RIP Frank Pulli

[KJUmp]

NL umpire from 1977-1999. Passed away this week at age 78 from Parkinson's disease.
Always enjoyed watching him work.

[grunewar]

Frank Pulli was from my home town - Easton, PA. A good guy and a friend to many. He was the first-base ump in Atlanta on April 8, 1974, when Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s record of 714 home runs.

One time he came to our youth group and gave us a talk. A bunch of 13-15 yr old's wide-eyed and excited listening to first hand MLB stories of which we only saw on TV and dreamed about.

He fielded questions, and a dad (circa 1974-75ish), asked him if he thought we would ever see a female umpire in MLB. He said something to the effect - no, when a certain Pittsburgh Pirate (I will leave the name out) is in an 0-15 slump and hits a routine grounder to second, a female ump would throw him out of the game before he even got to first....for all the ahem, "not so nice words coming out of his mouth." Made us all chuckle.

RIP Frank.

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by grunewar

Frank Pulli was from my home town - Easton, PA. A good guy and a friend to many. He was the first-base ump in Atlanta on April 8, 1974, when Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s record of 714 home runs.

One time he came to our youth group and gave us a talk. A bunch of 13-15 yr old's wide-eyed and excited listening to first hand MLB stories of which we only saw on TV and dreamed about.

He fielded questions, and a dad (circa 1974-75ish), asked him if he thought we would ever see a female umpire in MLB. He said something to the effect - no, when a certain Pittsburgh Pirate (I will leave the name out) is in an 0-15 slump and hits a routine grounder to second, a female ump would throw him out of the game before he even got to first....for all the ahem, "not so nice words coming out of his mouth." Made us all chuckle.

RIP Frank.

It's says he umped from 1977-1999. What Pirate?

[beachump]

Fondly recall the "Pulli Punch".

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

It's says he umped from 1977-1999. What Pirate?

As far as I can see online, he became a National League umpire in 1972.

I'll PM the name if your PM is open.

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by grunewar

As far as I can see online, he became a National League umpire in 1972.

I'll PM the name if your PM is open.

Figured it was a typo more than likely..........thought he might have been temporarily called up, if there was such a thing back then.