Players you have umpired
 

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.

you really want this list?

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

WhiteHat Ref
 

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,

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

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

What?
 

Ahhh, See Bobbybanaduck's reply

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.

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

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

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.

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!

Jack Cust

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

Now spring training ....

Chisty Matthewson, Satchel Page, Johnny Evers.

Wow.... you're a little older than I had imagined.

Oh, I didn't realize the question was restricted to this life. :o

My list;

Tony Fernandez & George Bell...brought up a team from the Dominican to Toronto and they served as coaches.

Jesse Crain, Joey Votto, Scott Thorman, Pete Orr, Shawn Hill, Phillippe Aumont (1st Round pick of Seattle). A bunch more in the minors.

I also did a charity game between a bunch of Toronto area NHLers including Doug Gilmour, Tie Domi, Brendan Shanahan, Eric Lindros and more.

I tossed my lineup cards when the games were over. The players were just names and numbers, forgotten as soon as I tossed the cards.

I worked the plate on two home games that Jim Gilliam's son played in. He never played in the Majors, and I'm not sure if he even played pro ball at all.

But I did officiate some of John Elway's high school football games. At that time I didn't who he was, except, as with ALL players, (insert number) number in the (insert color) jersey.

Bob

tiger49, did you have to eject Domi? :p

I don't see how it is possible not to know when any certain high school player is being heavily scouted, mentioned daily in the newspaper, or makes it to the pros. And when they are in the pros, the announcers say, "_____ played his HS ball at ______ High School" if they are homegrown talent. All you have to do is remember if you umpired that team during the period the athlete attended.

I certainly couldn't mistake having umpired Troy Glaus, for example. It seemed he either struck out, or hit a tape measure home run every time up. He was a local superstar out of Carlsbad HS in the northern part of the city.

And how could I forget working the plate for guys that were the cream of the crop pitchers in HS? Aaron Harang, Mark Prior, Barry Zito, Esteban Loiza, Sergio Mitre, Jose Silva, Benji Gil (who went on to be a shortstop in MLB), are just a few that spring to mind. Every time they pitched, the stands were full of scouts with Jugs guns.

I didn't realize these guys played baseball, too. (baseball forum) :D

JJ

Yeah they need something to do when the ice melts. ;)

Sometimes it does but never in Buffalo.

Well put. My daughter used to live there. She said Buffalo had 3 seasons: Fall, Winter and July 15th.

That's one more than Minnesota (the 11th province). ;)

In this part of California, we have just two seasons. We are currently in the green season, but most of the year is brown season.

I don't recall a request...........:o

I don't look into the stands. I know beforehand there are special players on some teams.....sometimes. I don't get any special thrill out of umpiring these players or their teams. Just give me a good game between two good teams. Last spring worked the, I believe 17th pick in the first round. Before the game we're alone in the bathroom together (form your own opinions). I said, "This don't look good" and he let out a big laugh. We both zip up. He says, "I remember what happened last year". I say, "That wasn't me, that was my partner". Says he, "I know, I should have known better. Since this is my last year, I going to try and not let all that stupid stuff that goes on bother me". I replied, "That's all you can do. Enjoy you last year, Ace."

If I hadn't of known him for so long, I probably wouldn't have remembered this. He'll say something dumb that will make the local papers from time to time. Such is life.

Just couldn't help yourself, I see.
 

That's all well and good. However this thread is specifically designed to name players you've umpired. I find it fascinating to find out who has umped for whom. If you don't wish to participate, don't. But don't denegrade anyone else for playing along with the game. You can just say that you've never umpired any famous players, or just skip the thread entirely. If you don't think it is exciting playing a small role in the development of a future pro athlete, then that's fine. I happen to look back fondly on my experiences as an umpire, and being able to say, "I knew him when...." means a great deal to me. So, when I saw this thread, I thought it would be fun. Then everyone started harumphing the crap out of it, but I still managed a little participation.

Why you feel the need to single out one of my posts out of all the other possibilities available is beyond my scope of reasoning. I just think you love to bust my balls every chance you get. What, are you freakin' jealous of me or something? Please, get over yourself.

If you notice, I didn't list the entire 30-some-odd current and/or former MLB players that I have worked for. I just named a few of the pitchers, and a few position players. Trust me, there are many more that made it from this area, and I'm not too stupid to remember who they are when I've umpired for them.

I never had to look in the stands to know who the good players were either. I am a local resident and as such, I have local knowledge of who's who in San Diego baseball. I guess I'm just funny that way, but I'm a big fan of the sport.

I threw out Matt Williams from one of his kids games... does that count?

Yes. I didn't get to boot either one, but I did a travel game and the opposing managers were Jack McDowell and Kirk McCaskill. It was a hoot. I had been warned about McDowell being an a-hole, but he was well behaved with me.

Bill “Spaceman” Lee... he's a piece of work!

Pat Borders coaches a travel team in my area. I have called a few of his games, if that counts.

You must obviously live in the Chicago area as Dave Otto was a product of Elk Grove High School. Since you covered Elk Grove, you probably also did games at Forest View where my brother was a pitcher. Otto and he were 1 and 2 in strikeouts in the Mid Suburban League in I believe 1981.

Dan Wilson retired after the 2005 season.

McCarver, the Gagliano Brothers, Mike Shannon, Marquis Grissom, Richard Lewis (1rst round draft - Atl Braves), Phil Garner, a slew of Milwaukee Brewers spring season, others I can't remember.

Yes I did do some games at Forest View High School. Also did some games at Arlington H.S. before that closed. I forget who the coach was at Forest View, but I think after the school closed, he went on to coach at Rolling Meadows at the sophomore level.

Colby Rasmus, Rabbit Maranville

Been doing this just since 2004, so no players that I can think of off hand. Josh Viitters who was just drafted by the Cubs last draft. Did his games in LL and HS.

Have had Matt Williams, Matt Nokes, Chad Krueter, Paul Abbott, Rich Amaral, as coaches.....
Did a Golden Baseball League scimmage last summer...Garry Templeton and Darrel Evans were the coaches.
Charles White is a member of our HS assoc..and our local youth assoc....he goes out and does games.

Krueters wife was a piece of work....chased a couple guys into the parking lot one time when her hubby was coaching...

Last summer in a Connie Mack semi at UC Irvine....a player threw his glove at a batter ball. Didnt make contact....so, nothing. After the game walking to our car, some fans behine were leaving and one guy said..."hey on that guy who threw the glove, why was there no penalty. I thought that was a rule.." We told him the glove had to hit the ball... that guy was Bobby Grich.

:eek: :eek:
:D :D

Off the top of my head, Mark Teahen.

Had some former players as coaches, including Mike Macfarlane, Kevin Seitzer, Jeff Montgomery, and the late Daryl Porter.

Warren Cromartie
 

I know that this thread is ancient history, but...


Way back in the mid-1970's when I was attending the University of Miami (the one in Coral Gables, Florida) and officiating H.S. basketball, I officiated a boys' H.S. jr. varsity game with Warren Cromartie. It was a mid-week game and he was reporting to the Montreal Expos Spring Training Camp that weekend for what would be his rookie season (he was the NL's Rookie of the Year). It turned out to be the last basketball game he ever officiated.

Later in the late 1990's I officiated his son in the Connecticut Starters Boys' Spring Basketball Classic.

Small world.

MTD, Sr.

Most recent and most memorable, Josh Hamilton when he was on the come back before Cinncinnati signed him. He hit a HR straightaway center that day and I was on the dish.

I know this is old..but Dan Wilson retired a while ago...LOL

Can't recall any players that would qualify but I did have Tim Baker (Bo'Sox) as a coach. His son Austin (helping coach) was playing at Christian Brothers University at the time and another son Nathan was pitching at Ole Miss. Tim was delightful, never said a word and was always encouraging to the kids. His son actually told me who he was and gave me a short bio. The funny thing is that I had just seen Nate close a game for Ole Miss the Wed night prior to this weekend tournament.

Micah Hoffpauir, Adam Moore, Matt Holliday, Ryan Minor (was the man on the card the day that Cal Ripken Jr. didn't start for the first time in 2,632 games)

Kreuter's wife is the daughter of longtime USC coach Mike Gillespie. So she qualifies as a female baseball expert on two fronts.

You can add Ike Davis to my list...

Only two
 

Just being a high school umpire in southwest michigan, I can say there are two that I have umpired there games, Jeter, and Thornton

How about "was umpired by"? That would give me Al Foreman (after he left MLB) and Al Clark (before he made the Majors and was eventually booted).

I did umpire (in softball) a former running back for the Detroit Lions and another big monster who had played for the Dallas Cowboys. The former Cowboy had gained a lot of weight since he retired, so they stuck him at F4, who has few balls to field at the super-crusher level. Don't remember their names, though.

Add umpired by Jack Madden, later an NBA ref.

Being only a softball guy, I can't claim anybody - however - all my buddies who do hs baseball here had Matt Morris, Joe Nathan and Mike Aviles of the Royals when they were in school. Matt's sister coaches the local CC softball team, and is one tough b***.....

While I live in NC, I work in the 757. I haven't called any of the load of guys from around here in the majors, but I've got a list of guys I'm keeping my eye on for the future. A number of the guys in my association have called them all.

:eek: That would be a dream.

I wouldn't brag about it too much now. His swing has more holes in it than a piece of Swiss cheese.

Quite a few years ago I'm called to do some summer ball for a town about an hour away from my home in lower Michigan. During one of the contests, I call one specific pitcher for 3 different and obvious balks. The kid is a mess and cant focus.

Finally the coach comes out to calm him down. I give him some time and then head out to break up the conference. The coach is standing there glaring at me..."Do you know who this is?" he asks. "Nope" I respond.

"This is Jack Morris's kid" came the reply.

"Oh", was my response..."then he should know better!" :D

The kid started laughing and didn't have a problem for the rest of the game.

Hey, it sounds like he merely asked, for which I'd give him credit. In a world where Daddys consider riding the bench at some junior college to convey some sort of brilliance, I'm kinda impressed that a former MLB all-star would admit to not knowing the rule. Throwing your mitt at the ball is taught as a no-no from t-ball on up so I understand if he didn't know the penalty.

But then,Grinch's first MLB manager's autobiography is titled "It's what you learn after you know it all that counts." Of course said manager was E. Weaver who isn't exactly erecting shrines to us.

Jeff Francoeur, Ben Zobrist, Brian McCann, Thomas Diamond, Jason Heyward, Mark Lowe, etc. Those are just the ones I can think of at the moment.