Written by Andrew Cicco<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s not often you get to witness history happen right before your eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the morning of Friday, Nov. 13, the MLB made a decision that ultimately changed the way professional sports will be handled forever. The Miami Marlins hired life-long baseball executive Kim Ng as their new general manager (GM), making her the first female GM in not just baseball, but in any of the four major North American professional sports leagues. Ng has been working in the MLB for 30 years \u2014 longer than her new team has been in existence. She spent time with the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, and the Office of the Commissioner. She\u2019s bringing eight playoff berths, six league championship series and three World Series rings with her to a past-struggling Miami squad, who finally found their way back to the playoffs this season. Ng\u2019s ushering up the chain of command is one of diversity and change that professional sports hasn\u2019t seen since that fabled summer of 1947 when Jackie Robinson joined the MLB. It\u2019s been many a year since we saw Robinson redefine the way sports operate \u2014 perhaps far too long. But, nevertheless, here we are 73 years way too late, congratulating the first female GM in sports history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The MLB has, for all intents and purposes, been the organization that thrusts their ideals and operational styles into eras beyond the mainstream, since Sir Alexander Cartwright Jr. drew the first plans for the game we know and love. We saw it with Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby as the first Black players in professional sports, respectively. We saw Frank Robinson become the first Black manager in the MLB. Now, South Beach is doing their part for equality by putting a female in the driver\u2019s seat down the road of the Marlins\u2019 future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ng\u2019s expertise and experience in the front office made her the obvious choice to take on the Derek Jeter-owned Marlins, putting the obligation of bringing success back to Miami right on top of her \u201cin\u201d folder (a task, by the way, that she\u2019s handling with grace).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy goal is to bring championship baseball to Miami,\u201d Ng said. \u201cI am both humbled and eager to continue building the winning culture our fans expect and deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, with all formality aside, Ng is expectedly excited about her historic feat. Her words keep the tune of historic success, standing as an example for young girls with a passion for sports. She wants to convey that her hiring, while historic, is also trailblazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt made me realize that it really was a glimmer of hope and inspiration for so many,\u201d Ng said. \u201cThat if you work hard and you persevere and you\u2019re driven and you just keep going, that eventually your dream will come true.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ng\u2019s Miami Marlins kick off their historic season in early April of 2021. For all updates, highlights and breaking news about the newest trailblazing MLB team, visit MLB.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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