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 …
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 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 …
In Umpire Quotes Two we explore more quotes from umpires. These quotes should help the baseball umpire understand the difficult task umpires contend with. “The Umpire must be quick witted. He may not, like the wise old owl of the bench, look over his gold-rimmed glasses, inform the assembled multitude that he will “take the matter under advisement,” …
In umpire quotes three we look at more umpire quotes and quotes from others. Many quotes over the years have been good and not so good about the umpire profession. Hope you enjoy umpire quotes three. “Wanting to be an umpire is tantamount to wanting to be President of the United States. I can admire their fierce …
I had a play in an NCAA game. In one half of an inning an appeal was made at first that a player did not touch base. I didn’t know. He may not have, I didn’t see it. I had an argument. I said I did not see it. I had a mental conference with …
Denny and I worked an Adult League game in Hagerstown, MD. I worked the plate, he worked the bases. I lost a long foul ball in the lights. I saw it hit the wall about 12′ to the foul side of the foul pole. I called it “FOUL”! The manager argued that it went out …
I worked an American Legion Game where the manager was ejected. He sat in the stands and I allowed it. He then started talking to the assistant manager about changes as he moved from the top bleacher to the bottom seat. I did not notice. I told him he was ejected and to leave the …
As a Varsity High School pitcher in my senior year, I started a game at Conrad H.S. in Newport, DE, May of 1968. We were the visiting team. I had a no hitter in the bottom of the sixth inning with one out. Score tied 0 – 0. One of the Conrad hitters hit a …
The York Colonial Tournament Story by Denny Rotz Umpires miss the dropping of the hands to the sides because it happens so quickly sometimes. The pitcher must drop his hands when he steps back and disengages from the rubber. In a tournament game in The York Colonial Tournament (York County, PA) there was a pitcher …