Ng has smoked celebratory cigars with Joe Torre. She's played golf with Dodger executives from the men's tees. But she rarely tries to get into matches of wit, unless she's out with her husband Tony and has some friend of a friend try to test her.
But those nights are rare. She's more likely to be at a ballpark, on a cellphone, on her 80-hour-a-week job.
"If I don't do it well, all of this means nothing," Ng said.
When a Turner Field security guard stopped her walking from the stands onto the field Tuesday, she didn't roll her eyes or make snide remarks. She went into the visitors dugout, reached into her bag and produced a badge.
"No matter who you are or what you do, it's a natural reaction for people to look at you and have preconceived notions," Ng said. "I think you have to figure out the best way to deal with it."
Her way?
"To be understanding," she said. "And if you get them into a conversation, make them think about you a little different than when they first came up to you."
When her Yankees contract expired, Ng considered leaving MLB before Dan Evans, who hired her as an intern in Chicago, became general manager of the Dodgers. He called her 10 times. "I didn't hire her because she's the best woman," Evans said. "She was the best candidate. She brings a lot of skills when she comes in a room. Once people get past the point that she's a woman, they see she's got exceptional talent."
Northeastern University's Center for the Study of Sport in Society gave Major League Baseball a D+ in its 2001 report comparing the number of women hired for front office positions with the number of women in the population. But Kevin Matthews, co-director of the study, thinks Ng will make a significant impact. "I'm an optimist," Matthews said. "Whenever people break through stereotypes, it will open people's minds on hiring ... I know she changed some people's minds. Hopefully it'll lead to more change."
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