After being told by her coach at 16 years old that nobody will listen to a female coach on a baseball field, Justine Siegal made it her mission to prove that statement wrong.
In 2009, she did just that. Siegal made history, becoming the first female to throw batting practice to a Major League Baseball (MLB) team at spring training. In 2015, she was hired by the Oakland Athletics to coach in their instructional league, becoming MLB’s first female hire.
Justine Siegal’s Ted Talk where she discusses her journey through the sports world, obstacles she has faced and important things she has learned.
Despite proving that girls can succeed in baseball, Siegal still has not stopped fighting for equity. She founded her own nonprofit, Baseball For All, through which young girls are given the opportunity to not only play baseball but coach it.
It allows girls to have a safe and supportive environment and be surrounded by the one thing they love, baseball.
Justine Siegal didn’t have women in sports to look up to when she was young, now she is that woman for so many girls around the world.
Today, Siegal’s jersey hangs proudly in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. She is also an inductee into the National Women’s Sports Museum.
With dreams of working in baseball, I look up to Siegal and what she continues to do for girls with similar aspirations. Siegal has taught me that any dream is within reach and our skills and knowledge should never be overlooked because of our gender.
If coronavirus wasn’t taking over the world, right now we would be plopping down on our couch or heading to the stadium to watch our favorite Major League Baseball teams compete.
For all of the Los Angeles Angels’ fans, you would also be excited to watch Alex Curry interview your favorite players.
Alex Curry has won three Telly Awards during her time with the Kings and the Angels. Here is an interview she did with Angels’ first baseman Albert Pujols after a walk-off victory.
The San Diego State University alumna received her bachelor’s in journalism media, as well as a minor in marketing. She also was a member of SDSU’s women’s soccer team.
Curry began working for Fox Sports West in 2012 and two years later, she became the sideline reporter for the Angels.
Curry’s career isn’t limited to just the baseball diamond. Fans of the Los Angeles Kings, U.S. national soccer, college football, American Ninja Warrior and more might also recognize the host/reporter.
She covered the U.S. women’s national team during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France and the Kings’ Stanley Cup championship in 2014.
Curry began covering both the men’s and women’s U.S. national soccer teams in 2018. Here is an interview she did with midfielder Sam Mewis during the 2019 World Cup.
It’s easy to see that Curry is experienced in many facets of the sports industry, making a name for herself in not just baseball, but many other sporting events around the world.
She has built several fanbases of her own through her incredible interviewing and hosting skills. People of all ages and genders can look up to Curry and the hard work she puts in year-round.
The sports world has been put on pause with hopes to help stop the spread of Coronavirus. Professional sports are postponed, collegiate seasons are canceled and the Olympics will not take place until 2021.
Major League Baseball should be starting up right now, but instead, we are left with empty stadiums and re-runs. While times are tough, and there are only so many puzzles you can complete, I will continue to showcase the several amazing women in baseball.
Alanna Rizzo and Nomar Garciaparra conducting pre-game interviews for Spectrum SportsNet L.A. (Ken Lund)
This week I want to talk about Spectrum SportsNet L.A. reporter for the Los Angeles Dodgers and six-time Emmy award winner, Alanna Rizzo, who is making an impact both on and off the field.
Rizzo attended the University of Colorado at Boulder for her bachelor’s in international business, before returning for her master’s in broadcast journalism.
Rizzo’s professionalism and smart interview questions have gained her enormous amounts of respect from players and coaches throughout her years with the Dodgers.
She has even gained a fanbase of her own, as many people look up to her and the phenomenal job she does covering the game.
Alanna Rizzo also speaks Spanish, which helps her when interviewing Spanish speaking players, such as right fielder Yasiel Puig.
But, her work goes beyond baseball. She is a prime example of using a platform for good. In February 2009, Rizzo adopted her dog, Guidry, from the Humane Society of Boulder Valley in Colorado.
Through adopting Guidry, Rizzo learned about the millions of dogs either on the streets, in shelters or being fostered. Using her following, Rizzo started the Guidry’s Guardian Foundation to help fund and support shelters and rescues. This foundation is 100% donation based.
Rizzo often reaches out to her 105,000 Instagram followers, when there is a dog in need of an urgent adoption or emergency surgery. She even pulls from her own bank account to help pay for adoption fees and surgery costs.
Rizzo has hosted events at Dodger Stadium, such as a scorekeeping lesson for women, to help raise money for the foundation. Earlier this year, her event sold out resulting in her raising the number of tickets sold from 40 to 120.
The Guidry’s Guardian Foundation has not only gained popularity within the baseball community but celebrities such as Miley Cyrus and Emily Osment have also shown their support and brought awareness toward the foundation.
Rizzo has been one of my biggest inspirations when it comes to sports broadcasting. Her efforts on and off the field are evident, making her a perfect role model for women of all ages wanting to make a change in the world.
The Guidry’s Guardian Foundation website has a total of nine inspiring success stories that you can read about. (kimdewar0)
Women in Baseball 