Who is Jen Pawol? West Milford native makes history as first MLB female umpire

northjersey.com ^ | Aug. 9,2025 | John Connolly and David M. Zimmer

[kawhill]

West Milford's Jen Pawol made history Saturday afternoon in Atlanta. The former standout catcher from North Jersey became the first female umpire to work a Major League Baseball regular season game.

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TOPICS: History; Society; Sports
KEYWORDS: baseball; history; society; sports; triggeredmales; umpire

[T.B. Yoits]

Why is this “history”? Is there a difference in the way females call the game compared to the way a male calls the game?

Yes. It's about "feelings".

[Varsity Flight]

“Take me out to the ball game”
“Take me out today”
“ Peanuts, and popcorn, and crackerjacks, and female umpire”
“ I can’t wait till I never get back”

(Wait a minute, that doesn’t rhyme at all, something’s off, way off)🧬🕸️

[Varsity Flight]

A Umpire of Their Own

(Oh, wait a minute,A League of Their Own)🧬🕸️👀

[kenmcg]

Woman should not be MLB umpires. How can a player or mgr. cuss out a lady ump.

[stanne]

Just an observation

[HandyDandy]

Years ago when I would play catch with my son I would throw the ball to him and he would throw it back and then I would throw it back to him. This would go on until it got too dark out. When I would throw the ball to my daughter she would hold onto it and start talking. As if having the ball in hand gave her the floor. I would end up begging her to throw the ball back to me. Even when the three of us played catch, she would take the opportunity to command our attention whenever the ball ended up in her hands. I can’t explain it, I just know that’s the way it was.

[sit-rep]

why the hell cant they be happy with who they are?...

[Varsity Flight]

Women preserve.

Men produce.

[tina07]

I graduated from West Milford HS in 1974...but don’t know her of course. Many are happy for her, time will tell how she does I guess.

[HandyDandy]

I’ll accept that. Best explanation I’ve heard yet. I just know beyond any shadow of a doubt that boys and girls are different.

[equaviator]

How fans of MLB are supposed to be celebrating this I have no idea. What can I do, show her the love? I don’t think so.

[MinorityRepublican]

But I don’t see baseball umpire as being on that list. If this Pawol person is competent and not just a DEI hire, then I wish her well.

FWIW, baseball is a better fit for a female umpire than either football or basketball.

Just a general observation, it appears that in the WNBA, there is an issue with the female referees being passive. Male referees appear to be better even though they are all underpaid.

[Dr. Franklin]

How fans of MLB are supposed to be celebrating this I have no idea. What can I do, show her the love? I don’t think so.

The old joke was that the devil called St. Peter for Hell to challenge Heaven to a game of baseball. St. Peter replied, "We have all of the best players to ever play the game here." To which the devil replied, "Yes, but we have all of the umpires!" The game is going to Hell.