2020 MLB Ump Media Guide
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
the 2020 Umpire media gUide Major League Baseball and its 30 Clubs remember longtime umpires Chuck Meriwether (left) and Eric Cooper (right), who both passed away last October. During his 23-year career, Meriwether umpired over 2,500 regular season games in addition to 49 Postseason games, including eight World Series contests, and two All-Star Games. Cooper worked over 2,800 regular season games during his 24-year career and was on the feld for 70 Postseason games, including seven Fall Classic games, and one Midsummer Classic. The 2020 Major League Baseball Umpire Guide was published by the MLB Communications Department. EditEd by: Michael Teevan and Donald Muller, MLB Communications. Editorial assistance provided by: Paul Koehler. Special thanks to the MLB Umpiring Department; the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum; and the late David Vincent of Retrosheet.org. Photo Credits: Getty Images Sport, MLB Photos via Getty Images Sport, and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Copyright © 2020, the offiCe of the Commissioner of BaseBall 1 taBle of Contents MLB Executive Biographies ...................................................................................................... 3 Pronunciation Guide for Major League Umpires .................................................................. 8 MLB Umpire Observers ..........................................................................................................12 Umps Care Charities .................................................................................................................14 Umpires in the National Baseball Hall of Fame .................................................................. 16 Retired Uniform Numbers ......................................................................................................19 MLB Umpire Roster .................................................................................................................20 MLB Umpire Crews .................................................................................................................22 Umpire Biographies ..................................................................................................................23 Squats ..........................................................................................................................................58 Major League Umpire Service Time and Special Events Worked ..................................... 62 Minor League Call-Up Umpires .............................................................................................64 All-Time MLB Umpire Roster ................................................................................................66 Special Events Selection Process ............................................................................................70 All-Time Division Series Umpire Roster ...............................................................................71 All-Time League Championship Series Umpire Roster ...................................................... 72 All-Time World Series Umpire Roster ...................................................................................74 All-Time All-Star Game Umpire Roster ................................................................................76 Pace of Game ............................................................................................................................78 Historical Timeline of Major League Umpiring .................................................................. 82 Umpires Involved in No-Hitters and Perfect Games.......................................................... 84 Facts About Umpires and No-Hitters ...................................................................................88 Umpire Families ........................................................................................................................90 Instant Replay ............................................................................................................................91 Offcial Playing Rules................................................................................................................95 Elbow Pads ..............................................................................................................................100 MLB Ballpark Ground Rules ................................................................................................101 Retractable Roofs ....................................................................................................................110 Umpires Who Played and Managed in the Major Leagues...............................................111 Umpire Records ......................................................................................................................112 Historical Umpiring Statistics ................................................................................................113 MLB Strike Zone ....................................................................................................................115 2020 MLB Important Dates ..................................................................................................117 2 Joe torre speCial assistant to the Commissioner Hall of Famer Joe Torre was named a Special Assistant to Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. in February 2020. Torre serves as a liaison to the general managers and feld managers of the 30 Major League Clubs and the Major League Umpires. From 2011-2014, Torre was MLB’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. In 2014, he became MLB’s Chief Baseball Offcer under Commissioner Manfred. Torre, a manager for 29 seasons, ranks ffth all-time with 2,326 managerial wins. He led the New York Yan- kees to four World Series Championships, six American League pen- nants and 12 Postseason appearances in his 12 years (1996-2007) as manager. The two-time AL Manager of the Year also led the New York Mets (1977-81), the Atlanta Braves (1982-84), the St. Louis Cardinals (1990-95) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (2008-10), Torre made his man- agerial debut with the Mets on May 31, 1977, becoming the frst play- er-manager in the Majors since 1959. In 2013, he managed Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. In 2017, he served as the general manager for WBC Champion Team USA. During his 18-year playing career with the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves (1960-68), the Cardinals (1969-74) and the Mets (1975-77), the nine-time All-Star compiled a .297 batting average, 2,342 hits and 252 home runs. He was the National League’s 1971 Most Valuable Player, batting .363 with 24 home runs and a league-leading 137 RBI. On December 9, 2013, the National Baseball Hall of Fame announced that its Expansion Era Committee had unanimously elected Torre to its Class of 2014. Torre was inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 27, 2014 in Cooperstown. On August 23, 2014, Torre’s number six was retired by the Yankees, making him the 17th individ- ual to receive such an honor. Torre is the Chairman of the Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation (joetorre.org), which he and his wife, Ali, launched in 2002. The Safe At Home Foundation’s mission is to develop educational programs that will end the cycle of domestic violence and save lives. Since its inception, the Foun- dation has educated thousands of students, parents, teachers and school faculty about the devastating effects of domestic violence. Torre is the co-author of three books: The Yankee Years (Doubleday 2009); Joe Torre’s Ground Rules for Winners (Hyperion 1999); and Chasing the Dream (Bantam 1997, 1998). Torre was born on July 18, 1940 in Brooklyn, New York. He, Ali and their daughter, Andrea, live in New York. His three adult children are Mi- chael, Cristina and Lauren. 3 Chris yoUng senior ViCe president, BaseBall operations Chris Young is Major League Baseball’s Senior Vice President, Baseball Operations. He joined the Offce of the Commissioner in May 2018 immediately following a 13-year Major League pitching career. In February 2020, Young was promoted to his current position, reporting to MLB Deputy Commissioner Dan Halem. Young oversees MLB’s On-Field Operations and Umpiring Departments and serves as the league’s principal liaison to Major League managers regarding play on the feld. Young works on the application of playing rules and regulations, on-feld standards and discipline, pace of play and other special projects. Young also has an active role in issues regard- ing player safety, on-feld equipment, wearable technology and ballpark alterations. Young pitched for the Texas Rangers (2004-05), the San Diego Padres (2006-10), the New York Mets (2011-12), the Seattle Mariners (2014) and the Kansas City Royals (2015-17). The 6’10” right-hander posted a career 79-67 record with a 3.95 ERA. With the Padres, Young was a key part of the starting rotation in their division-winning 2006 season, and he followed up by being named a National League All-Star in 2007, when he went 9-8 with a 3.12 ERA. With the Mariners, he earned 2014 American League Comeback Player of the Year honors by going 12-9 with a 3.65 ERA. Young then helped the Royals capture the 2015 World Series Championship, the franchise’s frst title in 30 years, with 15.2 innings pitched throughout their Postseason run. Young spun three innings of hitless relief en route to the win in Kansas City’s 14-inning victory over the Mets in Game One of the Fall Classic. Young received a degree in politics from Princeton University in 2002.