. I think it's about time. Female eyes are as good as male eyes. Why can't they be umpires?