Beg Your Pardon, Miss Umpire: How an Iowa Game Made Baseball History
Before Jen Pawol broke the major league barrier in 2025, a 16-year-old girl made history on a dusty Iowa diamond over 120 years ago. Amanda Clement's story is a reminder that the Hawkeye State has always been at the heart of America's pastime, and her legacy still resonates today.
In August 2025, Jen Pawol became the first woman to umpire a Major League Baseball game. But her trailblazing path traces directly back to 1904, when Amanda Clement stepped in to call a semipro game in Iowa and became the first woman ever paid to umpire baseball.
Who Was Amanda Clement?
Born in 1888 in what would become South Dakota, Clement was just 16 when she traveled to Iowa with her mother to watch her brother play semipro ball. When no umpire showed up for a preliminary scrimmage, her brother volunteered her. She handled the job so well that when the regular umpire also failed to appear, both teams agreed she should call the main event.
That single game launched a six-year career. Clement umpired roughly 50 games each summer across the Midwest, earning $15 to $25 per game, according to the Society for American Baseball Research.
How Did Clement Earn Respect on the Field?
Clement commanded respect from players who quickly learned not to challenge her calls. According to a South Dakota Magazine account from a longtime friend, players would politely protest with phrases like, “Beg your pardon, Miss Umpire, but wasn't that one a bit high?”
Reports from the era praised her accuracy. The Meriden Daily Journal noted in 1906 that Clement possessed “an eagle eye” and “seldom makes a mistake.” She became so sought after that she sometimes had to turn down assignments.
What Did Clement Do After Umpiring?
Clement used her earnings to pay for college, then worked as a teacher and social worker. She became a local legend in South Dakota, even meeting President Teddy Roosevelt, who reportedly already knew who she was. She was inducted into the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame in 1964 and passed away in 1971.
Her story was later told in the children's book “Umpire in a Skirt” (2010), published by the South Dakota Historical Society Press.
Why Does This Matter for Iowa Today?
Iowa's connection to baseball runs deep, from minor league teams to the iconic Field of Dreams. Clement's story is a point of pride for the region, showing that opportunity and excellence can come from the most unexpected places.
As Pawol said before her historic 2025 debut: “I'm aware of the gravity, I'm aware of the magnitude. I believe that I'm going to be a very good steward and representative for young girls and women, and boys and men, that this is possible.”
Clement proved that possibility more than a century ago, right here in the heartland.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the first woman to umpire a baseball game?
Amanda Clement is believed to be the first woman paid to umpire a baseball game, starting in 1904 in Iowa.
When did a woman first umpire in Major League Baseball?
Jen Pawol became the first woman to umpire an MLB game in August 2025.
How much did Amanda Clement earn as an umpire?
Clement earned between $15 and $25 per game, a significant sum in the early 1900s.