Last night, Jessica Mendoza made history as the first woman to broadcast a nationally-televised MLB postseason game. Fuck yes. She was present alongside John Kruk and Dan Schulman in the booth for the Houston Astros 3-0 victory over the New York Yankees, and she did one hell of a job.
The 34-year-old California native is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, four-time First Team All-American with Stanford, and a pioneer in more ways than one. She became the first female broadcaster for the College World Series this past June and continued on her history-making path as the very first female analyst for an MLB game two months later.
“I’m in awe of Jess, and excited for the doors she’s opening for women in broadcasting and women in sports,” said Jennie Finch, star softball pitcher on the 2004 and 2008 U.S. Olympic Team. “I love seeing how the fans have embraced her. It’s about how well she does the job and her knowledge. She deserves every bit of success she’s having, and I’m here with everyone else cheering her on.”
This is important. Hugely important. You know why? Because Jessica Mendoza brings me and tens of thousands of other women who identify as fans that much closer to the games we love. If women’s sports are not yet given the same importance and significance as men’s on national TV, at least we can hear and identify with a voice like Mendoza’s as we cheer on our favorite teams. I may not be an Olympian softball legend, but I am a woman with a love for the beautiful game and a desire to get as deeply immersed in its magic as I possibly can.
Thank you, Jessica. You rock. Keep on fighting.