When the word began to circulate early Friday morning that Kin Ng was about to be the first woman appointed general manager of the Miami Marlins, Raquel Ferreira reached out to a colleague.
The community of female executives in Major League Baseball may be small, but it is nonetheless a close-knit group. So there was joy to share that, finally, one of their own had succeeded in smashing the proverbial glass ceiling.
"I was extremely excited,'' said Ferreira, executive vice president and assistant general manager of the Red Sox. "I was actually texting with Jean Afterman (executive VP with the Yankees) when the news came through. We were both very excited for her, as you can imagine. This has been a long time coming, so I was just thrilled for her. It's a great day for MLB and a great day for sports in general.
"I'm very happy for her.''
Ferreira knows Ng some -- "Our paths have crossed over the years'' -- but even if she didn't have a personal connection to the woman who made history Friday, there still would have been cause for celebration.
Ng began working in baseball for almost 30 years. When Ferreira was hired by the Red Sox as an administrative assistant in 1999, she was aware that there were already female trailblazers in the game, including Elaine Weddington Steward, who served as the Red Sox' legal counsel.
And yet, as happy as she is for Ng, there's the gnawing feeling that it shouldn't have taken this long to get this opportunity.
"If anyone was going to (be the first female GM), I would have bet on Kim,'' said Ferreira. "It can only get better (for women in the game) from here; it can't get any worse. If you look at her resume (which include long stints as assistant GM of the Yankees and L.A. Dodgers, plus almost a decade working in the commissioner's officer), she matches up with any other person who's taken over as GM, so hopefully, it's going to continue to progress in that direction (where more women are considered for openings).''
Ferreira knows that Ng will be under the microscope and some will be looking to see how she handles the challenge.
"I think there's always the pressure that comes when you're the first to do something,'' she said, "and that's especially true when you're a female in sports. You're scrutinized enough as it is, and Kim has been prepared for this job for a very long time. All she needed was the opportunity. I congratulate the Marlins for recognizing what so many of us in baseball have known for a while -- that she will make a great GM.
"It's been a long-time coming and so well-deserved. She's been in the game for 30 years now. It is sad that it's taken this long, but I couldn't be happier for her today because she's made history.''
By her own choice, Ferreira is decidedly low-profile and often shies away from media requests, not wanting to self-promote. On Friday, when a list of reporters reached out to get her reaction to the news, she relented, given the historical nature of the occasion.
But when asked if it's her own goal to someday become a GM, she reverted back to his previous stance.
"I don't feel comfortable answering that because this is Kim's day,'' said Ferreira evenly. "She deserves this and worked hard for this for so long. It's a testament to her never giving up. As Jean likes to say, 'Brainpower is gender-blind.' It's just been a great day because there's nothing more powerful than when you can see something. Young girls and young women who aspire to a career in baseball now see themselves and envision this can now actually see it. So, today is about (Ng).''
Others, however, couldn't help but note the parallel between Ng and Ferreira, who became just the third female vice president in the game in 2014. Both former and present Red Sox players took the time to text her words of encouragement.
"It means a lot,'' said Ferreira said of the outpouring. "This is groundbreaking. This year is full of firsts for women. Kamala Harris is going to be the first female vice president. She said that she would be the first, but not be the last. And with Kim, she's the first and won't be the last. The same thing. This is something that we need in this sport - to see people who don't look like most people who work in those positions (being given a chance) and to see that you can achieve it.
"You always think of other people who you think are qualified that maybe didn't get the opportunity to interview, people that get passed over because people didn't consider them. But this is a proud moment for Kim and for all of us who have followed her and followed her career. It's a great day because her talent, her skill and work ethic have been such a testament to her successful career.''
Ferreira has a 12-year old daughter who is very much aware of her mother's unique standing in an industry dominated by men.
"I tell her all the time, 'Don't let anybody tell you that you can't do something because you're a girl,' '' recalled Ferreira. "So, I'm going to let her know about this. She'll be happy. She always asks why I only work with boys. She's aware of it. When I was her age, this didn't seem possible. So this gives hope to a lot of girls or young women who are in the game right now, to know that it is.''
_________________________
___________________________
