Purpose of extra umpires? (5&6)

[ASA/NYSSOBLUE]

Originally Posted by EsqUmp

I see nothing wrong with that. They had used 4 umpires but were experimenting expanding to 6. If I was the 5th or 6th umpire and had to choose between working a World Series or not working the World Series, I don't think a lighter check would factor it. It also would give me the experience of working the series and make it more likely that I would work more in the future.

The point Conlin was making in his book was that they were all doing the same job, and that they had to possibly travel the same distances, and that the only reason the two 'extra' umpires were working just the foul lines was the decision of Baseball, NOT the umpires. They fought them for YEARS trying to get the full rotation of the umpires assigned.