When umpires fall

[RPatrino]

Coming out from behind the plate to follow a fly ball into center field, I neglected to check the area around home plate. I felt something under my feet (the bat) and time went into slow motion as I fell, face first to the turf. I scrambled to my feet, just in time to see the catch from my knees, I called the out!

[RSturgell]

Yes sir. In C position kid hits line drive that hits side of the mound and shoots the ball right at me. I fall to get out of the way. Easy play at first and I ring runner up from my backside.

[RadioBlue]

Mine was similar. Three-man, runners and 2nd & 3rd. I'm U3 in the middle and a rocket is hit right at me. I open up with a pivot only to have the ball slice right toward me. I fall backwards and do a backwards somersault, catch my lid as it's falling & put it back on my head, pivot to 3rd as the SS throws and nails the runner going from 2nd to 3rd. I call the out to the howls of both dugouts.

[rcaverly]

1. Day game. Rain. Dicey field. Two-man crew. I’m in B. R1 goes on the pitch. I “open the gate” and my right foot never stopped sliding. I assumed a leaning rest position parallel to the path of the ball. Surprisingly, I had a great, ground level look at the tag. Out.

2. Another day game. It’s blue and twenty-two. My dish. I'm looking pretty good in my fitted, plate coat. Bases empty. Deep, routine fly to F8. When I went to clear the catcher, I stubbed my right foot into one of his heels. I dropped, tucked and rolled through the RH batter’s box then sprang back up on my feet no worse the wear, except that I was now completely coated in plate dust. If anyone saw me go down, he didn’t mention it…and I didn’t bring it up.

[REFANDUMP]

I'm thinking about trying this mechanic. It appears my brothers in blue are getting lots of outs with it !!!

[DG]

Yes, I am in A, deep ground ball RCF. I start in to make pivot, trip and fall face down. BR rounds 1b and heads to 2b, throw from F9 comes into 2b and my partner, having seen me fall is on it to make the call at 2b. That is the only fall I remember.

[pob14]

I have a bad ankle. I had the plate in slowpitch softball once, and came out from behind the plate; the ankle went, and I went with it. I managed to get up in time to make the call. Well, A call. Finished the game, too.

That was the last season I ever took the field without an ankle brace.