Sport-Blog.com

Most of us have grown up with the little league baseball syndrome hanging over us. As a parent I've had the great experience of coaching baseball for many years, through the ups and downs of good teams and bad teams. Even at the worst of moments I'd trade a huge loss for not having the opportunity to step out on the field at all.
Over the course of years I've also had to do my share of umpiring, the requirement in our league being that the head coach has to umpire either the game before or the game after his own. Having been on the field as an umpire, I've learned to respect the paiod guy behind the plate.
Recently, in my job as feature writer for the local newspaper, I had the good fortune to interview a guy named Bobby, who's put in an amazing thirty years as an umpire at the local baseball park.
Bobby got his start the same way I did, filling his duties as a head coach by umpiring the games of other teams. For some reason though, he just never quit.
It's now fifteen years after his last kid left the park, and Bobby is the longest tenured umpire at SBBA.
When I sat down to talk with him, I got more out of the experience than he did.
"It's something I think I was just born to do, " said Bobby after spending the last few hours behind the plate of a fifteen year old girls' softball game. "The chance to spend a lot of time with the kids, watch them grow up, and now, I'm starting to see the kids of former players I've umpired."
Having made his reputation as an umpire not to be fooled with, Bobby has very few problems on the field. He's quick to point out that if you are going to be a coach, you better spend some time with the rule book.
"I've probably read the rules 50 times over the years" he said, "And every time I read it I find something that I missed the other 49 times. Most disputes with coaches and fans come because they don't know the rules."
What are the keys to getting along with the umpire? Treat him with respect.
"If a guys comes storming out the dugout yelling and screaming, I'll listen for about 10 seconds, then I'll call him down." says Bobby. He can yell and scream in the dugout if he wants but if he steps out onto the field he'll be out the game before too much time goes by. I'll take the time to explain any call if he gives me the proper respect, but if he won't hold up my game with a temper tantrum."
Bobby has seen a lot at the park and has had his share of tough jobs. One of the rules at our local park is that there is no alcohol allowed on the premises under any circumstances. At a local tournament another team brought beer into the park expressly against the posted rules in prominent places around the diamonds. The result? Bobby threw out not only the parents, but the coaches and the entire team, eliminating them from any chance of moving on to the state playoffs.
"I called the commisioner and told them what happened," said Bobby, "And they backed me 100%. "Beer and little league don't mix."
Almost fifty years old, Bobby plans to continue his umpiring for as long as possible. The toll it takes on his body though is considerable.
"There have been times I've almost passed out. Standing for hours on a summer day with the heat beating down on you is not an easy thing. You've got to pace yourself and try to get in the shade as much as possible and keep sucking down the water. I've watched other guys flat pass out behind the plate."
What we all need to consider is just how valuable and selfless these little league umpires are. the pay isn't great and the hours are tough. In addition, there's always the idiot coach or parent who blames the umpire for everything that happens in a game. But without these guys the whole thing falls apart. Taking a few minutes to give the umpire some thanks and appreciation would go a long way toward getting more guys into the role of umpire, and presenting more kids with the chance to play and gain the invaluable experience baseball provides.
Give the umpire at your field a little pat on the back once in awhile. Without him you'd be sitting home getting stupid watching TV or becoming a couch potato. these guys are unsung heroes and it's about time we gave them the respect they deserve.