SAN FRANCISCO — Alyssa Nakken said she was just doing her job. But the Giants coach’s work Tuesday night landed her in the Baseball Hall of Fame. At least, that’s where her orange City Connect helmet is headed.
When Nakken took over in the third inning for Antoan Richardson in the first-base coaches box during the Giants' game against the Padres, she became the first woman to serve in an on-field coaching role in MLB history, just the latest ceiling shattered by the Giants’ trailblazing assistant coach. The Baseball Hall of Fame recognized its significance, requesting the batting helmet Nakken wore to display in Cooperstown.
“Sometimes I think we limit ourselves to thinking what we could do, or at least that was my experience,” Nakken said. “I never thought I could do something like this because I never saw it. Sure, it’s certainly important for people to see somebody that kind of looks like them going out there and coaching in the big leagues.”
For Giants manager Gabe Kapler, the immediate moment was defined by its pragmatism. In his words, “We needed a good coach to go out and handle the responsibilities of first base, (and) Alyssa was the natural and obvious choice.” Nakken, who normally serves in a general assistant role on the bench, got the opportunity when Richardson was ejected the previous inning.
It was only after Kapler woke up Wednesday morning and saw the global reaction to the 31-year-old Nakken’s debut that he recognized its magnitude.
“I woke up this morning, read all of the quotes from inspired women — pretty far-reaching — and received a lot of commentary about how important it was for women in this city to see that happen,” Kapler said before the Giants’ game Wednesday against the Padres. “In hindsight, I recognize how huge of a moment that was for our staff, our players, Alyssa, all of our fans and everybody around the world. It was huge.”
The initial understated reaction from Kapler signals how far the game has come and how integrated Nakken is on the Giants coaching staff. But the fact that Nakken only became the first in 2022 also signals how far it has to go when it comes to equal opportunities for women in a sport that for its entire existence has been dominated by men.
The moment wasn’t lost on Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer, who greeted Nakken with a handshake when she arrived in the coaches box.
In her third season on Kapler’s staff, Nakken had no idea she’d be filling in for Richardson until Giants bench coach Kai Correa delivered her the news. Her first thought also leaned toward pragmatism.
“Probably should have worn more layers,” Nakken thought as she headed out to the field, where the 51-degree temperatures at first pitch descended as night fell and winds whipped off the San Francisco Bay.
Ultimately, Nakken said, “This is just my job. I just stepped in when somebody needed to step in.”
When she joined the Giants coaching staff in 2020, after spending six years in their front office, Nakken made her first piece of history, becoming the first female full-time member of a major league coaching staff. And ever since, she has been preparing for the opportunity that came Tuesday night. She has worked closely with Richardson, in particular, on outfield defense and baserunning drills in addition to learning the intricacies of coaching first base.
“Alyssa was prepared for this moment,” Kapler said. “She does so many other things well that aren’t seen, so it’s nice to see her be right there, get the spotlight and do it on the field.”
Alex Cobb, that night’s starting pitcher, didn’t find out until after the game, when the rest of the team was congratulating Nakken with hugs.
“I asked what happened and saw she made history,” Cobb said. “It’s so cool. I’m so happy for her. Just what a wonderful person to be the first at doing that. She handles herself so well. … No better person to be holding that honor.”
To the Giants, Nakken was just doing her job. But it nonetheless generated national headlines and reactions from other trailblazing women ranging from news anchor Andrea Mitchell to tennis star Billie Jean King.
Even as others follow in her footsteps, most notably Rachel Balkovec being named manager of the Yankees’ A-ball team this season, Nakken remains the only woman in a full-time MLB coaching role.
To young girls around the world, Nakken was providing them an example that she herself never had, growing up outside Sacramento as a multisport star, then going on to play first base at Sacramento State. But when her playing career ended, Nakken didn’t see a path for her in the sports world.
But there she was Tuesday night. And when the Giants’ Mauricio Dubon broke baseball’s “unwritten rule” and bunted for a base hit with San Francisco leading 11-2 in the sixth inning, Nakken was the only person between Dubon and the taunts coming from the Padres dugout.
“It was unreal,” Dubon said. “She’s one of us out there, so it’s pretty cool.”
