By Ken Reed
The Oakland A’s, always known as one of Major League Baseball’s most progressive organizations, have become the first major league team to hire a female coach.
Justine Siegal will be a guest instructor this month for Oakland’s Instructional League club.
It’s another first for Siegal who became the first woman to coach men professionally in baseball during the 2009 season when she was the first-base coach for the independent league Brockton Rox.
“We feel like Justine has a lot to offer and that (the Instructional League) is a great place to get her feet wet,” A’s general manager David Forst said. “She’ll be doing a little bit of everything.”
Siegal, 40, has a Ph.D. in sport and exercise psychology and in addition to working with infielders, hitting fungos and throwing batting practice, Siegal will be leading classes on the mental part of the game.
While nothing’s been promised, the Instructional League opportunity could lead to a full-time coaching assignment with the A’s.
“I think it would be incredible to coach full-time,” Siegal said.
“But for now, I’ll do my best every day to help out any way I can, from carrying water to throwing BP to using my Ph.D. It’s a dream come true. The A’s are a first-class organization and it will be an honor to wear their uniform.”
— Ken Reed, Sports Policy Director, League of Fans
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
Books
