Springfield College Alumna Continues to Make History
In 2017, Justine Siegal, PhD’13, returned to Springfield College as the keynote speaker at the annual Tom Waddell ’59 Symposium for Sports and Values.
By: Damon Markiewicz
In 2017, Justine Siegal, PhD’13, returned to Springfield College as the keynote speaker at the annual Tom Waddell ’59 Symposium for Sports and Values and shared a very impactful message. Siegal expressed to the campus community that a coach once told her when she was 13 and playing youth baseball that girls are only supposed to play softball, not baseball.
“At that moment, I vowed I would never quit baseball,” explained Siegal.
By the age of 16, Siegal had set her sights on becoming a college baseball coach. Despite being told that no man would ever listen to a woman on the baseball field, she worked toward her goal, growing even more determined to realize her dream. After earning her PhD in Sport Psychology from Springfield College, Siegal made history when the Oakland A’s hired her to be a guest instructor for its Instructional League club in 2015, making her the first woman in history to coach in Major League Baseball.
Now, just nine years after delivering her powerful remarks to the Springfield College campus community, she has once again made history as the co-founder and first commissioner of the Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL), which began its inaugural season on August 1, 2026. The WPBL season runs through mid-September, with all games hosted at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Ill. The inaugural four teams in the WPBL include the Boston Hunters, Los Angeles Queens, New York Heights, and San Francisco Firebells.
As the WPBL’s commissioner, Siegal manages the league’s baseball operations, and oversees player relations and staff development. In addition, Siegal guides the league’s strategic direction, supports revenue growth, and serves as a global ambassador.
“Being appointed commissioner is beyond anything I’ve ever dreamt of and a humbling opportunity to help shape the league and the future of women’s professional baseball,” stated Siegal, as part of the WPBL press release on March 19, 2026. “I’m so grateful to be a part of the WPBL, knowing girls have a chance to be a professional baseball player, just like their brothers have for decades. Now is our time.”
During her time at Springfield College, Siegal served as an assistant coach from 2008-2011 for the Pride baseball team. She talked about her extraordinary experiences in making our national pastime an iconic place for inclusion.
"I had a lot of different roles during my time at Springfield College," said Siegal, when talking with Masslive.com leading into the 2019 Western Massachusetts Baseball Hall of Fame induction. "To some of the players, it was a bit shocking to have a woman on the coaching staff, but they soon came to realize that I could make them better."
As a result of her pioneer roots during her time at Springfield College, Siegal was enshrined into the Western Massachusetts Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019. Siegal has always carried a strong message that girls and women deserve a chance to play on the big diamond, a message that resonated loud and clear as the first female electee of the Western Massachusetts Baseball Hall of Fame.
Siegal has demonstrated a life-long commitment to advancing the great sport of baseball for all to enjoy. In 2010, she founded Baseball For All (BFA), a national nonprofit building gender equity in baseball by creating access for girls to play, coach, and lead. BFA is a member of USA Baseball and is recognized by the MLB Player Trust. It’s an organization that works on behalf of the more than 100,000 girls who play in youth programs across America.
Siegal started making history even during her doctoral student days at Springfield College. During the summer of 2009, she became the first female coach of a professional men's baseball team, coaching first base for the Brockton Rox of the independent Canadian-American Association.
In 2011, Siegal became the first woman to throw batting practice to a major league team when she assisted the Cleveland Indians during spring training. She has also thrown batting practice for the Oakland A's, Tampa Bay Rays, St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros, and New York Mets. In addition, she served as the mental skills coach for team Israel during the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
Growing up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, her love for baseball goes back to her childhood, when her grandfather would take her to Cleveland Indians games. Siegal's father always signed her up for youth baseball rather than girls’ softball. She continued to play, even when one of her coaches told her that she didn't belong in baseball because it is a man's sport. When she reached high school, she played third base and pitched for varsity teams.
“I continue to stay committed to my journey and the future for girls and women in baseball," expressed Siegal, during her 2019 Western Massachusetts Baseball Hall of Fame induction speech.
Amazing alumni like this are proof of the power of a Springfield College education. Your support helps us continue preparing students to lead in service to others—true to our Humanics philosophy. Give today to support the next generation.
