Working with Chicago Umpires

[mick]

For a couple of backwoods Lake Superior umpires, it was fun for us, Jim Weiler and me, to work a three-man crew, instead of the usual two, with Bob Jenkins. The setting was a little diamond out in the bush, which was about 2 miles from The Lake and surrounded by trees and and wetlands and notorious for skeeters and other such things.

From the beginning, with Bob at first base, I was concerned that our flying fauna might be bothering him, but he indicated there was no problem.

Well, as the game progressed, and although Jim and I weren't being pestered, I looked down at first and there's Bob just a wavin' and a swattin', but still no complaint.

We had an exciting Adult Twilight League, 1-16 games with a few dingers and a couple close calls.

In accordance with our scheduled itinerary, we ended U.P. at a local watering hole to talk about the three Hoops games and the ball game we three worked that afternoon.

It was there that Bob put on an brief, but interesting clinic on philosphy, interpretations, rules and our lack of hand-signalling [Gees! And I thought all that waving and swatting was about bugs.]

Anyway, we had some fun. If you get a chance to work with Bob, it's both a pleasure and a treat. If you get a chance to work with any talented umps from out of your area, just do it. It's neat!
mick