Slow Burn – One Year: Mary Shane's Rookie Season
Podcast: Slow Burn (Slate Podcasts)
Episode: One Year: Mary Shane's Rookie Season
Air Date: July 29, 2021
Host & Producer: Josh Levine
Episode Overview
This episode of Slow Burn's "One Year" series revisits the 1977 rookie season of Mary Shane, the first woman to secure a full-time job as a Major League Baseball broadcaster. Through vivid storytelling, archival audio, and first-person interviews, the episode explores Shane’s breakthrough, the sexism she faced, her emotional journey through public scrutiny, and her enduring legacy. The narrative encapsulates both her struggles and triumphs, offering insight into the challenges of being a female pioneer in one of America’s most traditionally masculine professions.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
The Underdog White Sox and Chicago's Baseball Identity
- The Chicago White Sox, a team rooted in working-class fandom, contrasts with the image of the more popular Cubs.
- The 1977 season began with little hope but quickly became one of the franchise's most exciting years. By July, the Sox were improbably in first place, leading to one of the season's most electric games: a doubleheader comeback in front of 50,000+ fans.
[02:13 – 05:51]
Notable Quote:
"Woe be gone. It's like, what now? What can fall on our head today?"
— Bob Strunk, White Sox fan [02:13]
Mary Shane’s Early Life and Path to Broadcasting
- Mary Shane grew up in Milwaukee, falling in love with baseball early. Societal expectations pushed her towards traditional roles. Personal tragedy—her sister’s death—rekindled her love for the sport and helped her push for her dream.
- She got her sports journalism start after winning a Brewers' trip at a PBS auction, then made her way to local radio, despite being doubted and dismissed as "too feminine."
[07:33 – 12:38]
Notable Quote:
“You’ll never be one of the boys, Mary. You’re too feminine.”
— Brewers Announcer Merle Harmon, as recalled by Shane [11:20]
Breaking Barriers in a Sexist Industry
- The 1970s presented significant obstacles for women in sports media. Shane, and others like Helene Elliott, faced skepticism, exclusion (especially from locker rooms), and open sexism in the press box.
[12:38 – 14:21]
Notable Quote:
"When I told my guidance counselor in high school that I wanted to be a sports writer, she laughed at me."
— Helene Elliott, sportswriter [12:38]
Mary Shane's Big Break
- Shane introduced herself to legendary broadcaster Harry Caray, who invited her on air. After multiple guest appearances, she was invited for the unprecedented opportunity to join the White Sox broadcast team.
- Her hiring drew national attention, seen by some as legitimate progress, by others as a gimmick. Owner Bill Veeck both praised her talent and acknowledged her marketing potential, noting women made up a third of baseball’s audience.
[15:28 – 24:32]
Notable Quotes:
"Would you like to do this full time?"
— Harry Caray, to Mary Shane [19:01]
“I think they certainly are entitled to some representation.”
— Bill Veeck, White Sox owner [23:55]
The Pressure of Representation and Gendered Criticism
- Despite the hype, Shane was only given a part-time role—35 games out of 162—and struggled to hit her stride. She constantly fought scrutiny over her voice, knowledge, and presence.
- Criticism poured in from fans and colleagues alike. She received advice to alter her voice to sound less “shrill,” and encountered resistance from a particular peer, Lauren Brown, who reportedly undermined her live on air. [30:13 – 34:44]
Notable Quotes:
“You learn how to do that. Broadcasting is an art…You cannot wander into the booth and sit there and all of a sudden open your mouth.”
— Susan Waldman, Yankees announcer [31:06]
“She would make a comment, and then Lauren Brown would say something like, 'Well, what Mary meant to say there was…' as if she was incapable of articulating her own thoughts.”
— Patrick Shane (Mary’s son) [34:17]
Personal Struggles and Aftermath
- The professional toll intertwined with a crumbling marriage and the demands of single motherhood, making 1977 a personally hard year for Shane.
- She was eventually dropped from the broadcast team before the season ended and did not have her contract renewed.
[34:44 – 38:44]
Notable Quotes:
"She would never say that because she was not a whiner at all, and she was not a victim. But I think in her heart for sure, she felt like she hadn't gotten a shot."
— Laura Shuett, Shane’s niece [38:07]
Reinvention: Writing, Resilience, and Legacy
- Shane returned to teaching, but soon pivoted back to sports journalism, covering high school sports in Iowa and later the Boston Celtics for the Worcester Telegram. She fought for equal access in locker rooms and quietly mentored other women, including Jackie MacMullan.
- Shane’s second act as a writer was deeply fulfilling, insulated from the cruel focus on her voice. She broke stories—Larry Bird confided in her—and was respected by peers for her professionalism and tenacity.
- Health struggles ended her life at 42; her legacy continued through her memoir (unpublished, yet powerfully written) and the women she inspired.
[38:44 – 45:43]
Notable Quotes:
"I think it was a field leveler for her. Sure, it said Mary Shane, but when they're reading it, they don't hear a woman reading it to them...she can write."
— Patrick Shane [43:15]
"If you’re not working, please be quiet and leave."
— Mary Shane (as recalled by Jackie MacMullan) [43:32]
The Broader Picture: Women in Sports Broadcasting Today
- Decades later, women in the broadcast booth remain exceedingly rare. The 2021 all-woman crew for the Orioles marked a historic first, but Susan Waldman remains the only woman in a full-time MLB booth.
[46:35 – 47:29]
Notable Quote:
“I've said many times I think I'm not accepted in this business. I am tolerated. And now I've been there so long that they can't get rid of me. They wouldn't blink an eye if every woman disappeared.”
— Susan Waldman [47:11]
Mary Shane's Final Reflection
- The episode closes on Shane’s own words describing the solace and joy she found in baseball:
“I just remember the feeling of being at the ballpark, the hot dogs and the green grass...I kept hoping for extra innings. I didn't want the game to end.”
— Mary Shane (from her memoir) [48:02]
Memorable Moments & Quotes (with Timestamps)
- The joy and pain of fandom: “Woe be gone. It's like, what now? What can fall on our head today?” — Bob Strunk [02:13]
- Facing institutional skepticism: “When I told my guidance counselor...she laughed at me.” — Helene Elliott [12:38]
- The false start of full equality: “She was asked to do the impossible...it was hard on her.” — Laura Shuett [34:44]
- A mother’s love and resilience: “She always pretended that I was part of the decision…with tears in my eyes, ‘yes, mom, we can do it.’” — Patrick Shane [39:25]
- Barriers remain: “I've said many times that I think I'm not accepted in this business. I am tolerated.” — Susan Waldman [47:11]
- The essence of Mary Shane: “I just remember the feeling of being at the ballpark…kept hoping for extra innings. I didn't want the game to end.” — Mary Shane [48:02]
Important Segments (Timestamps)
- [02:13] White Sox fan culture & context
- [07:33] Mary Shane’s background & family expectations
- [12:38] Experiences of women in 1970s sports journalism
- [19:01] Shane’s big break: Audition & hiring
- [23:55] Team owner Bill Veeck’s motivations
- [30:13] Life in the broadcast booth & gendered criticism
- [34:44] Workplace sabotage & personal cost
- [38:44] After White Sox: Reinvention and sports journalism career
- [46:35] Women’s progress in sports broadcasting to present
- [48:02] Closing reflection: Baseball as solace
Episode Takeaways
- Mary Shane broke an important barrier in baseball broadcasting, but did so in a system unprepared to support or evaluate her fairly.
- Her journey reflects both the possibilities and limits for women in sports media in the 1970s—a theme still relevant today.
- Despite setbacks, Shane’s passion, professionalism, and resilience left their mark not only on the game but on future generations of women in sports.
- Her final lesson: The magic of pursuing what you love, regardless of the odds or the world’s expectations.
For those interested in the intersection of sports, gender, and resilience, this compelling episode offers inspiration and an unsparing look at both progress and persistent inequity.