The Musial Award for Extraordinary Character is one of two special honors bestowed at the Musial Awards. It recognizes an individual who demonstrates remarkable class, perseverance and overall sportsmanship.

The arrival of the first woman umpire in the major leagues was a long time coming, for both the sport and Jen Pawol. The wait was worth it, though, because of the extraordinary character Jen displayed on every step of the journey. She prepared with years of hard work, perseverance and dedication. She seized the moment with poise and courage, striking the perfect balance of confidence and humility. And she embraces the label of role model, encouraging other women to follow their hearts.

“We are proud of the strong example she has set, particularly for all the women and young girls who aspire to roles on the field,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred says.

Jen’s love of the game was instilled early. She played as a youngster and earned a softball scholarship to Hoftstra University, where she was named All-Conference three times. She umpired college softball games to help fund her master’s degree in studio art and continued while she taught in upstate New York.

Her aha moment came in 2015, when she attended a Major League Baseball Umpire Camp in Cincinnati. “That was when the dream was planted for me,” she says. “When I realized that maybe I could be a major league umpire, I just went for it.”

Jen then toiled in the minors for a decade, much longer than most players. She endured the hard travel, the arguments over balls and strikes, and had managers kick dirt at her shoes “dozens of times. It doesn’t go very well for them. We’re professionally trained to argue as umpires.”

Always, she was her own best and worst critic. “Anybody in baseball will tell you that you’ve got to keep it simple, keep working hard, put your all into it,” she says. “Get better before tomorrow.”

Among the players encouraging her along the way was fellow Extraordinary Character honoree Adam Wainwright. Jen was umpiring in Memphis in 2023, when Adam was on a rehab assignment.

As she completed her check for foreign substances after an inning, Adam said, “Jen, I have four daughters, and I think what you’re doing is awesome.”

When Jen made her major league debut at first base in August, everybody seemed willing to bend the umpire’s golden rule: Do not distract from the game. Fans in Atlanta gave a standing ovation and waved homemade signs. Players shared congratulations, and she appeared at a postgame press conference.

Jen accepted the accolades with a humble smile. Seeing her name on the scoreboard, she thought, “Wow. The dream actually came true. … It was pretty amazing when we took the field. It seemed like quite a few people were clapping and saying my name, so that was pretty intense and very emotional.”

She was behind the plate the next day when Braves pitching coach Rick Kranitz visited starter Joey Went on the mound. Kranitz heard the crowd clapping as Jen approached them. “We all agreed,’ he said, “’Let’s let her come all the way out. Let’s get the crowd into this.’”

Jen worked three more regular-season series as a rover, so among her next career goals is a regular spot on a crew. She also plans to continue to embrace her status as role model and to encourage other women to join her or to pursue dreams that seem unattainable.

“Give it a try, first and foremost,” she said. “Have some grit to see it through. It’s a long road. There’s countless things you have to do. A lot of people give up along the road. Just see it through and make friends and have fun.”