Most embarrassing Moment
 

Now that the season is over(long since over for those of us in Canada), thought I would ask something light-hearted about your most embarrasing moment while umpiring. Could be an obvious flubbed call or anything else.

Mine is during my first year of umpiring and of course didn't have all of the official equipment or clothing. As a result of not using umpire pants, when I took my "stance" I heard a huge "rip" and it suddenly got very drafty! Of course it happened very early in the game and I didn't bring extra pants(I do now!!) so I had to complete the game in "windy" conditions.
Everyone had a good laugh and we simply continued with the game, although I do recall a couple of comments about "blowing" some calls! :)

Well,
 

I have two (you can pick which is worse):

1) I am working the plate. F2 calls for a pitch out and jumps outside . . . ball comes directly at me and I CATCH IT!

2) R1 and I am in "B". F1 tosses over a couple of times with a slow motion. No real play so I say nuttin' . . . then he whirls and fires and I yell "GET BACK!" . . .

Regards,

I rang a guy up on strike 2 in a college game last spring. I think it was about my third game of the year. Some winter rust I supposse. Needless to say the batter was impressed. I rang him up again on the next pitch.

Long long ago...

No one out, no one on. Pop up to the SS.

"INFIELD FLY!!!!" I pointed up at it even. Ugh.

I was in "B", routine single to the outfield, throw comes into 2nd and I'm watching the whole thing. For some reason, the 2nd baseman throws ME the ball...and I CATCH it. I quickly dropped it, like it was on fire.

Four years ago, working solo JV game, routine ground ball to F4, I start around the catcher to hustle out for my angle, catcher drop steps with his left leg, trips me as I'm running. I fall spread eagled on my face, breaking the fall with both hands to keep my face out of the dirt.

I arose to my knees in time to see the play at first, and called the runner out from my knees. I skinned up both palms, and was covered in dirt, and needless to say, embarrassed.:o

The second situation made me laugh. In the first I'm hoping the pitcher wasn't throwing any real heat.

try this on for size...
 

wearing my brand spankin new honigs plate shoes they sent me as a replacement for their 2nd plate job. mind you, though these are the same exact size as my old ones, for some reason they are almost 2 sizes too big. i have extra socks on, and have stuffed toilet paper up n the toes to try and combat the issue. anyway...

R1, base hit. i head up to third, but the ball is misplayed in the OF. sooo, i turn and head back to the plate, only my right shoe doesn't feel like making the trip. i continued to the plate area with one shoe on and let the play finish. i then went to retrieve it and the 3rd base bench is in stitches. i hear the head coach say, "i knew you were fast, but that's just ridiculous." fyi, i wear a size 16, so there was no missing the thing sittin there 3/4 of the way up the line....

I'm working in a 3 man crew in the Cape Cod Baseball league. It's a Saturday night, game of the week and I'm the 3B umpire in the C pos, R1, R2. R2 tries to steal third. I take my steps and plant my foot to get an angle for the play at third and whoop.... I slip and fall flat on my keyster. With impeccable timing (because I had to get myself up from the wet grass) I come up with the safe call. Then I call time so about 1500 fans and I can stop laughing.

D

Happened about two years ago. American Legion (16-19) game under the lights at local stadium, about 250 in attendance, two top teams, 2nd game of double header.

I leave my strike zone in the car in between games and the more I try to recover the worst it gets. After making it through 6 with numerous, numerous comments and just when I think it is going to get better, a low breaking pitch (never in the strike zone), almost takes the batters toes off, I call "strike."

The announcer says ball 1 and after the next pitch (batter swings and misses)
I correct the count on the scoreboard to 0-2. I hear over the loudspeaker "that terrible." I turnaround and it certainly seemed as though 250 people were all over my butt. I had NOWHERE to hide, just turned back around and continued to suck, even in extra innings. (PLEASE let me go home.)

Fortunately, no team won or lost because of me.

At the end of the game the catcher turns around and says, "Blue, you really sucked tonight." He was right. I handed the two basballs to him and said "Son, your absolutely right, have a good night." I couldn't make it to the car fast enough and yes there were plenty of comments waiting for me as I left.

Truly, the most embarassing night I ever experienced as an official.

Hmmmmm ........................
 

My first high school game.

JV game working alone.

First batter of game singles.

Two pitches into next at-bat, pitcher steps off and feigns a throw to first.

I raise my arms and briskly move out from behind the plate and state "That's a balk !!!".

After pitcher, catcher, and home manager chew on my ample posterior, the visiting manager says "Blue, he stepped off first".

Welcome to the unreal world of umpiring.

When Little League Dan started posting?

Embarassing moments? Gee, I have none to recall! :rolleyes:



Except for the time I signaled "safe" and verbalized "out"! (LL @2nd base 26 years ago) :D

I while in space in a HS game, just plain terrible game, and I zoned out. Well, pitcher had been doing the same horrible pick off all game, well, now he trys something new, steps off turns and fakes to first (actually quicker than his normal staying on the rubber move but not here or there) Anyway, up I come as he fakes, I am very loud and give a great, "That's A ... No It's Not" I don't think there was a dry eye in the place.:D :D

I must admit Tim, that second one is one of the funniest I ever heard.

Not my most embarassing moment, but likely my most stupid. I was watching my son's JV game and PU, a friend of mine from the association, called time after the first out and called "Hey! I forgot my mask!" And here I was watching and never even noticed!

I've slipped on wet grass.

I've had to run back to my car after groundrules realizing my cup isn't in.

I've called Foul Ball on a catch (the sun was in my eyes, I could have sworn the ball hit the ground, BU corrected me immediately and the smartass coach running out to 1st base coach next half inning said "Nice Foul Ball call". I just smiled back)

But my MOST embarassing moment...

Bench has been on me all game. Change of pitchers inbetween innings that wasn't reported to me, and I didn't notice. There's an injury on the SS, manager goes out to check on him, on the way in tries to stop at the pitcher for a prolonged discussion (more than a "let's get them") I think its the old pitcher and the allotted confrences are up. I wait it out, Coach is still out there. He's been an a** all game, but nothing that I could eject for.

As he leaves the mound, I call him over and say "Coach, you gotta make a change. That's 3 confrences for that pitcher". He replies: "See, I was right, your head isn't in this game, that's a new pitcher." I turned and looked at the pitcher and realized this kid was black, the old pitcher was white. I looked at him and told him to report it next time and walked away with my tail between my legs.

[QUOTE=Tim C]I have two (you can pick which is worse):

1) I am working the plate. F2 calls for a pitch out and jumps outside . . . ball comes directly at me and I CATCH IT!QUOTE]

I had one similar to this, but I didn't catch it. It came in and hit me right in the cup!

I've had several but one that I remember from this year is:

I was working plate at a Pony game. Coach ask me what the count is. I reply back "2-3 " (I may have even signaled it). Coach says "So whys the batter still in there" ? Duh:confused:

For me, it was a HS softball game...
 

Girl at the plate, pitcher delivers the ball, batter swings and fouls the ball off her foot. I yell, "foul ball, hit her in the box"! Boy did I get a strange, but funny look from the young lady! From that point on, male or female, it's "hit by the ball in the batters box"!

I was the PU in a 3-man crew working a 16-year old tournament a few years back. I woke up that morning feeling a bit queasy and informed my partners of my condition before the game. We decided to go ahead with me on the plate.

Home team batting in the second - leadoff hitter singles. Next batter comes to the plate and lines the ball over the head of F6.

I move from behind the plate to my left, take a few steps away from the plate area, rotate, bend, and puke.

I had no idea what happened on the play. All I could hear was the fans and coaches yelling, "The umpire is getting sick!"

Needless to say, for a year or so following that game whenever I meet someone who was there they ask, "Aren't you the umpire who..." :o

My first year in college ball, DIII game. Have a known RA as visting team's head coach. I'm the BU. Visitor's R1 steals. High throw, SS goes high, gets tag down on foot. It's close so I need to sell it. I do and the RA comes sprinting out. I'm ready, so I meet him with a "what did you see?" He replies "the ball in the outfield!"
Ooops. Changed call....

:confused: Lets see would that be being hit straight in the cup area which had shifted somewhat,all while the runner on third is now stealing home and the radio station is broadcasting this game of the District finals.(announcers were five feet from the backstop and saw me take the shot then discussed it on the air)
Or would it be first year umpiring in a new league and seeing R1 breaking for second and shouting,"GOING!":eek: :o

a looong time ago.......
 

On a hot sweaty night in south Georgia, I was doing one of my first youth games (solo)....ground ball in the infield...... I was attempting to clear the catcher and was running up the first base line trying to juggle my mask, indicator and hang on to the balloon protector......

I tripped on one of the straps of the protector and down I went into a heap.....total face plant......and never saw the play........combine fine georgia clay dust and sweat meant I got up looking like someone had rolled a biscuit in flour.......

hard to live that one down......

Stan

Was the BU in "varsity" level summer ball, feeling good, focused on the game, partner and I working in sinc. 4th inning, nobody on, the home teams varsity HS coach (there just to watch his spring hs players) walks over and is talking to me (from behind the fence) about where to send the check and to ask about upcoming weekend tourney games.
I'm answering him between pitches, but looked over to him too long when I hear the PU yell "DID HE GO?". I look back in shock, signal "safe", then the fans go crazy "He wasnt watching!!, ect". Partner was smiling behind his mask, cause I pride myself on my game.....
After the game, walking to parking lot, and an old lady walks by, told the PU "good job", looks to me "you need to stay focused". I didnt say a word, she was right....

About 6 years ago, I was PU in a 13-15 BR game. My partner was having a rough night on the bases and catching a lot of grief.
In about the 4th inning, with runners on base, the pitcher sets and my partner in B screams "TIME!!!"

He proceeds to walk to the gate on the first base side, I was in a bit of shock, thinking my partner was quitting. The coach in the 3b box yells, "Where are you going?"

The answer, yelled loud enough for everyone in the park to hear........

"I gotta take a dump! Is that okay with you?"

I nearly pi$$ed my pants laughing!