I Am That Girl: Justine Siegal
From Sheila Moeschen at I Am That Girl on October 24, 2013, with SABR member Justine Siegal:
Hear that? That’s the sound of a glass ceiling not just cracking, but splintering into a jillion glittering pieces from the swing of one baseball bat. The bat in question belongs to Justine Siegal, the first woman to coach men’s professional baseball and to throw batting practice for such Major League Baseball teams as The A’s, the Rays, the Astros, and the Mets. Justine has transformed her passion for the game and for giving girls an opportunity to compete in and learn the skills of baseball into a thriving non-profit organization called Baseball for All. In addition to camps, clinics, and this year’s first ever baseball showcase, Baseball for All helped launch the Sparks, an all-girls baseball team comprised of some of the most talented and skilled girls in the twelve and under range. Justine is someone who continues to fight hard to break down gender boundaries in professional sports and elsewhere. As a mentor to young girls in an almost exclusively male-dominated field, Justine knows first hand that women always need to be ready to take advantage of opportunities whenever and wherever they might arise: “It’s a lot of preparing for the impossible,” says Justine. “But to not be ready is to be irresponsible. Be ready to adapt, and don’t let anyone tell you you can’t.”
If you could describe yourself in three words, what would those words be?
Empathetic, Determined, and Stubborn
Tell us about a girl in your life who rocks.
My 15-year-old daughter, Jasmine, amazes me everyday. She is so much her own person. She is confident, thoughtful, happy, and inspiringly creative. I was super shy in high school but she’s already got swag.
What are your dreams/goals/ambitions?
My dream is for there to be girls’ baseball leagues all across the country. I’d also like to see a women’s pro baseball league. I dream that my daughter will grow up to be happy, healthy, and someone who loves what they do and gives back to her community.
Read the full article here: http://www.iamthatgirl.com/that_girl_justine_siegal
Originally published: October 25, 2013. Last Updated: October 25, 2013.