NEW YORK — Baseball history was made last night when Diane Rowley became Major League Baseball’s first female umpire, officiating a Yankees–Red Sox matchup at Yankee Stadium. But while her presence drew thunderous applause, what followed had fans and broadcasters scrambling for the rulebook — Rowley called the entire game using nothing but a handheld Morse code clicker.
According to MLB insiders, Rowley’s method was inspired by a 1943 U.S. Navy signal manual she reportedly found in a thrift store. Every call, from strikeouts to ejections, was tapped out in staccato bursts over the stadium’s PA system. “Safe” took 0.8 seconds, while “You’re out” required 14 distinct clicks and a long pause for dramatic effect.
League statisticians confirmed that while game length increased by nearly two hours, overall accuracy improved by 12%. Rowley’s unconventional style also seemed to unnerve players; Yankees shortstop Miguel Torres admitted he struck out looking because he was “still decoding the previous inning.”
Critics have raised concerns about accessibility, with one Boston fan filing a formal complaint that he “doesn’t speak dots and dashes.” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has promised a full review, though an anonymous source claims several other umpires have already purchased their own clickers.
As for Rowley, she says the debut went perfectly: “Baseball is about strategy and patience. Morse code is just the next evolution — and unlike instant replay, it can’t be hacked… probably.”
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