The True Post (Web News) History was made in the world of baseball when Jane Powell served as the first female umpire in a regular season Major League Baseball game.
The game was the first of a doubleheader series between the Atlanta Braves and the Miami Marlins. Jane Powell made her debut as a first-base umpire**. The occasion was significant not only for her but also for the baseball world, as she became the first woman to break MLB’s historic gender divide.
Powell quietly finished the first inning, where Braves right-hander Hurston Waldrip struck out the first two batters, while the third was caught out at third base. After the inning, Powell checked Waldrip’s hands as required by the rules to ensure that no illegal substances were being used. During this time, Braves catcher Sean Murphy greeted her warmly.
Powell’s first major test came in the third inning when he declared Braves catcher Sean Murphy safe in a close decision, even though he appeared out on replay. However, Marlins manager Clayton McCullough did not challenge the decision. When Miami’s Xavier Edwards hit a double play, Powell announced the decision in a very emotional manner —
Powell will call pitches from home plate in Sunday’s final game, considered the most important position for any umpire. As the umpires entered the field before the game, a large number of media cameramen and photographers were there to capture their historic moment. Braves bench coach Walt Weiss and Marlins manager McCullough welcomed them onto the field, while they shook hands with first base coach Tyler Smarslak and took their positions. This historic step by Jane Powell is not only a milestone for **female inclusion** in the game, but also a positive sign towards gender equality in a male-dominated sport like MLB.
