REDEMPTION BY PETER JACKEL ONCE thinking, I’m sure, that I had just been ability to make others laugh and be his limited physical skills started stabbed!” Scott said. “I screamed, ‘It’s entertained is what I believe shaped diminishing his childhood vision of ON THE a rat! It’s a huge f------rat!” him his entire life. Whether he wanted being a future first baseman for the Grinding poverty is a reality in to be the center of attention or not, he Los Angeles Dodgers — “the problem Santo Domingo, a land where the poor just always was.” is I couldn’t run, throw, hit or catch,” VERGE OF simply exist in the remote shadows Scott agrees with the suggestion Scott recalls — the calling to become of the privileged. To this day, Scott that his personality is similar to an umpire echoed ever more forcefully BEING FIRED, recalls a housekeeper named Carmen the wisecracking Hawkeye Pierce within his soul. the four men paid $40 a month — far character from M*A*S*H. “Dale knew what he wanted to do DALE SCOTT more than the average wage in that “I was like Alan Alda. not so much early on,” Reeves said. “His drive to area — pulling him aside to ask if he in my looks, but just my personality,” succeed might be the biggest attribute, SET ABOUT TO might take her to the United States so he said. “I’m not a joke teller. I’m more in my opinion. As kids, when we she could send decent money back to of a quick wit and I’ve had a number would go to the local ballfield, he’d MAKE HIMSELF her family. But rats in refrigerators? of people tell me, ‘Oh, you should start umpiring our games. Now, That was a new one. be a comedian!’ Laughing to me is a there wasn’t one person on that field ONE OF THE “We were able to get it to run out, good cure for a lot of things. I laugh with enough talent to play baseball slamming the door behind us,” Scott BEST UMPIRES said. “We just looked at each other in silence for a second and then we all “SOMETHING HAD TO CHANGE BECAUSE burst out into laughter. Here we were, IN MLB. MISSION 3 o’clock in the morning, standing I WAS NOT GETTING THE JOB DONE. MY in our underwear and me holding a CONFIDENCE AND EVERYTHING ELSE WAS ACCOMPLISHED. broom in the Dominican Republic. You just can’t make that s--- up!” JUST HORRIBLY LOW.” alf sleep-walking through Talk about the ultimate guy to darkness to the refrigerator in sit beside on a bar stool for a few Hhis Santo Domingo apartment cold ones. Dale Allan Scott is one of at myself. And sometimes that’s a professionally, but at least Dale made in the dead of night in January 1986, the most respected, longest-tenured defense mechanism. That’s how I deal it to the majors in some capacity. Dale Scott’s intention was to quench umpires in MLB, but he’s an even with things at times.” “I’d like to think we helped him his thirst and collapse back into bed. more memorable person. Shake Pursue just about any topic and adapt to his future encounters with Sunrise was just a few hours away hands with this self-effacing master Scott, a devoted history buff, will players and managers because of all and another grueling day under the storyteller for the first time and within likely amaze you with his command of the grief we gave him. He worked his scorching Caribbean sun at some five minutes you’ll swear he has been the subject. ass off to get to where he is today.” ballpark awaited Scott, who was still a lifelong pal. He has the distinctive, “I’ve known Dale since we were But foreshadowing the extreme just another name in an expansive radio-rich voice of a Vin Scully and seventh graders,” said Greg Reeves, growing pains Scott would endure pool of prospective MLB umpires. the comedic timing of a George Carlin. another of Scott’s childhood friends on his road to greatness, he struggled Hearing a strange sound as he He’s a guy who once held his ground in Eugene. “As a kid, Dale was well- mightily as an umpire in his early pulled open the refrigerator door, Scott with a melting-down Billy Martin as a liked by everyone. I can’t think of one years. unleashed an ear-piercing scream that 28-year-old upstart in 1988, yet could person who didn’t like the guy, which “I never talked to Dale like this could have awakened the Dominican effortlessly transition into a gregarious is rare at that age. Other than perhaps because I didn’t want to discourage Republic dead. A rat Scott swears lampshade-on-the-head cut-up who a certain player or manager, it seems him,” said Ken Larson, the retired was the size of a poodle emerged out could coax a smile from a corpse. to hold true today.” commissioner for high school, college of nowhere, ricocheted off his arm “He was the funniest kid I ever Maybe the gregarious Scott didn’t and semipro baseball in Eugene who and disappeared somewhere in the met and, to this day, is still one of the exactly fit the profile of a future got Scott started in umpiring at the age apartment. quickest wits I have ever known.” umpire back in the day because he of 16 in 1975. “We had a community “My three partners, all in their said Barb Hansen, a childhood friend simply didn’t have a combative bone college regional playoff (in the early

underwear, ran into the kitchen MEdia/nEWscOM RicK OsEntOsKi/cal sPORt from Eugene, Ore. “His keen wit and in his body. Yet when the reality of 1980s) and Dale had one of the

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worst strike zones I’d ever seen that today behind a microphone within weekend. He was low, he was out and the confines of a radio studio or even when we left there, I said, ‘Boy, he’ll on a Las Vegas night club stage. Scott never make it!’ simply was blessed with that “it” “Lord behold, he did make it and factor. He was the lead drummer in this guy is a miraculous story. I’m the Henry D. Sheldon High School really, really proud of him because he’s jazz band and, as Hansen recalls, a great guy who earned everything “he was envied by most kids for he’s got.” this talent.” He frequently served as Scott was nearly fired after a master of ceremonies for high school disastrous second year in the big functions — his effortless knack for ad leagues in 1987 — credit the late libs is legendary — and he arrived in Marty Springstead, the AL’s executive that role for senior prom decked out in director of umpires at that time, for a tuxedo, top hat and cane. making a shoestring catch on Scott’s “He was a huge hit as a DJ for our career — but he persevered to place school radio station,” Hansen said. himself among the all-time elite “He always had a huge following contingent of umpires. Heading into and it was no surprise when he was what Scott says are the final few years hired as the youngest DJ at the most of his career, he has worked three popular radio station in Eugene World Series, three All-Star games, six during high school. After high school, league championship series and 10 he went on to get his degree in TV/ division series. radio broadcasting (at Oregon) and I “Dale was one of the best always believed Dale would end up as umpiring partners I ever worked with a sportscaster.” in 24 years as a major league umpire,” There Scott was as that 18-year- (Clockwise from above): Scott during an AL game in 1993. Working the plate in Milwaukee in 1987, when he was struggling to make his way in said Larry Young, who retired after the old star, working the 7-11 p.m. shift the majors. Eighteen-year-old Scott at the mic during his disc jockey 2007 season and now serves as umpire spinning hits of the day at KBDF in days at KBDF in his hometown, Eugene, Ore. supervisor for MLB. “He is now one Eugene, when AM radio still ruled the of our finest crew chiefs. The trait that airwaves. As a result, Scott’s profile is most important in a crew chief is among his classmates was off the The paradox is that it was also the when I come out and always thinking of your crew first. He charts. Hey, this kid was a star! longest stretch of Scott’s life, which go crazy on one of has always done that.” “He worked at KBDF for a number he illustrates with another Dominican you guys. Just don’t His impact even crosses over into of years on a part-time basis and was story. take it personally other sports. Bill Kennedy, a longtime certainly a hit at his school because of “I was having what I call a because I’ve got to elite NBA referee, insists his 10-year it,” said Bill Beecher, KBDF’s program ‘Dominican Day,’” he said. “I fire these guys up.’ friendship with Scott has enhanced director during Scott’s time at the remember it was about four in the And I say, ‘All right him both as an official and as a human station. “He always had a real passion morning and it was two months into …’ when Scott was working the plate for being. for the business and music at the time. a three-month season. I’m (sick to “Well, in the fourth inning, I‘ve a game between the Boston Red Sox “I have been in awe of both his The next thing I knew he was off to my stomach). I’ve got an inner-ear got a play at first and it was a close and Baltimore Orioles before a crowd professional baseball career and the umpire school.” infection that’s just killing me and play, but I’m pretty sure I got it right. of 33,075 at Fenway Park. friendship we have developed that That was late 1980, when Scott I’m thinking to myself, ‘If I don’t The manager comes running out and “It was one of those games where is still going strong today,” Kennedy enrolled in Bill Kinnaman’s umpire make it to the big leagues, I’m suing I kind of misread him because he nothing went right,” Scott said. “I said. “I’m a firm believer that because school in San Bernardino, Calif. Still somebody and there’s not a jury in the wasn’t coming out to fire up the team. struggled behind the plate and I of a chance meeting with him over 10 just 21 at the time, Scott reasoned that world that’s not going to vote in my He was really p-----! I say, ‘Hey, Bob, called a foul tip a third out when years ago, I have been able to strive he could always get back into radio if favor on this one!’ It was a miserable is this the time you want to get mad?’ the ball skipped off the dirt. I had to forward with my own career. His umpiring didn’t work out. In fact, he couple of days where I was real sick. And he says, ‘Oh, go f--- yourself!’ bring Boston back on the field after a professionalism on and off the field briefly reprised his radio voice for a “After two full Dominican winters, And he went off! And I thought, ‘Oh, vigorous Orioles argument. The whole

has given me a blueprint of what short stint in 1983, when he was well tRavis dOstER; dalE tait; cOuRtEsy OF dalE scOtt I said, ‘Something’s got to give.’” man, he really is mad!’” game was kind of a microcosm of my it takes to survive in a professional on his way as an umpire. There were plenty of struggles Scott accents his storytelling with entire disastrous ’87 season.” sports officiating world. It was a short five-plus years from on the field as well, struggles that occasionally chuckles, but he would Scott’s confidence was rapidly “Having the opportunity to the time he enrolled in that umpire Scott enhances with his one-of-a- reach a point when there was no eroding. He was getting saddled with observe Dale while he was working school until he worked his first kind storytelling prowess. Take this humor to be found. Just enormous the reputation among managers and his craft, I am able to see him firsthand major league game, Aug. 19, 1985, memory from a 1984 Texas League hardship and heartbreak. players that he was going to be one make his crew feel very comfortable as a replacement for Nick Bremigan game, as only Scott can tell it. By 1987, Scott’s second year in the of those guys who would consistently and relaxed while still giving them the and was then hired full time April 1, “I remember one manager came major leagues, he clearly was fighting miss a call — an image that’s almost instructions necessary to help further 1986. Way too short, Scott contends out with the lineup cards before the a losing battle as he tried to establish impossible to shake in the unforgiving their careers.” in retrospect, for he clearly was not game and he said, ‘We are going so himself as an umpire. His career hit world between the chalk lines. And

But Scott easily could be working ready when he was hired full time. bill nichOls bad that there may be a point tonight rock bottom the evening of July 1, there was that mortgage he took

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on the previous November, which executive director of umpires who still That sentiment is pretty much crew chief is dropping it on me and they were like, ‘Why didn’t you weighed him down all the more on his worked for the league, informed Scott across the board these days. The during the biggest game of my life. It throw him? My God, he was riding fraying tightrope. later in the season that Springstead speed bump Scott hit in 1987 is completely brought me back down to your ass!’ I said, ‘You won’t believe If not for the kindly Springstead, also wanted to send Scott back to the ancient history and his true greatness earth. The laughter relaxed me and, what he was saying!’” Scott candidly concedes he would Dominican Republic that winter. dwarfs the growing pains he once after the field cleared, the game went The time is drawing near when a no longer be an MLB umpire. “Marty didn’t understand that experienced, as immense as they well. That’s the kind of crew chief you master in his field whose heart beats Springstead, who died in 2012, clearly in the Dominican, you work 45 out were at the time. Struggles have been want to work with.” with so much compassion under his had to do something and dismissing of 65 games behind the plate,” Scott replaced by milestones and Scott went The list of the 55-year-old Scott’s chest protector is going to leave the Scott was very much on the table. He said. “Marty is doing everything he on to work his 3,000th regular-season career milestones include countless game behind. called Scott into his New York office could do save my job and I owe so game on Aug. 14, 2009 — his 50th memorable high-profile games, And will he ever be missed when shortly after the 1987 All-Star break much to that man. But I call him and birthday. It was almost as if it was highlighted by his World Series that sad day arrives. For he has almost and informed him what was at stake, say, ‘Marty, that’s more plate jobs written in the stars. And as the years assignments in 1998, ’01 and ’04. He effortlessly become a friend to just but tempered that reality with genuine than I worked in the big leagues in a passed, Scott gradually evolved from was on the bases for both of Justin about everyone he has encountered. compassion. season. Mentally I cannot do it. I am an overmatched novice into a master Verlander’s no-hitters. He worked “There was a knock on my motel “He told me that day, ‘If things fried right now.’ Once he understood of his trade who would even take on the plate when Andy Hawkins door,” longtime NBA referee Bill don’t change, I’m going to have to let that, he said, ‘I’ll tell you what. You go the role Springstead once had for him. became only the second pitcher to Spooner recalled from when he you go,’” Scott said. “I was devastated. down there at the beginning and I’ll But as one would expect from lose a complete game no-hitter. There met Scott while working spring I was absolutely devastated. But then have you home by Thanksgiving.’” Scott, his wisdom is always packaged was the time Scott was informed by training games at Yuma, Ariz., he said, ‘What we’re going to do, Dale, Springstead even sent Richie with plenty of humor. Dan Iassogna, third baseman Gary Gaetti that the in March 1981. “I open it up is we’re going to get through this Garcia, known for his umpiring and who went on to work the 2012 World Minnesota Twins were about to turn and there stands a guy who season and have you come down to bilingual skills, to work with Scott Series, was a Triple-A umpire when their second triple play of the game looks younger than my baby Sarasota for Instructional League.’ You south of the border. And a reclamation he was called up to work on Scott’s and then saw that come to fruition on face. ‘My name is Dale,’ he have to understand this is my second project was under way. crew for a historic interleague game the next pitch. said. I look him up and year in the big leagues and I’m having “The main reason I went to between the New York Yankees and But the best memories are down a bit and say, ‘Do to go to the Instructional League. work with him was to work on his Chicago Cubs on June 7, 2003, at when Scott is able to shift into his you like beer?’ ‘Yep,’ he That’s a huge chunk of your pride and positioning behind the plate, get him Wrigley Field. Iassogna was working storytelling mode. Like a game says. And I say, ‘My ego being ripped out. in the slot, get his head height up the plate and was understandably involving Twins Manager Tom Kelly name is Bill. Come on “But I knew he was right. and get him to be more consistent tense as the Yankees’ Roger Clemens early in Scott’s career. in.’ We’re still friends 33 Something had to change because with his plate work,” Garcia said. went for his 300th career victory. “One of my favorite stories is years later. I was not getting the job done. My “He was always willing to work. He “In the second inning, there’s a working home plate in Oakland, “He’s best confidence and everything else was never shied away from hard work or collision on a pop fly and Hee-Seop runners on first and second and described as one of just horribly low.” constructive criticism. He was always Choi, the Cubs’ first baseman, takes an Minnesota is at bat,” Scott said. “They the good guys. He Worse came to worst. Dick Butler, listening and attentive to what I had elbow to the head and is unconscious had an infielder, Steve Lombardozzi, never gives people Springstead’s predecessor as the AL’s to say. I’ve only got good things to say on the third-base line,” Iassogna said. who put down a sacrifice bunt, a the big-shot act. about Dale.” “I’m not even warmed up yet and perfect bunt. Unfortunately, Steve Just unconditional I see the ambulance didn’t run in the running lane. So friendship.” Scott’s resumé includes three World Series, driving down the first- when the catcher threw the ball to “For me three All-Star games, six league championship base line and stopping first, it hit him in the back and I called personally, Dale symbolizes series and 10 division series. He and his longtime at home plate. Dale interference. He’s out, I’m sending the respect, a tremendous friend and companion, Michael Rausch, traveled to Australia wanders over to me runners back to their bases and it was an invaluable mentor,” Kennedy said. for the 2014 season opener between the Diamondbacks and Dodgers. and we’re watching a Monday Night Baseball game. “In the infamous words of Dale Scott, Choi being worked on. “Here comes Tom Kelly. He’s ‘Keep hope alive!’” In an anxious voice, I screaming, ‘I can’t believe it!’ and I’m Which is what Scott did himself. say, ‘Can you believe gearing up for a pretty big argument “Everything about his early I’ve got fire trucks on because I’m taking two guys out of career is long, long past,” said retired the field during my scoring position. He says, ‘I can’t umpire Dave Phillips. “Dale has plate job?’ Without believe it, Dale! He puts down a the reputation as a veteran umpire any hesitation, he says, perfect damn bunt and he can’t run in where, when he walks on the field, ‘Yes, but I didn’t think the running lane!’ I start laughing. people say, ‘Oh, good! It’s Dale!’ they would be here this “He puts a finger right in my face You earn the benefit of the doubt early.’ and he says, ‘You can’t laugh! You can’t and he has earned that long ago. “We had to cover laugh! The camera is on us! I cannot He has become an outstanding our faces to hide the believe it! He puts down a perfect bunt umpire. He has earned that laughter. From umpire and you make a great call!’ He throws reputation among hitters and school on, the joke is his arms up and it’s just like he’s pitchers that this man can you’ll need the fire chewing my ass! And then he says, umpire. hoses to douse the bill nichOls ‘I’m done!’ and walks away. “And he can. He can.” dugouts on some “After the game was over, I had Peter Jackel is an award-winning

nights and here my OF dalE scOtt bill nichOls; cOuRtEsy friends calling who were watching it sportswriter from Racine, Wis. £

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