More Than a Minor Accomplishment

Shanna Kook never thought she could make umpiring a career until she read some articles about Ria Cortesio-Papageorgiou, the only other current female minor league umpire, doing just that. At the time, Kook was a music student in her second year at McGill University in Montreal. She decided to leave school and pursue umpiring.

"It was a very sporadic decision," said Kook, 22. "I really missed baseball, so I decided I’d try umpire school."

That decision turned out to be a good one. Kook became just the sixth woman ever to umpire minor league baseball, calling games during the 2003 season in the Rookie-Class Pioneer League from June 17-Sept. 5. Kook, from Toronto, is also the first Canadian woman to umpire games at the pro level.

Kook first attended the Jim Evans Academy of Profession Umpiring in January 2002. She took what she learned there, worked hard for a year and then attended the Harry Wendelstedt School for Umpires in Daytona Beach, Fla., in January 2003. Kook graduated as one of the top 25 umpires, earning a chance to attend the Professional Baseball Umpire Corporation evaluation course.

The National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues offered Kook, 21 years old at the time, a two-year contract in March 2003. "I was surprised and shocked," said Kook, about finding out she was selected. "It was a day I won’t forget."

Kook started umpiring 12-and-under recreational ball when she was 16 years old. She’s been umpiring on and off at various levels ever since. "My family, my dad, has been really big on baseball and softball," said Kook, who began playing softball when she was 11 years old, and baseball a couple years after that.

A lot of time has passed since her playing days, but Kook still loves being on the field. Umpiring games in the Pioneer League was a great experience, according to Kook, and she plans to continue pursuing her career. "It was definitely a lot more pressure compared to the amateur level. But I’m really looking forward to my second season," said Kook. "I’m looking forward to being more aggressive.

"My goals as far as umpiring are to take it as far as I can go. If my contract doesn’t get renewed in the future, I’m just happy I did this. I’m happy to be a minor league umpire."

Written by Julie Dus, Referee assistant editor.