On June 24, 1972 Culminating a long battle to reach pro baseball, Bernice Gera umpires the first game of a doubleheader between Auburn and Geneva (New York-Penn League). Several disputes take place and she ejects the Auburn manager, Nolan Campbell. Gera resigns before the second game, leaving in tears, saying resentment from the other umps was a factor in her decision. She will later work…
On January 13, 1972, Bernice Gera wins her lawsuit against Organized Baseball, initiated on March 15, 1971, clearing the way for her to make her umpiring debut in the New York-Penn League during the summer. Gera, who had initiated the suit in 1971, will umpire just one game before deciding to call it quits. …
On March 15, 1971 — Bernie Gera a 39-year-old New York housewife files a civil rights suit against MLB when her contract to umpire in the New York-Penn League becomes void after six days without an explanation. The New York Court of Appeals, in an eventual landmark 5-2 decision, will uphold a previous…