Players you have umpired

[WhiteHat Ref]

There is a post on the basketball board about famous players that guys have officated for. I wanted to start this post for baseball. Who are some famous players you have umpired. For me I have umpired games for Dave Otto, now a commentator for the Cubs, who by the way was an awsome left handed pitcher who threw in the 90's in high school, Todd Huntley, whose dad always was behind the backstop during his games bothering the umpires, Dan Wilson now a catcher for Seattle, and Josh Paul who was a catcher for the White Sox.

[bobbybanaduck]

you really want this list?

[JRutledge]

Since I am the one that started the thread on the basketball board, I thought I would be one of the first to answer.

Honestly, I cannot think of any famous player that I have ever officiated. At least not something I have knowledge of at this point. Some players have made the minor leagues, but I do not know if they ever got to the majors or were successful at the Division 1 level.

The structure of baseball does not allow lend itself to that kind of knowledge as easily as other sports.

Peace

[Tim C]

Like bobby this would be a list of at least 100 MLB players. I don't know if all are famous but I can easily surpass the century mark on what could be called "famous" players in basketball and baseball that I have officiated.

Regards,

[Blue37]

Originally Posted by WhiteHat Ref

There is a post on the basketball board about famous players that guys have officated for. I wanted to start this post for baseball. Who are some famous players you have umpired. For me I have umpired games for Dave Otto, now a commentator for the Cubs, who by the way was an awsome left handed pitcher who threw in the 90's in high school, Todd Huntley, whose dad always was behind the backstop during his games bothering the umpires, Dan Wilson now a catcher for Seattle, and Josh Paul who was a catcher for the White Sox.

If you limited it to players officiated in high school, the lists would, in all probability, be much shorter.

[justanotherump]

Unless you're from the 757. Lots of big leaguers right now

[Cub42]

Ahhh, See Bobbybanaduck's reply

[SanDiegoSteve]

I was kind of hoping that this thread would be fun, but I see that the stuffy stodgies have harumphed on the thread already. I enjoy reading about who umpired who back in the day.

I think the pro guys (and Tee) should disqualify themselves here, or at least stick to MLB guys past and present who they umpired when the player was in high school, or adult league after the big leagues.

I have umpired over 30 current or former major leaguers when they were in high school. Names on request.

[JJ]

OK, change the thread a bit -

Who is the FIRST famous player you ever umpired for, and what is your memory of that?

Mine was Cliff Floyd back in the late 80's, at the Illinois High School state tournament. He was a USA Today all-american, so they had a reporter and photographer there, and he didn't let them down. He was (is) tall, so when they introduced the teams on the foul lines before the game he "stood out" (no pun intended). Then the games began, and he again "stood out". Pounded the ball every time they didn't intentionally walk him. I mentally flagged him at that time as a player to watch down the road, and he didn't disappoint.

JJ

[Matt]

I can't remember any before they were famous, but there are a couple (post-retirement) who I have umpired in senior amateur ball.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Brian Giles in HS 1988.
Marcus Giles in Pony League 1990.
Tony Clark in HS 1990.
Dave Roberts in HS 1990.

I can't remember exactly which came first or if there were others prior to 1990, but there were many more from this area who made it to the bigs.

[lawump]

It is funny that this thread recently popped up, because recently I was going through some "crap" boxes and found some old game programs from teams I umpired in the minors. As a minor league umpire, I never kept up with players names (or their faces) so I really had no idea who I had umpired in the minors that went onto MLB.

Well, having found those programs I decided to look at the teams' rosters. I was quite surprised to see who I had umpired...I had no clue!

[Richard_Siegel]

Jack Cust

[socalblue1]

Mike Hartley, Tracy Jones, Mike Scott. Bobby Floyd was a bit before my time.

Now spring training ....

[mbyron]

Chisty Matthewson, Satchel Page, Johnny Evers.