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Atlanta – Baseball fans don’t really (or actually) cheer for UMP. But when the stadium announcer introduced the referee before Saturday brave– Marlin game, crowds are crazy. Because Jen Pawol took first base, he became the first female referee in Major League Baseball history.
“Dreams come true, just like today’s dreams come true,” Pavor said in the opening game where the Braves beat the Marlins 7-1. “I still live in it and I am so grateful to my family, creating such a great working environment to Major League Baseball (MLB) for the referees who worked with me – our friendship is amazing.
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Archives – Home plate referee Jen Pawol served his first position in a spring training baseball game between the Houston Astros and the Miami Marlins in West Palm Beach, Florida on Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, file)
From the moment Pawol occupied the fields, the Atlanta crowd let her know that the occasion was important.
“It seems like a lot of people are starting to applaud and say my name,” she said. “That’s very intense, very, very excited.”
The milestone attracted fans from all over the world – including some who bought tickets at the last minute when they found Pawol was called. Long-term brave fan Karen SchulzWe are all dreamers. Go to Zhan!“Schultz will compare this historic moment to the time she watched Hank Aaron Break Babe Ruth’s historic home run record in 1974’s “Little TV.”
“I just think it represents the best people we are as Americans,” Schultz told Outkick. “It’s the American dream. A little girl, a little boy, grew up, really has a dream, working hard, the community supports them, they work hard and train them, and they win their place. She shouldn’t be doing this here, having all the obstacles in her way. But she wants to do it. Ten years, or when she’s sweating in this or longer, she needs to celebrate. “We need to celebrate.” ”
Another fan, Rodell Poole, wore the referee jersey and wore the game with Pawol’s honor.
“It’s unheard of, and it should have happened a long time ago,” Poole told Outkick. “I’m so glad it happened in Atlanta and we need to come here to support her and let her know, hey, we want her to have a great career and keep doing it.”
Some people in the meeting knew that Pawol knew long before her name made national headlines. Ed Novy, a referee and friend of Pawol for nearly 15 years, took his last trip from New Jersey when she received the call.
“She’s always good at this,” Novy told Outkick. “She was dedicated. She worked hard. Obviously, she was very good. If she didn’t do that, she wouldn’t be here now…I’m excited and proud of her, call her a friend and see her here.”
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Referee Jen Pawol strikes during a spring training match between the Philadelphia Phillies and Miami Marlins on March 16, 2024 at Roger Dean Stadium, Florida. (Rich Storry/Getty Images)
The players also felt inspired by Pawol’s historical moments. Braves founding pitcher Hurston Waldrep, who met Pawol several times on Triple-A ball, called it “really cool” to see her in the major leagues.
“I can’t imagine how difficult it was for her to leave, you know?” Valdrep said. “Everyone might tell her that it’s impossible. They should do a lot of it. It’s cool for her.”
Brave manager Brian Snitker measured Pawol’s debut by the standards he used in catchers: “If you leave the court and you don’t remember who the catcher is, they might do a great job,” he said, too.
Snitker said seriously: “Any time someone works hard in a minor league…I don’t care who it is, you hang out, it’s a tough job…they’re traveling, what they go through and everything. I’m glad anyone sticks it and works through such a career and has the opportunity to be where they want it.”
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Major League Baseball referee Jen Pawol walked on March 16, 2024 at the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, Florida during the MLB spring training game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Miami Marlins at the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. (Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Pavor said she felt the love of the entire referee community, fans and women on the trails in front of her. But now, it’s back to grinding. Pawol will be the third base referee in the second game of the double Saturday night, before she will compete in the series on Sunday.
“We’re going there now. We have to do that and make some calls,” Paval said. “It’s incredible that today’s dream comes true.”
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