0206 - Perry Barber
Perry Barber has been a professional and amateur baseball umpire since 1981. During our conversation, she referenced a handful of things and people upon which you may want to do more research. Consider this page to be your “liner notes” for the episode so you can follow along.
Me and Perry Barber after recording our interview in Port St. Lucie, Florida
With Brian Kenny
Perry Barber’s broadcast partner for the Hudson Valley Renegades in the New York Penn League went on to have a very successful career, appearing on ESPN and MLB Network for years.
Rule 2.00
Perry’s favorite rule in baseball’s rule book, which was added in 2006.
Twins With Their Mom
Photo from 1963
International Debutante Ball, 1972
Warren and Perry’s mother, Jaqueline, designed the dresses they wore.
Singer/Songwriter
Perry has been writing songs and performing for decades, having opened for acts such as Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, and Hall & Oates.
Catch A Rising Star
Richard Belzer, Pat Benatar, David Brenner at the famous New York comedy club
Ria Cortesio
On March 29, 2007, Ria Cortesio became the first woman since Pam Postema in 1989 to work a Major league exhibition game.
After being denied promotion for many years, she was released by Minor League Baseball on October 30, 2007.
Jim Evans Academy For Professional Umpiring
For 22 years, the Evans Academy was one of an elite few schools authorized to send top umpire student graduates to MiLB's Professional Baseball Umpire Corp for evaluation and potential placement in the minor leagues.
“The Umpire Stands Alone”
Ed Montague worked in the National League in 1974 and from 1976 to 1999, and officiated throughout both leagues between 2000 and 2009. The most senior active umpire in the major leagues at the time of his retirement, his 4,369 total games ranked eighth in major league history when he retired. He is one of only three umpires to serve as crew chief for the World Series four times.
Listen to Dutch Rennert's loud strike call on Kevin Mitchell during Game 4 of World Series, October 28, 1989.
Perry’s Mom
A strong, determined woman who was a great role model. It was after her suggestion when Perry decided to become an umpire.
An Umpire’s Job
To ensure that everybody at the baseball game has a safe place in which to enjoy it, either as a spectator or a participant.
Ejections
Believe it or not, most umpires aren’t looking to eject anyone. They aim to resolve all arguments amicably, so everyone can continue participating in the game (and so they don’t have to relive the incident after the game when they’re filling out the mandatory ejection reports).
Here is Perry justifying a phantom tag call to some Yankees during a game on *March 25, 1990.
*No one needed to be ejected, thanks to Perry’s handling of the situation.
The Umpire Stands Alone
This time, it’s not a song title. Perry had to umpire Little League games by herself when she first started in 1981, because the other umpires in the league didn’t want to be partnered with a woman.
At Umpire School in 1982
The Barber twins Perry (left) and Warren with umps Randy Marsh (left) and Harry Wendelstedt.
Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School
Graduating class of 1983, including Perry Barber. Can you find her?
Positioning is Everything
In perfect position to make the call, Perry sees the play with clarity, and has the ability to instantly translate what she sees into physical motion to confidently transmit the call.
Umpire Jim Joyce’s blown call cost Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga a perfect game on June 2, 2010.
Taking Charge
Perry makes the call, much to the batter’s dismay, during a Cape Cod League game.
More Women In The Field
Left to right: Laurie Osburn Adkins, Jennifer Hughes, Perry Barber, Elizabeth Osder, Kathleen Deutsch Morrison, Janet L Thomas
The Wendelstedt Umpire School
Wendelstedt Umpire School is the only independently run professional umpire training program recognized by the minor leagues and major leagues.
Harry Wendelstedt was the chief instructor from 1977 until 2012, when his son, Hunter, took control.
Women In Baseball
The history of women playing the game of baseball dates back to at least the 1860s, when Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. fielded a team. In Philadelphia, a team of African-American women formed a baseball squad called the Dolly Vardens in May of 1883.
Instant Replay
MLB was the last of the four major North American professional sports leagues to implement an instant replay review system when it did so for the 2008 season.
More than a decade later, and it seems as if they still haven’t gotten it right.
Ford Frick
While Ford Frick was NL president, he had a major role in the establishment of the Baseball Hall of Fame as a museum that honors the best players in baseball history.
While commissioner, he sent notice that women are not to play on major league teams, stating his 'purpose was to prevent teams from using women players as a publicity stunt.'
The result of this banning has kept highly skilled women, especially fastball pitchers, from playing in the minors or major leagues.
Eleanor Engle
Eleanor Engle reacts to an Associated Press story that reported she was ruled out of organized baseball in June of 1952.
Maureen Galvin
On August 23, 1960, Maureen Galvin was all set to become the first female umpire to work a game behind the plate in professional baseball history in the second game of an Eastern League doubleheader between Allentown and Binghamton.
However, MLB Commissioner Ford Frick, saying the game is "too important" to both teams' playoff chances, overruled Eastern League president Tommy Richardson, and orders Galvin to be replaced.
Carey A. Schueler
Daughter of then White Sox general manager Ron Schueler, Carey was the first woman ever drafted by a MLB team when the White Sox picked the 18-year-old left-handed pitcher in the 43rd round (1,208th pick overall) of the 1993 MLB draft.
Women Make Great Partners
Here is Perry with base partner and Atlantic League compadre Joe Bottita at a game at the University of Bridgeport at Columbia.
Amanda Clement
Amanda E. Clement was the first woman paid to umpire a baseball game, and may have also been the first woman to referee a high school basketball.
Accompanying her brother to his games, Amanda often found herself umpiring the sandlot games, since girls did not play baseball with any regularity. However, when the boys asked her to fill in, she occasionally played a little first base, which helped her learn the game.
Amanda has been recognized in the Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, N. Y., as well as the Women's Sports Hall of Fame and the Women's Sports Foundation in San Francisco.
Effa Manley
The Hall of Fame has only ever made one plaque with a woman’s face on it.
Effa Manley co-owned the Newark Eagles baseball franchise in the Negro leagues with her husband Abe from 1935 to 1948.
Throughout that time, Effa served as the team's business manager and fulfilled many of her husband's duties as treasurer of the Negro National League.
Effa was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.
Maud Nelson
Maud Nelson (born Clementina Brida on November 17, 1881) was an early professional woman baseball pitcher, scout, manager, and team owner.
She began pitching professionally at the age of 16, as a starting pitcher for the Boston Bloomer Girls. She played for several professional baseball teams, including the American Athletic Girls and the Cherokee Indian Base Ball Club. In addition to her starting pitching duties, she often played third base in the later innings of a game.
Bernice Gera
On June 24, 1972, Bernice Gera became the first woman to umpire in a professional game. Gera worked the first game of a New York-Pennsylvania League doubleheader between the Auburn Phillies and Geneva Rangers. Gera encountered a series of disputes in the game and would never umpire again.
Pam Postema
Pam Postema was the first female baseball umpire to ever officiate a Major League Baseball spring training game. For her unique contributions to the game, she was inducted into the Baseball Reliquary's Shrine of the Eternals in 2000.
She also wrote an appropriately-titled book, which you can buy HERE.
Theresa Fairlady
In the spring of 1989, Theresa graduated fifth in a class of 180 from Harry Wendelstedt’s umpiring school. Wendelestedt said Fairlady was “the best female candidate I’ve ever had.”
During her three years in organized baseball from 1989 to 1991, Fairlady faced her share of difficulties because of archaic attitudes.
Meet The Mets
David Wright blasts a home run with Perry behind the plate at a Mets Spring Training game.
All Levels
Perry has umpired at basically every level of baseball imaginable. Here she is behind the plate at a youth league game, while Denae Benites bats.
George Moriarty
In a famed incident that almost cost him his umpiring career, George Moriarty fought four members of the Chicago White Sox simultaneously on Memorial Day of 1932. Moriarty called a pitch by White Sox hurler Milt Gaston ball three instead of strike three. Gaston gave up a game-tying triple on the next pitch, eventually losing the game.
When the Sox heckled Moriarty as he walked off the field, he shouted back: “I’ll fight the whole White Sox team!” The 47-year-old ump was promptly attacked by four White Sox, some scarcely half his age: Gaston, Charlie Berry, Frank Grube, and player-manager Lew Fonseca. Moriarty sustained cuts, bruises, and a broken hand, but fought them to a draw.
“Mr. Moriarty must be slipping,” one columnist quipped. “I can remember when he used to take on whole ball clubs as a warmup.” Gaston was suspended for ten days by AL president Will Harridge, the other three players were fined, and Moriarty was given a public reprimand.
Women’s Baseball World Cup
Perry with the 2018 Women's Baseball World Cup trophy
Working Through Injuries
Perry has had fingers on both hands broken, her ankle drilled with a foul ball, and myriad other injuries. That doesn’t keep her from working, though, as you can see here, with Lee Champagne.
A Beautiful Choreography
Umpires have rotations, too, just as players do for certain plays. Here, Perry is captured while “on vacation” at third base by Mets Fantasy Camp photographer Bob Dobens.
Just Happy To Be There
Perry used to prefer being behind home plate to call games, but as her career has progressed, she finds herself content anywhere on the field.
Whackers
On close plays at a base, umpires have to watch for the runner's foot touching the bag and the ball hitting the glove — two different views — while listening for each.
Steady Behind Home Plate
Calling the pitches at Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie, Florida on February 22, 2013.
Sparky Lyle
Sparky Lyle was a relief pitcher for sixteen seasons in Major League Baseball. He was a three-time All-Star and won the American League Cy Young Award in 1977.
From 1998–2012, Lyle served as manager of the Somerset Patriots.
Been There, Done That
Perry isn’t nearly as bothered by the challenges faced by umpires (specifically as a woman) at this point in her career.
Just An Umpire
Not a “female umpire”. Just an umpire.
Extra Inning Games
9 innings are hard enough.
History Is Made
On February 26, 2008, Perry assembled the umpire crew for an exhibition game between the New York Mets and the University of Michigan. She called in Ila Valcarcel, Mona Osborne and Theresa Cox Fairlady.
Together, the four of them became the first all-female crew to umpire a game featuring a major league team.
A Great Partner
Not every great umpire is a great partner. Take a look at this picture and see if you can guess how Perry’s colleagues feel about her ability as a partner.
Female NBA Refs
The NBA welcomed its first female referees in 1997, with Violet Palmer and Dee Kantner joining the ranks.
On January 18, 2021, Natalie Sago and Jenna Schroeder made NBA history as the first female referees to work on the same court.
Prior to that historic game, Sago had officiated 63 games in two NBA seasons, as well as four seasons in the NBA G League, and three seasons in the WNBA. She also worked the NBA G League International Challenge at NBA All-Star 2018 in Los Angeles.
Schroeder, who started on staff in the 2019-20 season, had previously refereed 27 regular season NBA games, as well as three seasons in the NBA G League, and two seasons in the WNBA.
Arthur Richman
Perry with her friend, Arthur Richman, in March of 1996.
“[He] hired me to umpire Mets and Yankees intrasquads in an era when women umpires were regarded mostly as a bad joke.”
That connection led to years of work.
JWBL
The Japan Women’s Baseball League is a professional women’s baseball league which was started in Japan in 2009.
It’s tiny ― four teams in all ― but it exists. And it goes a long way toward explaining why, on the women’s side, America’s pastime is dominated by Japan.
Women As Revenue Streams
A recent multi-country study found that 66% of people were interested in at least one women’s sport, and among sports fans (of whom 49% are female), that figure rises to 84%.
But putting that aside, MLB should focus on attracting and including women to follow THEIR sport, because their buying power is equal to that of men.
Rob Manfred
Does the commissioner hate baseball? The answer is irrelevant. The fact that we even need to ask the question is what matters.
“Cowboy Joe” West
Angel Hernandez
John McSherry
A respected arbiter, John McSherry was one of several umpires who were noticeably overweight.
McSherry was officially listed at 6 feet 2 inches and 328 pounds.
He died from cardiac arrest, which occurred behind home plate during the opening game of the 1996 Major League Baseball season in Cincinnati on April 1, 1996.
APBPA
Perry with Kim Ng and Jennifer Madison of the APBPA.
The Association of Professional Ball Players was formed in Los Angeles in 1924 when twelve former players gathered and determined there was a need to assist the less fortunate members of the baseball profession. Since then, the Association has grown to over 101,500+ current members.
Follow them on twitter.
That Look
Umpiring is not a job of just abject drudgery and bleakness, even if that’s how it may appear to an outsider.
A Part Of The Game
It’s all worth it for moments like this. Perry umpiring at Fenway Park.
“Robot” Umpires
The Atlantic League, an independent circuit with seven teams on the East Coast and one in Texas, became the first American professional baseball league to let a computer call balls and strikes.
Though it wasn’t without its glitches…
Plate Shoes
And other proper equipment are essential to protect yourself as an umpire, especially behind the plate.
The Show
While Perry never made it to umpire a regular season MLB game, she has umpired many spring training games, like this one between the Cincinnati Reds and New York Yankees at Legends Stadium in Tampa in 1996.
A World of Baseball
There is so much more to the sport of baseball than just Major League Baseball. Here, Perry is preparing to umpire a game between two teams in the Atlantic League.
The First Female MLB Ump?
Many people think it will either be Emma Charlesworth-Seiler (pictured here, third from left), or Jen Pawol.
Baseball For All
Perry (right) with Justine Siegal at the Fourth Annual Justine Siegal's Girls Baseball Academy, which took place at the old Dodgertown complex in Vero Beach, Florida.
Check out Baseball For All’s website HERE and follow them on twitter.
International Women’s Baseball Center
The IWBC’s mission to protect, preserve, and promote all aspects of women's baseball, both on and off the field.
Check out their website HERE
Follow them on twitter.
Here, Perry sits with Maybelle Blair, former player in the AAGPBL with the Rockford Peaches.
Follow Perry Online
Here is Perry with Tom Seaver at Mets Fantasy Camp in Port St. Lucie, Florida in 1990. If you want to get this close to Perry one day, start by following her online:
Destined For Stardom
Perry ended up in showbiz for a while on her own, but she spent time around stars growing up, too. Here she is with her twin sister, Warren (far left), her brother Rocky, and Sammy Davis Jr. at the fabled Copacabana nightclub.
Jeopardy! Champion
Perry with fellow Jeopardy! champion, researcher Gabriel Schechter (left) and Tim Wiles
Growing Up In The 1960s
Perry and her twin sister share a soda in 1963
Well, would you look at that… Joe West was the umpire for this incident.
Ron Luciano in a TV commercial from 1991
Joe West
As seems to always be the case, Joe West was back in the news the opening week of the 2021 MLB season.
This is nothing new for him.
Ila Borders
Ila Borders was the first woman…
Ever awarded a collegiate baseball scholarship.
To pitch in a minor league game, for the 1997 St. Paul Saints
To win a professional game, for the Duluth-Superior Dukes.
What’s the point in having instant replay if we’re still going to get the calls wrong?
Billy Evans
The youngest umpire in MLB history, Evans officiated six World Series during his career.
After his retirement from umpiring, Evans was named the first GM in baseball history, when the Cleveland Indians hired him to the role in 1927.
Kim Ng
After more than 30 years in baseball, Kim Ng was finally hired as a GM on November 13, 2020 by the Miami Marlins.
Not only is she the first female GM in MLB history, she is the first female GM in any major North American men’s professional sports league.
A true trailblazer, and hopefully the first of many hires that look like her.