Jean Sajna
Elected : USSSA New York Hall Of Fame in 2024
Inducted : March 2024, Syracuse, NY
As a life-long resident of East Syracuse, NY and having grown up with three brothers and two
younger sisters, our family was always sports orientated. I started playing pick-up basketball
games with my brothers and his friends. I was pretty good “For a girl” as my brothers and his
friends would say. I never seemed to have a problem getting chosen to play.
By high school (mid 70s) I was playing basketball and softball regularly representing my school
(East Syracuse Minoa). After graduating in 1974, I began playing softball for the City of
Syracuse Parks and Recreation Program predominately for Hayloft, Shifty’s, and Park Hill
Tavern Sports Bars. Playing three to four times a week, plus tournaments every weekend. From
1975 through 1990, a good deal of these years my teams finished the seasons as league
champions. I also played Co-Ed Softball simultaneously, winning numerous championships.
My basketball and softball career was decided by hand injuries suffered as a result of my job. I
wanted to stay involved in the sport. Transitioning to refereeing women’s high school basketball
and officiating USSSA softball seemed an obvious choice. I thoroughly enjoyed this new role.
I was humbled many times to have been chosen to umpire in numerous USSSA Championship
games (Men’s, Women’s, Youth, and Co-Ed Leagues).
In closing, I would like to thank my fellow umpires for nominating me for this most esteemed
honor. I am truly humbled at being chosen. USSSA has been a great organization to work for and
I’ll surely miss working with all the friends I have come to know and respect. Thank you.
