Ump 69 in the set position ready for the pitch while working the bases at the 1998 COBA Senior All-Star Game.
Blue 55 behind the plate waiting for the pitch at the 1998 COBA Senior All-Star Game.
I will have Blue 55's story here at a later date.
This page is dedicated to all Officials, of all sports. If you have an interesting story that you think will fit into the theme of this page please email the details to me. All Officials names and team names of those involved will be omitted to protect the Officials (where possible). Many of these cases will probably remind you of something that has happened in your own area. ;(
Ump 69
Donald Jensen was struck in the head by a thrown bat while umpiring a Little League game in Terre Haute, Indiana. He continued to work the game, but later that evening was placed in a hospital by a doctor. While being kept overnight for observation, Mr. Jensen wrote the following letter:
Dear Parent of a Little Leaguer
I am an umpire, I don't do it for a living, but on Saturdays and Sundays, for fun.
I've played the game, coached it and watched it. But somehow, nothing takes the place of umpiring. Maybe it's because I feel that deep down I'm providing a fair chance for all the kids to play the game without disagreements and arguments.
With all the fun I've had, there is still something that bothers me about my job... some of you folks don't understand why I'm there. Some of you think I'm there to exert authority over your son or daughter. For that reason, you often yell at me when I make a mistake, or encourage your son or daughter to say things to hurt my feelings.
How many of you really understand that I try to be perfect? I try not to make a mistake, I don't want your child to feel that he got a bad deal from an umpire.
Yet no matter how hard I try, I can't be perfect. I counted the number of calls I made in a six-inning game today. The total number of decisions, wether on balls and strikes or safes and outs was 146.
I tried my best to get them all right, but I'm sure I missed some. When I figured out my percentage on paper, I could have missed 8 calls today and still got about 95 percent of the calls right... In most occupations that percentage would be considered excellent.... If I were in school, that grade would recieve an "A" for sure.
But your demands are higher than that. Let me tell you about my game today.
There was a real close call that ended the game... a runner for the home team was trying to steal the plate on a passed ball. The catcher chased the ball down and threw to the pitcher covering the plate. The pitcher made the tag, and I called the runner out.
As I was getting my equipment to leave, I overheard one of the parents' comments: "It's too bad the kids have to lose because of rotten umpires. That was one of the lousiest calls I've seen."
Later at the concession stand, a couple of kids were telling their friends, "Boy, the umpires were lousy today. They lost the game for us."
The purpose of Little League is to teach baseball skills to young people. Obviously, a team that does not play well in a given game, yet is given the opportunity to blame that loss on an umpire for one call or two, is being given the chance to take all responsibility for the loss from its shoulders.
A parent or adult leader who permits the younger player to blame his or her failures on an umpire, regardless of the quality of that umpire, is doing the worst kind of injustice to that youngster... Rather than learning responsibility, such an attitude is fostering an improper outlook toward the ideals of the game itself. The irresponsibility is bound to carry over to future years.
As I sit here writing this letter, I am no longer as upset as I was this afternoon. I wanted to quit umpiring. But fortunately, my wife reminded me of another situation that occured last week.
I was behind the plate, umpiring for a pitcher who pantomimed his displeasure at any call on a borderline pitch that was not in his team's favour. One could sense that he wanted the crowd to realize that he was a fine talented player who was doing his best to get along, and I was a black-hearted villain who was working against him.
The kid continued in this vein for two innings... while at the same time yelling at his own players who dared make a mistake. When the kid returned to the dugout to bat in the top of the third, the manager called him aside.
In a loud enough voice that I was able to overhear, the lecture went like this: "Listen, Son, it's time you made a decision. You can be an umpire, or an actor, or a pitcher. But you can only be one at a time when you're playing for me. Right now it is your job to pitch, and you are basically doing a lousy job. Leave the acting to the actors, the umpiring to the umpires, or you won't do any pitching here. Now what is it going to be?"
Needless to say, the kid chose the pitching route and went on to win the game. When the game was over the kid followed me to my car. Fighting his hardest to keep back the tears, he apologized for his actions and thanked me for umpiring his game. He said he had learned a lesson that he would never forget.
I can't help but wonder... how many fine young men are missing their chance to develop into outstanding ballplayers because their parents encourage them to spend time umpiring, rather than working harder to play the game as it should be played.
The following morning Donald Jensen died of a brain concussion.
Danny Warrick, submitted by Michael J. Bolander (source before that unknown)
Hamilton District Baseball Association (HDBA) and Hamilton District Umpires Association (HDUA) have in the last 5 years managed to have 2 highly qualified Umpires forced out of the league. In both cases decisions regarding the umpires were made without the Umpires involved being allowed to present their arguments to the league governing body.
A complaint about the # that I (69) choose to wear on my sleeve, became an issue after 6 years of Umpiring for the HDBA. When I first arrived in the area, I was prepared for a possible complaint. After 6 years of wearing the #, with no complaints and upwards of 100 assignments a year, I figured that no one would complain or require my changing of Uniforms.
The HDUA informed me during my Clinic in the Spring 1999, that someone had complained about the # I wear on all my uniforms. At this time I was told "If you do not agree to change your # you will get no assignments from us."
Due to the fact that I work with lots of young children, I agreed to change #'s if
1) the HDBA or HDUA agreed to pay for the 4 replacement shirts and a replacement jacket(The cost of each of the 4 shirts is $47.95 and a jacket is $124.95 plus the numbering cost and taxes. "Honig's Whistle Stop Canada" Catalogue)
2) I was told Who complained after so many years of service.
The HDUA Executive informed me that I would be given 1 shirt and 1 jacket, they would not however reveal Who had lodged the complaint.
Early in the year the HDBA and HDUA allowed me to wear my old Uniforms until new uniforms could be purchased.
During a High School Tournament, I was informed by 2 members of the HDBA Executive that it was the HDUA member of the HDBA Executive that had put the new motion to the HDBA that no one be allowed to wear the #69, be they a coach, player or umpire.
When at the HDBA Executive Meeting, the HDUA member was questioned about Who had complained, the HDUA member Refuse to divulge the name(s) of those involved.
After this information I recalled all Equipment that I had lent to Umpires who are part of the HDUA (including a roomate who I got started as an Umpire 4 years ago). I immediately cancelled all assignments that HDUA had given me, to show my displeasure. My hope was that (and still is) we officials get "A Fair Say" in anything that concerns us directly.
To the parents of any Association involved in a dispute like this, please remember that we the Officials spend much time, effort, and money to try to make your son/daughters minor league experience an enjoyable one. We however must find it enjoyable or we will not stay to give the children the chance to enjoy the sport.
My equipment cost is in excess of $1000 (Canadian) and for the average game I am paid $25. To have a parent/coach complain about a trivial thing like the number I wear on my sleeve, really infuriates me. I am proud of the Year I was born and the condition I have kept myself in, if I want to display it on my sleeve it is no ones concern but my own.
In a time when so few people are willing to devout their free time to helping the community, do we really need to be so "Politically Correct" that we force those who Love the Work, away from what they Love most ?
It was brought to my attention that HDUA had to cancel High School games this spring, due to a shortage of manpower. I don't know that my inability to work caused this, but I don't recall it happening in the last 5 years in this city.
Over the course of several tournaments in the immediate area, many Hamilton parents have expressed their disbelief over the reason I no longer work games for HDBA. Most people cannot believe that that such a petty thing has cause so many problems.
The COBA Senior Baseball League thought so highly of the two umpires rejected by HDBA, that they worked the 1998 Senior All-Star Game.
Ump 69 in the set position ready for the pitch while working the bases at the 1998 COBA Senior All-Star Game.
Blue 55 behind the plate waiting for the pitch at the 1998 COBA Senior All-Star Game.
I will have Blue 55's story here at a later date.