On January 26, 1990 — The Boston Red Sox hire Elaine Weddington as the assistant general manager of the team, making her the highest-ranking black female executive in major league baseball. The St. John’s graduate received a scholarship to attend the university from the Jackie Robinson Foundation.

Steward was selected as one of the “Ten Outstanding Young Leaders of Boston” in 1999, by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. She was also elected into the YWCA’s Academy of Women Achievers. During her time at St John’s University, she received the Outstanding Alumna Award from the Black Alumni Association and the St. John’s University President’s Medal. Later on, she went on to receive the National Association of Black Journalists Sports Task Force’s Sam Lacy Pioneer Award, and the Jackie Robinson Foundation Sports Management award and scholarship. Steward was featured in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s “Women in Baseball” exhibit in Cooperstown, New York.