NL Forces Female Umpire to Wait Another Year

Pam Postema’s bid to become major league baseball’s first female umpire was officially put off for at least another year Monday when the National League named two men to fill its vacancies.

“At this point, I would say the chances of her working in the big leagues this year would be slim,” said Randy Mobley, administrator of the American Assn., where the 33-year-old Postema will serve as a crew chief this season.

Katy Feeney, spokeswoman for the National League, said Postema will be invited back for major league spring training games next year.

The two umpires named by league President Bart Giamatti are Gary Darling, 30, a Pacific Coast League umpire since 1983, and Mark Hirschbeck, 27, who has worked in the American Assn. since 1985.

Postema, an 11-year minor league veteran, worked major league games in spring training on an American Assn. contract, whereas Darling, Hirschbeck and three of the others were under contract to the National League.

Mobley said that fact alone will make it difficult for Postema to go back to the majors this year in the event of injury or illness to a regular umpire. She will be starting her sixth season in triple A, her second in the American Assn. after four years in the Pacific Coast League.