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.