Jennie Finch Leads Bridgeport Bluefish to victory as the First Female Baseball Manager

Softball legend Jennie Finch lead the Bridgeport Bluefish (independent league) to a 3-1 victory yesterday, becoming the first female manager of a professional baseball club. Finch stood in as a guest manager for the Bluefish taking part in the pregame media scrum, autograph signing before the game, filling out the lineup card, and throwing the game’s ceremonial first pitch.

She also gave an inspirational pre-game speech:

.@JennieFinch pregame speech! #GameOn pic.twitter.com/e7tckZx4xA

— Bridgeport Bluefish (@BPTBluefish) May 29, 2016

Using small-ball tactics undoubtedly picked up from her tremendous softball career, Jennie lead the Bluefish to a victory over the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. Finch’s accomplishments as a professional softball player make her a perfect candidate to manage professional baseball if she wishes to do so. Some of these prestigious awards include: 2004 Olympic gold medalist, ISF gold medalist, World Cup champion, 2008 Olympic silver medalist and 2009 USA Softball Player of the Year. This list is barely a scratch on the surface of all of Jennie Finch’s accomplishments.

Jennie Finch continues to pave the way for female athletes. Other women have also gained traction within the baseball world in recent years. Jessica Mendoza now broadcasts Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN and Justine Siegel has coached with the Oakland Athletics. Though the thought of the first female manager in the major leagues might seem a distant dream at the moment, Finch’s victory on Sunday along with Mendoza’s and Siegel’s accomplishments are a significant step in the right direction.

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