God Didn’t Create Women to Umpire--Astros Pitcher

Houston Astros pitcher Bob Knepper said he doesn’t think Pam Postema should be umpiring major league games because that’s not a woman’s role in life.

“This is an occupation women should not be in,” Knepper said when asked about Postema’s chances of becoming major league baseball’s first female umpire. “In God’s society, woman was created in a role of submission to the husband.

“It’s not that woman is inferior, but I don’t believe women should be in a leadership role. I don’t think a woman should be the President of the United States or a governor or mayor or police chief.”

Postema, a minor league umpire for 11 years, was behind the plate Monday when Knepper pitched five scoreless innings in a 5-0 exhibition victory over Pittsburgh.

‘She Did a Great Job’

“It has nothing to do with her qualifications,” he said. “She did a great job back there today, but I believe God has ordained that there are some things women should do and some things they should not do.”

Postema has declined interviews after exhibition games in Florida and refused to respond to Knepper’s comments.

“No, I can’t talk,” she told reporters as she walked to her car after Monday’s game.

Astros General Manager Bill Wood said Knepper represents a minority opinion.

“Bob has freedom of speech to say what he wants to say, and we’re not going to stop him,” Wood said. “But out of 50 people, maybe one would have a different opinion.

“It’s a shame that the one opinion gets blown out of proportion.”

Houston Manager Hal Lanier thought Postema did a good job and saw no reason why she should not be promoted to the major leagues.

“There’s a place in the National League for good umpires, period,” Lanier said.

Knepper said that if Postema makes it to the big leagues, he’ll have no problem with her on the field.

“I’m not going to give her a hard time because she’s a woman,” he said. “In fact, I’d probably treat her with more respect because she is a woman. I’m the type of person that puts women on a pedestal.

“But in my opinion, which I base on the Bible, I believe that God’s perspective is that women should not be in certain occupations. I’m not saying she’s going to go to hell because she chose to be an umpire. She has a free will, just as you and I do. If God is unhappy with her, some day she will have to talk to God about it.”

Knepper’s comments came outside the Astro clubhouse because he refuses to speak to reporters in the locker room when female reporters are inside.

“I think a woman’s a woman and they shouldn’t have to compete with men in certain jobs,” Knepper said. “That goes for sportswriting, too.

“A woman (sportswriter) has to go in men’s locker rooms. She doesn’t belong in there. I don’t care if she’s a sportswriter or not, a woman doesn’t belong in the men’s locker room.”