Pacifics to Make History with Woman Manager
May 19, 2016 - Pacific Association (PA)
San Rafael Pacifics News Release
Never in the history of men's professional baseball has a team been managed by a woman. Until this summer.
image1 3The San Rafael Pacifics Baseball Club announced today that, for the first time in the history of men's professional baseball, a woman will take the reins as manager of the team for two games this June. Former Oakland A's coach Justine Siegal has agreed to join the Pacifics as their skipper on June 29th and 30th against the Sonoma Stompers.
"Justine will be making history for the game of baseball and for the ongoing efforts to provide opportunities for women and girls to play baseball," said Pacifics President and General Manager Mike Shapiro. "Women are oftentimes discouraged from playing baseball at a young age and we hope that these two games will help young women and girls to pursue their baseball dreams."
Siegal, who founded the national organization "Baseball for All," has previously made baseball history by becoming the first woman coach in a Major League system when she joined the Oakland Athletics as a guest instructor during the club's 2015 instructional league and when she was the first woman to be hired as a coach when she served as first-base coach for the Broxton Rox in 2009. Siegal also served as an assistant coach for Springfield College's baseball team from 2008-2010.
"I am honored to serve as a guest Manager for the San Rafael Pacifics," said Siegal. "We will be going for the win while demonstrating that baseball really is a game for all."
The event, created in partnership with the Marin Women's Commission and AT&T, will mark the second Justinestraight year where the Pacifics have created events to bring gender equality into baseball's national discussion. Last year, on "Throw Like a Girl Night," the Pacifics signed pitcher Oz Sailors, who became the first woman to don a Pacifics uniform. This year the theme will be "Women Run the Show," with Siegal serving as the team's skipper.
"We want the "?Throw Like a Girl' brand to become an annual fixture at Pacifics games," said Marin Women's Commission District 2 Commissioner Cecilia Zamora. "Women are discouraged from pursuing their dreams in many aspects of life, and we hope that "?Throw Like a Girl' can help provide real life, inspirational examples of women who followed their dreams and succeeded."
The Pacifics begin their 2016 season with an exhibition game at Albert Park against the Pittsburg Diamonds on Thursday, May 26th at 7:05, and will play their home opener on June 7th against Pittsburg, with Grateful Dead Bassist Phil Lesh tabbed to sing the Star Spangled Banner.
For tickets or more information, please visit www.pacificsbaseball.com or call 415-485-1563.
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Pacific Association Stories from May 19, 2016
- Miyoshi Back as Manager for 2016 - Sonoma Stompers
- Stompers Back for Spring - Sonoma Stompers
- Stompers Santos Saldivar Signed by Milwaukee Brewers - Sonoma Stompers
- Pacifics to Make History with Woman Manager - San Rafael Pacifics
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