WOMEN'S HISTORY MOMENT: ELAINE WEDDINGTON STEWARD, THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN EXECUTIVE IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL (3614 hits)
Elaine Weddington Steward is a native of New York City and graduated with honors from St. John’s University in 1984 with a B.S. in Athletic Administration. While attending St. John’s she served as an intern in the New York Mets public relations department and was a member of the St. Vincent’s College Honor Society. She was a recipient of the prestigious Jackie Robinson Foundation Sports Management scholarship.
Upon graduation from St. John’s University School of Law in 1987, Elaine was selected to participate in the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball Executive Development program. She was admitted to the New York State Bar in April of 1988 and is a member of the American Bar Association.
Elaine joined the Red Sox in July 1988 as associate counsel and was named assistant general manager in January, 1990. In February of 1995, she was named legal counsel while continuing with her responsibilities as assistant general manager, and was appointed a Vice President on January 30, 1998. Steward worked with former Red Sox general managers Lou Gorman and Dan Duquette in her capacity as assistant general manager. Steward was appointed Vice President and Club Counsel on March 7, 2002.
In 1999 she was selected as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Leaders of Boston and was elected into the YWCA Academy of Women Achievers. In 2001 she received the Outstanding Alumna Award from the St. John’s University Black Alumni Association and is a recipient of the St. John’s University President’s Medal. Elaine is featured in the National Baseball Hall of Fame Women in Baseball exhibit in Cooperstown, NY.
