My former team had a press conference to introduce former Cardinals pitcher, Danny Cox, new field manager. Danny has been with the team before, in 2009, as pitching coach. This was when I first met him. I was also lucky enough to meet fellow former Cardinal, Jack Clark since he was the manager that summer (Danny was pitching coach).  I decided to stop by the press conference today to say hi to Danny. After the questions were pretty much over, I got to talk to him for a second. I got a hug, and I told him about my internship. He told me that he knew it would happen, which meant alot to me.

Another thing I realized at the press conference is that this internship is happening when it was supossed to. I don’t feel like a part of the organization here anymore. Yes, most of the same people are there, but it just doesn’t feel like a place for me anymore. I missed it last year when I wasn’t re-hired, and part of me will miss it this year, but it really feels like the right time to move on.

I think it was having someone who’s been in professional baseball tell me they knew I would do this. It helped alot.

For the first time, maybe ever, it hit me today that my life is right where it should be. Everything that’s happened, as long as it’s taken me to finish school, the weird way I got the internship, it was all supossed to happen like this. I’ve always been one that wants to control how and when things happen, and I think that’s why things haven’t always gone my way. I’m finally comfortable with where I am. I think I’m actually ready to move, just to see what happens, and I can finally see a light at the end of my school tunnel. I believe I’ll have a job before or not too long afterI graduate, I think that puts me ahead of alot of college graduates.

I’m excited to see where this crazy ride takes me next!

Here is my original post on this subject. From October 26, 2007. 3 1/2 years ago. Things haven’t changed much.

I am a baseball fan. I am a football fan. I am a basketball fan. I hate most hockey, wrestling and anything else that most people wouldn’t consider a sport. The sports I do enjoy are an addiction, and I both admit it and am proud of it. I am also a girl. And because I am a female baseball/ football/ basketball fan, I am treated differently and sometimes, I’m looked down upon. I’m sick of it. I know my sports. Especially baseball. I will work for (and hopefully own) a pro team one day. I want to be the ice breaker that shows people that women really do know their stuff. NOTHING in the manual of life says that girls can’t like sports. It’s how I’ve met most of my friends… and I know some have the same problems, but others don’t it seems. Maybe it’s because I’m sensitive, maybe they just haven’t experienced it. Maybe it’s because I don’t like “traditional” women’s sports. I have never been so angry as I am right now at the fact that I am obviously and blatantly being treated different because I’m a female fan. I don’t understand why some “men” think that we like the sport because “the guys are hot”. Well, gee, considering I like alot of athletes who are less than attractive, I have to disagree. I don’t know why men think they can get away with crap like this. I guess I’m lucky in a way that all of my guy friends have accepted me for who I am and actually talk baseball with me like I don’t have 8 heads. I guess I just can’t understand why this is still happening. It’s not like I want world peace or anything (which would be nice) I’m just asking that some guys understand that we really DO know sports.

UPDATED 3/30/10 (I apologize if this gets long)

I have been rejected for jobs locally because I’m a female. I have also, however, been given two jobs without my supervisor ever talking to me about baseball. I have been referred to as a “baseball junkie” by one of my close friends (who is also a coach).

I have had to deal with men who think I know nothing since I started in the game as a freshman in high school. First, it started with players, who didn’t like the idea of a freshman on their bus or in their dugout, let alone a female freshman. The players got better about it, then the coach changed. For the next three years, I stayed just to piss him off, honestly. He didn’t think I belonged there, but couldn’t do anything about it. My senior year, he kicked me out of the dugout, just to see what I would do, hoping I would quit. I didn’t. I stayed the rest of the season just to prove him wrong. One of the best things I ever did. I wasn’t going to let someone keep me from being in that dugout or in baseball.

From that point, I got an internship with a local collegiate league team without ever meeting the ownership. I didn’t meet them until after the season was well underway. At that point, I had no baseball experience except for my high school ride. I got two years of experience there, and a bio on the website that included “owns too many baseball shirts”.

With that experience in two years, I was able to get an internship with the White Sox organization this year. I was told that there was no doubt that I would get a job in baseball soon after I graduate with my experience and love of the game.

This brings me to the reason for this post.

There has been conversation on twitter about the treatment of female fans by not only other female fans but by companies and by Major League Baseball themselves. Female fans make up at least 40% of the fanbase. And yet, a majority of our apparel is still pink and not all teams are covered by the new styles every season (psssst, the Pirates/ Royals/ DBacks etc. have female fans, too!). It seems that if you wear something that’s pink or sparkly to a game, you aren’t a fan. I like pink -I AM a girl!- and I like sparkly things. I like them together. Sometimes I like them together if my team’s logo is on it. But not always. If it’s the only option I have of supporting my team and still looking semi-cute, I don’t like it as much. I will wear a boys’ shirt before I wear something pink to a game.

I have friends who HATE with a passion the pink apparel. I’m middle of the road. I do think there should be more in team colors. I like my team. I want to wear their war paint (so to speak). This is why I like the Touch line by Alyssa Milano.

Anyway…. I have friends who will talk baseball with me more than their guys. Most of them are guys from my four years in the dugout. Those are the ones who know I know what I’m talking about. A friend of mine made a comment about how funny it was that girls talk football like they know what they’re talking about. I asked about baseball and he told me that I get a pass because I’m “one of the few”.

I have worked at tryouts for the Atlanta Braves. I have been in a room and talked baseball with the likes of Robin Roberts, Whitey Herzog and Jack Clark (all of whom were amazed at my knowlege). I have had interviews with 6 MLB teams. I have a rejection letter from Nolan Ryan himself.

I consider myself more of a player fan. I follow guys through trades, I don’t stop being a fan because they’re traded or signed somewhere else. People mistake this as being a “cleat chaser”. No, I like my players. If I have more than 3 players on a team, I like the team. It’s that simple.

Yes, I do notice guy’s looks. I bet some guys do, too (Some, you just can’t ignore. I’m looking at you, Joe Mauer). But it comes second to their talent and their love of the game. I usually notice if a guy is left-handed before I notice his face. I can’t get this across to some people. I’ve stopped trying. If they want to think I’m in it for the men, let them. See who gets tickets when I have that ability.

I don’t care what people think about me personally in regards to baseball. Let them think what they want. I’ll prove them wrong one day and they’ll say they knew me when.. BUT, I don’t like the treatment of the female fanbase as a whole. I don’t know why it’s so hard for MLB to understand that we are serious about this amazing game.

You know why YOU love it, we love it for the same reasons: The smell of the grass, of a hot dog and beer. The well placed bunt, Aaron Rowand sacrificing his face for a catch, the sunshine, the no hitter… the *almost* no hitter. Keeping score. Bleacher seats. Bases loaded, 2 outs, tie game, bottom of the 9th, 7th game of the World Series kind of pain or elation. Yea, we feel it, too. Maybe more, I don’t know. Some of us live and die with every pitch. Some women are bigger fans than some men I know. 

It’s time MLB took note of this and started aiming at ALL of their fans instead of half of them.

We’re coming for you boys, just you wait and see.

 

(sorry this is a little all over the place, I wrote as I thought)

(OK, I can’t post pictures, so you’ll either have to know who I’m talking about or google it =) )

I stole this idea from a friend who did this on her blog.

(Disclaimer: I made my decisions in the following order: 1) Ability/ Talent 2) Personality 3) Looks. Believe it if you want. )

 

#1: Scott Rolen (Reds)

Say what you want about the way he left St. Louis or his injuries.

He is one of the sweetest guys I have ever met. I got to meet him at the Cardinals fan fest in 2006. I’d been waiting years to meet him, and when I told him that, he thanked me for waiting the 2 years. You could have knocked me over, that someone would thank me for waiting to meet them mean ALOT, especially when it’s a professional athlete.

#2: Chris Snyder (Pirates)

I have been a fan since 2007. Which, might not sound like long, but until then, I was strictly a Cardinals fan. I have alot to say about Chris, and the cool guy that he is, but let me start by saying that I picked him partly because he’s a catcher.

I met Chris before a Diamondbacks game in St. Louis this past summer (right before he was traded). I got a SNYDER shirt earlier in the year and had taken it just in case he was signing before. He was walking in from the bullpen and I held up the shirt. He came over and signed it!! He took a picture with me too, and while I’m a little disappointed he didn’t smile, it takes alot to get one out of him =). Then, after he was traded, we got tickets to a Pirates game. I took a sign that said “I still love Snyde-Piece” which was his nickname in Arizona. He saw it twice and acknowledged it both times (and I got a smile that time).

#3: Joe Mauer (Twins)

You caught me. He may have been judged more on looks than the other things first. Deal with it. You’d do it too. =)

BUT, he’s a catcher, he’s a lefty and just look at those eyes and smile. Tell me he’s not at the top of your list (dudes included). He could be pretty close to my perfect man.

#4: Drew Stubbs (Reds)

HOOK EM HORNS!! I first started watching Drew when he was at UT Austin and it went from there. I didn’t follow him as closely as I do Huston Street, but it’s close. He’s a great CF and just seems like an over all great guy.

#5 Buster Posey (Giants)

OK, he’s in the same boat as Mr. Mauer. Again, can you blame me? Even though he looks like he’s 12, he’s one of the best catchers I’ve seen. I can’t wait to see what he does after the experience he got in the postseason last year.

#5.5 Mike Leake (Reds)

Mike was the second pitcher to go straight from college to the Majors. He’s left handed, which again, makes him awesome to me. He was in the running for Rookie of the Year until he got hurt and they decided to shut him down for the year. I think he would have made it had he not gotten hurt. I can’t wait to see what he’ll do this season, either. And, he’s a little more than adorable =)

 

 

Honorable Mentions (Current players): Bronson Arroyo (Reds), Huston Street (Rockies), Danny Haren (Angels), Tyler Colvin (Cubs), Zach Greinke (Brewers), David Wright (Mets), Ian Kinsler (Rangers), Jarrod Saltalamacchia (Red Sox), Brian McCann (Braves), Jorge Posada (Yankees)

Honorable Mentions (Former players): Mike Matheny (Cardinals), JT Snow (Giants), Mike Mussina (Yankees), Reggie Sanders (Everyone =) ), Mark Grace (Cubs), Aaron Boone (Reds/ Yankees), Craig Biggio (Astros)

Here are the books I’ve read:

Beyond Belief- Josh Hamilton

Moneyball

3 Nights in August- Buzz Bissinger

Getting in the Game- Inside the Winter Meetings- Josh Lewin

Confessions of a Baseball Fanatic- Alyssa Milano

When You Come to a Fork in the Road, Take It- Yogi Berra

The Entitled- Frank Deford

The Yankee Years- Tom Verducci

Here are the books I have to read:

Satchel

 

Any other suggestions?