Bernice Shiner was born in Ernest, Pennsylvania back in 1931. I have no history about her schooling, childhood however I do know one thing. She loved to play a game. More later on what that game was. In her mid-thirties she was already married and working as a secretary. According to what I’ve read one night she told her husband she was going to pursue the game that she loved.
Well to accomplish that goal she had to go back to school and she did so in 1967. She excelled in her training however at the time there were no facilities for females and she had to stay in a local motel during that training. She was rejected for gender stating she did not meet the physical requirement for the job. So what is a red-blooded American woman to do? Well I’m so glad you asked that question as I know the answer. She filed a discrimination suit which lasted several years and she won. William Feela you best know this one, I’m calling you out… LOL BTW I’m writing about Bernice Shiner Gera.
On June 23, 1972 she gained national attention when she became the first woman umpire for the National Association of Baseball Leagues. She umpired a doubleheader between the Geneva Senators and Auburn Twins. Sadly, she died of kidney cancer in 1992. A historical marker honoring her is located at Blue Spruce Park, Pennsylvania.
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