When George Steinbrenner demeaned a female minor-league umpire last summer no one chastised him.

But any female umpire who comes on as forceful may not be appreciated by her forceful colleagues or supervisors.

After insulting his own catcher, Steinbrenner said: "Then you had a female umpire.

If she does make it, she will make history as the first female umpire in the big leagues.

So somewhere along the way, your mom learned that there were no female umpires.

On Wednesday, Postema's dream of becoming the first female umpire in the major leagues was shattered.

Then you had a female umpire.

By the time an umpire reaches the majors, it's too late to teach him (or her - where are the female umpires?)

Bernice Gera, first female umpire in a professional baseball.

The good news: In a burst of modernism, the locker rooms for male and female umpires will be of equal size.