Jul 15, 2021 - Sports

MLB game to be called entirely by women for first time

Broadcasters Suzie Cool and Melanie Newman of the Salem Red Sox, single-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, prior to a Carolina League game on April 24, 2019 against the Potomac Nationals,

Broadcasters Suzie Cool (left) and Melanie Newman prior to a minor league game in 2019. Photo: Diamond Images/Getty Images

A Major League Baseball game will be called entirely by women next week for the first time ever on a broadcast, the New York Times reports.

Driving the news: Five women will serve as the on-air crew for the Baltimore Orioles game against the Tampa Bay Rays from St. Petersburg next Tuesday.

  • Women have been broadcasting baseball games for decades, but this is believed to be the first time an all-women team will handle the entire broadcast for a major league game, per the Times.
  • Melanie Newman, the Orioles’ radio play-by-play announcer, will call the action for the game; Sarah Langs, a baseball analyst and writer for MLB.com, will be the booth's analyst; Alanna Rizzo will be the on-field reporter; and Heidi Watney and Lauren Gardner will anchor the pregame and postgame shows.

What they're saying: "It can’t help but feel different,” Rizzo told the Times.

  • "I’ve always had a male play-by-play voice in my ear during every game I’ve ever done. ... It’s exciting to be a part of something like this," Rizzo said.
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