We first met Justine Siegal when we were working on trying to get baseball back in the Olympics following the Seoul games. One of the issues with the sport and the Olympic movement was that there were not enough opportunities for women, and softball was not interested in a combined bid. Neither was Justine. She wanted, and we pursued women’s baseball. We didn’t win that round, but she has never given up, and now she is cracking yet another barrier in her quest for “Baseball For All.”
The Oakland A’s had Siegal as a guest instructor for the club’s 2015 instructional league in Arizona which is just wrapping up. Along the way she was the first minor league coach, first to throw batting practice,
She holds a Ph.D. in sport and exercise psychology from Springfield College, where she was also the baseball coach, and an M.A. from Kent State University in sport studies. Most important is her work with Baseball For All, which she founded and serves as the head coach, a national nonprofit organization whose mission it is to provide meaningful instruction and opportunity in baseball, especially for girls. We caught up with Justine to talk about her experience and the pioneering work she has done to help change the landscape of sports.
You have been fighting barriers in baseball for years, are you surprised it took so long for you, or any woman, to get this chance?
With MLB over 100 years old it is a little crazy that it has taken so long to have a female coach. But things are changing and women are now finding their way to more leadership positions within MLB. Persistence and hard work is everything. I had asked for three years if I could coach at Instructional League. This year was just the year I got my “yes.”
Who have been the most supportive of you from MLB in your push?
I think we have to give a lot of credit to the Oakland Athletics. Billy Beane was the first person who said I could throw batting practice to his team. And now their new GM David Forst invited me to coach at Instructional League. Jackie Robinson is everyone’s hero and rightfully so but without Branch Rickey there is no Jackie Robinson. The A’s were my Branch Rickey.
Do you think some of the recent moves in the NFL and the NBA helped make this an easier decision?
For sure. I think overall the American consciousness was ready and wanting for a woman baseball coach. In 2009, I coached for an independent minor league team and I’m not as sure we were so ready for that. My two experiences were night and day. I also have to thank the women before me that made that shift possible including Nancy Lieberman, Jen Welter, Rachel Balkovec, and Becky Hammon. But the biggest thank you has to go to Title IX. Without Title IX none of this is possible.
Have you talked to anyone like Becky Hammon about what she has done?
I haven’t had a chance yet but I would love to. Maybe we need a night out for the women coaching men’s pro sports. That would be rad!
What has been the response from players, either in college or now with professionals?
Players from both Springfield College and the A’s treated me really well. College is a little different because you have a player for 4 years so it’s a longer relationship. For the most part I was just a coach to them and less of a novelty. Many of them were proud to have the only female baseball coach in the country. I had less time with the A’s players so just as I was getting to know them it was time to go. But they could not have been more welcoming. I knew things were going well when one of the players sat down next me on the bench just to talk about his hitting with me. I think one of my best traits as a coach is that players trust me and find it easy to talk with me.
What has been the most surprising thing that has happened since the announcement?
The positivity. I have been told “no” so many times and in so many ways that I am now use to functioning and achieving with little support. With the A’s I just didn’t have the negativity, I only had the positives. The coaches and players couldn’t have treated me better. The social media has been incredibly supportive and heartwarming. I am just humbled and thankful for the encouragement.
How do you think this will change your career at all?
I was 16 when I decided I wanted to be a college baseball coach. I was immediately laughed at by my coach and told, “a man would never listen to a woman on a baseball field.” I decided to go for it anyway. I’ve now coached at the college and professional level, started a national nonprofit for girls who want to play baseball, and have a PhD in Sport Psychology. I’m not really sure what comes next. I hope more coaching. But what really gets me up in the morning is the idea that I can show a girl that she has a place in baseball. That like the boys, she can dream too.
With the recent breakthroughs, where and what roles do you think women will have in say, another 2-3 years?
These are exciting times and as MLB strives for diversity and inclusion I think we will have more girls and woman playing and working in baseball. The next step for MLB is a female a GM.
