Home

Food For Thought

This is a post I orignially made on July 17, 2004.  The post still holds true today.

Umpiring is the only profession where you are expected to be perfect your first day on the job and get better every day.

I heard a fan jump on an umpire in a game yesterday because he had 'missed' a pitch. I watched the entire game and agree, he did miss the pitch. That is the *only* pitch I saw that I could tell he mis-called. I figure he saw approximately 200 pitches in that game. He had an accuracy rate of 99.5%. I would consider that a pretty good average. Even Ivory Soap was only advertised as 99 44/100% pure.

You can bet that missing that one pitch hurt that umpire more than that ballplayer will ever worry about it. I've been there and I can say I missed a few myself. There is a player in this tournament that I missed a call on him a few years ago in a state tournament. I still remember that call and regret that it happened.

I hear fans yell all the time that the ump is in it for the money. Let's see, he probably took a day or so of vacation to work this tournament. That is a day he could have spent with his family and kids. Yea, most of the umps actually have people that love them.  They even have kids that play ball but guess what, they don't get to see them play all that often. They are usually at the ballpark but, they are working a game so that *your* child can play. Mom is usually carrying the load and watching their child play so Dad can help lots of kids enjoy baseball. Ah yes, the pay. The ump usually gets $25-$30 a game. He probably had to stop somewhere to grab a bite to eat. There was equipment and uniforms to buy. They don't give that stuff away, you know. A good pair of plate shoes runs over $100. A good set of plate equipment is going to cost around $300, give or take a few $$$. Occasionally an ump takes a shot to the hand or arm and it requires a visit to the doctor. That is definitely a freebie.

The plate equipment is not very well air conditioned. Imagine when it is in the 90s what the ump is going through. He has a heavy plastic shield protecting his chest and legs and a heavy hot mask wrapped around his face. It feels like it is about 400 degrees under all that stuff.

Tar Heel Leagues, Inc. gives away a scholarship each year that is totally funded by donation from their umpires. I know of no other youth baseball organization that does this. I am proud of these guys and very proud to say that I have had the honor just to have had the opportunity to work a game on the same field with them. THL umpires are the elite of North Carolina.

Sure, you paid for the right to take a shot at the ump during the game. We have come to expect that and know that when we miss a pitch or call, we deserve it. But, after the game, take the time to say thanks to the umpire for being there and helping give your child the opportunity to play ball. Just a handshake and a simple "Thanks' means more to them that any amount of $$$ ever will.

I can no longer participate as an official due to health problems but, I would give nearly anything I own just to be able to walk out on the filed one more time, sweep off the plate, look at that first batter and catcher and say, "Are you gentleman ready to play ball?" They would look at me with their big eyes shining and reply "Yes Sir!". As I pulled that mask down over my face I would reply to them, "OK, we're gonna have a good time today." PLAY BALL


< /soapbox mode off>

Remember, if it weren't for the kids, we wouldn't be here.

Thanks guys, you are #1.