Media Assistant Makes History as a Female Baseball Umpire

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Becoming a baseball umpire was a calling for Natola Hawthorne, the Library Media Assistant at Stone Mountain Elementary School. In 2017, while she was officiating a high school football scrimmage, she heard a voice in the wind delivering a clear message: “You belong over there.” “Over there” directed her attention to a nearby baseball field.

“When I heard [the message], I thought I was losing my mind,” said Ms. Hawthorne. “After hearing it again, I mentioned it to my referee, and he said, ‘That’s a baseball field.’ I said, ‘I know!’ He said, “Well, finish this game, and then you can see what it’s all about.’ I did just that.”

Answering the call to umpire baseball games led to her making historic milestones in the sport as an African American female umpire on the high school and collegiate levels. She is recognized as a trailblazer in baseball umpiring for her groundbreaking accomplishments.
Her journey to the baseball field began when she was a teenager. She fell in love with the game after watching Major League Baseball (MLB) star players, such as Harold Baines of the Chicago White Sox, Ricky Henderson of the Oakland A’s, and Darryl Strawberry of the New York Mets.

“They were three different personalities with varied approaches to the game,” said Ms. Hawthorne.

After hearing her call to action, Ms. Hawthorne decided to become an umpire. She attended several training camps, including the MLB Umpire Prospect Development Camp in 2023, a five-week program at the Jackie Robinson facility in Vero Beach, Florida. Each eight-hour session focused on umpiring rules and proper mechanics.

“Mock games, batting cages with pitching machines, simulated situations, and live games were used to gain experience,” said Ms. Hawthorne. “There were seven ladies in the 2023 inaugural class. This was welcoming because I was the only woman who attended most other camps.”

In 2021, Ms. Hawthorne made history as the first woman to officiate in the Alaska Baseball Collegiate League and the Ralph Garr Lucas HBCU Classic. Since then, she has umpired various collegiate tournaments and a high school state championship. Notably, in 2024, she became the first woman to umpire the MLB’s “Uninterrupted Fam Jam” Celebrity All-Star Game at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama.

The game was part of MLB’s “Tribute to the Negro Leagues” for Juneteenth. Ms. Hawthorne met celebrities such as actor Omari Hardwick, NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Owens, and comedian Rickey Smiley. She was shocked to be called to umpire the celebrity game.

“Being asked to umpire a game comprised of celebrities and players I’ve watched on television was surreal,” she said. “I would be ‘rubbing elbows’ with those I’ve admired from afar, which was truly humbling and an honor. This assignment confirmed that the dedication and hard work I committed to my craft was being recognized on the highest level and by novices of the game alike.”

Umpiring that game was a surreal experience for Ms. Hawthorne. She humorously reminded herself to remain professional while interacting with many famous people she recognized.

“After Omari came over and cracked a joke with me at second base in the first inning, I relaxed and began to enjoy the moment with all of them,” she said. “After the game, we were allowed to take pictures and videos with everyone present. Long-term connections and friendships were made from that experience.”

So far, being a female baseball umpire has been rewarding. Ms. Hawthorne said being a female umpire in this current period has been more fulfilling than challenging due to the efforts to increase female officials in sports.

“Women officials are needed to help field every sport,” she said. “The challenges occur when you want to be able to share experiences that are female-specific. It gets tough. Uniforms and equipment not being tailored for women are the biggest challenge. If you look good, you are prone to work more efficiently.”

Ms. Hawthorne has made it her mission to encourage other women to become baseball umpires. She founded She Calls It All, LLC, which helps people get started by connecting them with baseball umpire assignors and coordinators.

“Umpiring is a rewarding avocation,” she said. “Through it, you can positively touch lives, have fun, and add additional income.”

The DeKalb County School District celebrates Ms. Hawthorne’s inspiring historic achievements during Black History Month and beyond.