Christine Wren (born 1949) is an American former professional baseball umpire. She was the second woman to umpire professionally in organized baseball, and the first woman to work for a full baseball season. Wren completed three seasons as an ump, working in the
Northwest League
The Northwest League is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the Northwestern United States and Western Canada. A Class A Short Season league for most of its history, the league was promoted to High-A as part of Major League Basebal ...
for two years in 1975–1976, and in the
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Minor League Baseball league established in 1947 and based in the Midwestern United States. A Class A league for most of its history, the league was promoted to High-A as part of Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganizat ...
in 1977. She was hired to work an exhibition game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the University of Southern California in 1975.
Biography
Wren grew up in Spokane, Washington. As a young woman, she played sandlot baseball, and later fast pitch softball, often playing catcher. After making the decision to pursue umpiring, she attended the
Bill Kinnamon Specialized Umpire course in California, one of the country's leading umpire schools. She was then invited by
Peter O'Malley
Peter O'Malley (born December 12, 1937) is an American former owner (1979–98) and president (1970–98) of the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Life and sports
O'Malley was born at Carson C. Peck Memorial Hospital in Brookly ...
, owner of the
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Brooklyn ...
, to officiate an exhibition game between the Dodgers and the University of Southern California.
In 1975, Wren was hired to umpire in the Class A Northwest League. She officiated for two seasons in that league, from 1975 to 1976. In 1977, she was assigned to the Class A Midwest League; during the season, she was invited by the league President, Bill Walters, to umpire the Midwest League all-star game. After three seasons, she left umpiring to pursue other employment.
Legacy
While
Bernice Gera
Bernice Shiner Gera (June 15, 1931 – September 23, 1992) was an American baseball umpire. She became the first woman to umpire a professional baseball game in 1972, retiring after one game citing the resentment of other umpires.
Life
Born in ...
was the first woman to officiate a professional baseball game, she worked only one game in 1972 after winning a court case to break into the sport. As only the second woman umpire, Wren faced some doubt and skepticism that a woman could handle the pressure of officiating. By working three full seasons, she achieved several firsts, and helped to pave the way for other female umpires who followed, including
Pam Postema
Pam Postema (born April 1954 in Willard, Ohio) is a former American baseball umpire. In 1988 she became the first female baseball umpire to officiate a Major League Baseball spring training game. For her unique contributions to the game, she was i ...
and
Ria Cortesio.
Wren was the first woman to work home plate in a game, calling balls and strikes. In addition, she was the first woman to umpire a major league exhibition game, and the first to umpire a minor league all star game. The Baseball Hall of Fame Museum holds her chest protector in their collection, along with some scrapbooks from her officiating days.
See also
*
Women in baseball
Women have a long history in American baseball and many women's teams have existed over the years. Baseball was played at women's colleges in New York and New England as early as the mid-nineteenth century; teams were formed at Vassar College, ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wren, Christine
1949 births
Living people
Minor league baseball umpires
People from Spokane, Washington
American women referees and umpires
21st-century American women