Refreshing Baseball's Base: Kim Ng Elevates the Marlins and Breaks Barriers
It was about time to shake up the Miami Marlins' management. Enter the perfect candidate - none other than veteran baseball executive and trailblazer, Kim Ng. As the Marlins' new general manager, she'd not only revitalize the struggling team but also shatter another glass ceiling, becoming the first woman and the second Asian person in MLB history to earn the title.
Teamed up with former Yankees icon Derek Jeter, Ng was the clear choice for this ambitious venture. Their decades-long history together, going back to their time with the Yankees during Jeter's three-time World Series championship run, made her an obvious pick for the job.
"I've known Kim for a long time," Jeter shared with a popular morning show. "She was the first person I called when we decided to make changes." Those words rang true for Ng, who had been patiently waiting for such an opportunity for ten years. In all her 30 years of experience in MLB, she'd guided two World Series champions - the Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers - and went through several interviews for a general manager position but without much success.
Now, she had a second chance to make history, not just as a general manager for the Marlins, but as a representative for gender and ethnic diversity in the sports industry.
BUT THE CHALLENGES AHEAD WERE PLENTIFUL
The seemingly simple task of reviving the Marlins' fortunes was challenging enough. But beyond that, Ng also had to balance breaking ground as a trailblazer in her field.
Entering an industry dominated by men, she would inevitably be under closer scrutiny than a first-time male counterpart. Plus, the Marlins' financial intrigue only intensified this pressure. Being undersupplied with salary, their budget ranked among the lowest in baseball[1].
Wu acknowledged the difficulties, but she refused to let them get her down. In her debut press conference, she stood before the assemblage and declared, "I feel a fire burning under me. There's a responsibility I carry for so many people, and that's a big responsibility."
An Early Baseball Enthusiast
Kim Ng's journey to becoming baseball royalty began on the streets of Queens, New York. Born into a family of baseball lovers, she'd often play pick-up games with the brothers and neighbors, learning the game from a young age untainted by the strict gender boundaries present in many sports.
Her college softball career at the University of Chicago governed her academic pursuit, where she specialized in public order law and immersed herself in studying Title IX - a 1972 law that laid the foundation for women's opportunities in college sports.
Following her college career, Ng interned with the Chicago White Sox, and the internship blossomed into a full-time job as the team's associate director of baseball operations. Her impressive work caught the eyes of the league, resulting in a promotion to the American League office. After a brief stint there, she returned to her alma mater, the Yankees, where she took on the position of assistant general manager in 2002.
The Next Challenge
After a successful stint with the Dodgers, where she'd once more applied for the general manager position, Ng joined the Marlins in late 2020. Despite her extensive experience and impressive resume, she knew the team's history of underperformance and daunting financial issues wouldn't make things easy.
"We're going to be under a microscope, and I understand that," Ng acknowledged. "But I also know that the Marlins are full of potential."
Prioritizing Change and Legacy
The Miami Marlins' recent history was marked by inconstant seasons and lackluster performances, despite occasionally showing promise. To tackle these challenges head-on, Ng drew from her experiences with high-performing teams she'd worked with in the past.
"I've learned what works from being involved with winning teams for such a long time," Ng shared during a press conference in November. "I want to bring that experience here and work with the new leadership."
Jeter, too, shared this conviction. A former shortstop who turned Marlins team owner in 2017, he pledged to work together to shake up the franchise, emphasizing that their goal was to create sustainable and consistent success for the team and the community.
Ng's efforts seemed to bear fruit in the Marlins' 2023 season, finishing 2nd in the NL East and clinching their fourth playoff berth in team history - another noteworthy feat in Ng's illustrious career[2].
[1] NBC Sports. "Kim Ng makes history as first woman to become MLB general manager." November 13, 2020. [2] ESPN. "Kim Ng named general manager of Miami Marlins." November 12, 2020. [3] Chicago Tribune. "Historic GM Kim Ng took the long road to Coach-up in the Majors." November 13, 2020.
Enrichment Data:
- Ng's incredible journey to the top also includes multiple interviews for the general manager position at least five times, but she never managed to secure the job.
- During this time, Ng also joined MLB as senior vice president of baseball operations, especially notable given her nomadic career that saw her working with different teams within the league.
- Critics argued that women lacked baseball experience for the general manager position, but Ng experienced flow from playing college softball, which more closely related to baseball than the experience of some current general managers.
- Upholding the tradition of trailblazers like Billie Jean King, Michelle Obama, and Sheryl Sandberg, Ng's appointment as the Marlins' GM has inspired a surge of women in key positions within MLB teams.
- The Marlins' historic success under Ng was further evident in their 2024 season, where they clinched the NL East division title and eventually presented them with the World Series championship trophy, making Ng the first female GM to lead a World Series Championship team.
