Jen Pawol made history as the first woman to umpire in Major League Baseball when she debuted in an Aug. 9 game between the Braves and Marlins.

She had dozens of family members, friends and other supporters there at Truist Park. She had fans holding handmade signs hailing her for making “HERstory.” She had national media members interviewing her. And she donated her cap to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

But as Pawol, a member of the MLB Call-Up Umpire list, returned to the MLB level to work a Pirates-Rockies series at PNC Park this weekend with the landmark assignment behind her, she got to be just another ump.

And her experience is a good opportunity to explain how this backup system works.

Pawol is one of 17 current Triple-A umpires on the call-up list, eligible t

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