36-year-old Justine Siegal was the first woman to pitch for Major League Baseball’s Cleveland Indians at spring training batting practice this Monday. Although she now lives in Springfield, Massachusetts, she grew up in Cleveland rooting for the Indians.
Justine is the Founder and Executive Director of Baseball for All “a nonprofit organization that provides meaningful opportunities and instruction in baseball, especially for girls. Baseball For All envisions a day when girls will have the same opportunities as boys to compete in baseball at every level of play” (www.baseballforall.com). She was the first woman to coach a men’s professional baseball team in 2009 and is currently the only woman who is coaching baseball at a college level.
Justine wore a patch on the sleeve of her Indian’s jersey Monday to honor 9-year-old Christina Taylor Green who was the only girl on her little league team and was killed in the January 8th shooting in Tucson, Arizona. Today, she will be pitching for the Oakland Athletics.
Following Baseball for All’s mission, Justine is making history in baseball and is truly inspirational for all baseball players, regardless of gender.
[Picture from New York Times article “Advocate for Women in Baseball Finally Gets To Be One”]
