MLB first: Giants’ Alyssa Nakken is first female to make on-field appearance in regular-season game
MLB history: Alyssa Nakken becomes first woman to coach on field during regular season (NCD)
ByNatalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Tuesday’s game between the San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres was one for the history books. But it wasn’t because of one of the players. Instead, it was because of the coaching staff.
Giants’ coach Alyssa Nakken was the first woman to take the field for an MLB regular-season game when she took her position as the first base coach, NBC News reported.
Nakken replaced Antoan Richardson when the umpires ejected him from the game at the bottom of the third.
Richardson was allegedly giving directions to outfielders, Sports Illustrated reported.
At the time, the score was 10-1, Giants.
Nakken is an assistant coach for the Giants and was called by manager Gabe Kapler to take her place on the field, NBC News reported.
When she got there, she got a quick handshake from Padres’ first baseman Eric Hosmer, ESPN reported.
“Right now in this moment as I reflect back, I reflect back to somebody needed to go out, we needed a coach to coach first base, our first-base coach got thrown out. I’ve been in training as a first-base coach for the last few years and work alongside Antoan, so I stepped in to what I’ve been hired to do, is support this staff and this team,” Nakken said, according to ESPN.
Last night’s groundbreaking moment isn’t a first for Nakken. She is also the first woman to have a full-time coaching job on a major-league team. Her uniform from the 2020 opening game was donated to the Baseball Hall of Fame, NBC News reported.
Her helmet from Tuesday’s game is also on the way to the museum, according to ESPN.
Nakken joined the Giants in 2014 as a baseball operations intern and was promoted through the ranks. Before that, she was a star softball player at Sacramento State University.
“I think we’re all inspirations doing everything that we do on a day-to-day basis and I think, yes, this carries a little bit more weight because of the visibility, obviously there’s a historical nature to it,” she said, according to ESPN. “But again, this is my job.”
Nakken isn’t the only woman making a name for herself on the diamond. Rachael Balkovec was the first female manager of a major-league affiliate team for the New York Yankees’ Single-A team, the Tampa Tarpons.
The Giants went on to beat the Padres 13-2, ESPN reported.
0 of 16
Through the years Coach Alyssa Nakken of the San Francisco Giants poses for a portrait on Photo Day at Scottsdale Stadium, the spring training complex of the San Francisco Giants on February 18, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Tringali/Getty Images) (Rob Tringali/Getty Images)
Through the years Wilmer Flores #41 elbow bumps coach Alyssa Nakken of the San Francisco Giants after he hit a double intrasquad game at Oracle Park on July 15, 2020 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Through the years First base coach Alyssa Nakken elbow bumps Mike Yastrzemski #5 of the San Francisco Giants after he walked in the third against the Oakland Athletics during their exhibition game at Oracle Park on July 21, 2020 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Through the years San Francisco Giants first base coach Alyssa Nakken speaks with Brandon Crawford #35 before the Opening Day game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on July 23, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. The 2020 season had been postponed since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) (Harry how/Getty Images)
Through the years San Francisco Giants coach Alyssa Nakken before the game against the at Dodger Stadium on July 24, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. The 2020 regular season has been shortened to 60 games due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) (Harry how/Getty Images)
Through the years San Francisco Giants coach Alyssa Nakken before the game against the at Dodger Stadium on July 24, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. The 2020 regular season has been shortened to 60 games due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) (Harry how/Getty Images)
Through the years Assistant coach Alyssa Nakken of the San Francisco Giants coaches during the third inning of the MLB spring training game against the Texas Rangers on March 01, 2021 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Through the years Assistant coach Alyssa Nakken uses a pitching machine during warmups before the game between the Seattle Mariners and the San Francisco Giants at T-Mobile Park on April 02, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Through the years Assistant coach Alyssa Nakken of the San Francisco Giants looks on in the dugout before the game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on April 03, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Through the years Assistant coach Alyssa Nakken #92 of the San Francisco Giants stands during the National Anthem before the game Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on May 14, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) (Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
Through the years Darin Ruf #33 of the San Francisco Giants tosses the ball to assistant coach Alyssa Nakken #92 prior to a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on May 26, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) (Norm Hall/Getty Images)
Through the years Alyssa Nakken #92 of the San Francisco Giants looks on against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on June 11, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Through the years San Francisco Giants coach Alyssa Nakken speaks to Miami Marlins general manager Kim Ng before their opening day game at Oracle Park on April 08, 2022 in San Francisco, California. Nakken made history as the first full-time woman head coach in Major League Baseball, and Ng made history as the first woman to become a MLB general manager. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Through the years Joc Pederson #23 of the San Francisco Giants reacts as passes first base coach Alyssa Nakken after he hit a home run in the eighth inning against the San Diego Padres at Oracle Park on April 12, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Sign Up
