Hooray Kelly Calabrese!

Kelly Calabrese, a massage therapist for the Padres, is the only woman working full time on a major league training staff.

Hernandez:”I know I made some strong statements that she didn’t belong in the dugout. I stand by those statements. I think it’s a man’s game.”

She doesn’t care what Keith Hernandez thinks!

Calabrese was raised believing that if she studied and worked hard enough, nothing was unattainable. For those women who wrestled for equality in the workplace years ago, she regards her position as one that can continue enacting essential universal change. The kind Hernandez likely couldn’t fathom.

“Hopefully, if anything, we can turn what is obviously a negative into a positive,”said Calabrese, who learned of the comments from her parents, who were watching off a Major League Baseball feed in Cleveland.”If I can be a role model for young girls who aspire to hold positions not typically held by women, I’m happy to be that person.

See also this NYT article.

Now here is a weird “small world” moment: The woman pictured with Hernandez in the photo above is his wife, Kai. She and I were friendly in college, but lost touch many years ago.

–Ann Bartow

Update: Elayne Riggs blogged about this yesterday, and included a link to the 2005 Racial and Gender Report Card for Major League Baseball.

Update Two: See also “Baseball’s other barrier,” via I Blame the Patriarchy.