Ria Cortesio has a dream, and that dream is to be a professional umpire in MLB. She will get the chance on Thursday to call a big league exhibition game between the Diamondbacks and the Cubbies. She will be the first woman since Pam Postema to call a big league exhibition game. No woman has ever called a game or been an umpire in MLB ever. She hopes to change that.
â€I’m looking forward to it. There will be a lot more people in the stands than I’m used to. I was kind of expecting it. Umpires with my seniority usually get picked. I don’t do this job to get on TV. But I hope it will raise the awareness a little.”
Cortesio started out in the Pioneer League back in 1999. For those of you who don’t know, minor league umpires don’t make shit for money. She started out making $1800 a month plus $34 a day meal money and 33 cents a mile. That’s right they don’t fly. If I remember correctly, the only leagues that minor league umpires fly in are the International League (AAA), Pacific Coast League (AAA) and Texas League (AA).
She is now going into her 5th season in Double-A ball. She will be back in the Southern League again and is the first person up for promotion to Triple-A. Let’s hope Lou Pinella is on his best behavior on Thursday.
