The following article “Keep the Game Moving” was written by one of my best friends, Jim Bard of Chambersburg, PA. Jim mentored me in the early 1980’s and was the reason I became an umpire and have remained an umpire. He has been an umpire since 1969. I consider Jim one of the best and most knowledgeable. As …
The first responsibility of an umpire is “Getting the Call Right”. Our ultimate goal as a Baseball Umpires is to get the call right. Your pride as an umpire is very important. However, your dignity is not as important as making sure you are making the correct call. All umpires, at any level, should have the …
My philosophy on umpiring a baseball game has evolved over the years since 1984. The reasons my philosophy has changed is because of the tremendous learning curve involved in becoming a more mature umpire. I had an aptitude to umpire initially and had a pretty good baseball strike zone because of my experience playing, managing and coaching. I …
It is very important for umpires to understand Catch and Carry in baseball, especially amateur baseball. The Official Baseball Rules (OBR) do not address specifically the situation of a fielder carrying a live ball into Dead Ball Territory (DBT). The term used in baseball in the awarding of bases is “catch and carry”. However, during …
What follows is my personal baseball umpiring philosophy and the thought behind it. I knew as a Little League baseball player that I would be a baseball umpire someday. The umpires that worked the baseball games I played in were mostly men that had an interest in the game. I certainly liked (loved) the game. …
There can never be enough said about #42 Jackie Robinson. Not only was #42 a tremendous baseball talent, Jackie was a man of character and high standards. Yes, Jackie was a great ball player. However, few knew he was a very good football and basketball player also. Consider Jackie Robinson’s character. Branch Rickey picked the right man …
Women umpires have been few and far between at any level of baseball. Women umpires have not faired very well from the Little Leagues up to the Major League level. It has been almost 40 years since Bernice Gera sued the MLB to become the first women umpire since then women have done well in …
When check-swings occur, umpires must consider the following: 1. Did the batter “break” his wrists, “roll” his wrists or swing through the ball? 2. Did the batter bring the barrel of the bat over the plate or in front of his body? If you, as an umpire, are convinced that the batter offered at the …
There have been many umpire quotes and other baseball quotes over the years. Umpires have their own thoughts about games, game situations, and what players, coaches, and fans think of their calls. Many umpire quotes have been controversial and some have spoken to the heart of the game. Umpiring is about the spirit of the game …
Bill Klem is believed to be the “The Father of Modern Baseball Umpires”. William Joseph Klimm was born February 22, 1874 in Rochester, New York. His name was changed to Klem later in his life. The year was 1902 and Bill Klem, 28 years old, began his professional umpiring career in the Connecticut State League. In 1903 he …