What is the necessary process for becoming a Major League umpire? First, you must attend one of two recognized umpire schools. Both are in Florida, and both run each January and into early February. Here is the information for one of the two schools:
No one who attends these schools is guaranteed a job in the minor leagues. However, attending one of the schools is the only way to get a job in professional baseball. Qualified graduates are sent to an advanced camp with the Professional Baseball Umpire Corp. PBUC then assigns umpires to the lower levels of the minor leagues. Umpires work their way up through the minor leagues, and Major League umpires are selected from the Triple-A level.
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Where do Major League umpires get their uniforms and equipment? Major League Baseball provides umpires with:
- All uniform outerwear, is supplied by MLB. The uniform consists of black windbreaker (Majestic Athletic), black jersey, warm-weather light blue jersey, grey trousers, and black hat (New Era) with silhouetted MLB logo.
- Base shoes fitted with orthotics.
- Equipment trunks.
The individual umpire purchases plate shoes and all other protective equipment.
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When did the first African-American and Hispanic umpires first work in the Major Leagues? Have any foreign-born umpires become Major League umpires?
Emmett Ashford was the first African-American to become a professional umpire when he worked the Southwestern International League in 1951. He was the first African-American umpire in the Major Leagues when he was promoted to the American League in 1961, and he became full-time in 1966. The National League did not have an African-American umpire until 1973 when Art Williams joined the staff. The first Hispanic umpire in Major League Baseball was Armando Rodriquez, with the American League in 1974. Angel Hernandez, who was born in Havana, Cuba, and is a current member of the MLB staff, became the first Hispanic umpire in the National League in 1993.
Jim McKean, a current Major League Supervisor and a native of Montreal, was the first Canadian to become a Major League umpire, hired in 1974. Alfonso Marquez, a current member of the umpiring staff, became the first Mexican-born MLB umpire in 1999. He was born in Zacatecas, Mexico. CB Bucknor, also a current MLB umpire, was born in Jamaica, West Indies.
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What Major League umpires have had their numbers retired?
National League #1 - Bill Klem (1905-1940)
National League #2 - Jocko Conlan (1941-1964)
American League #2 - Nick Bremigan (1974-1989)
National League #3 - Al Barlick (1940-1972)
American League #9 - Bill Kunkel (1968-1984)
American League #16 - Lou DiMuro (1963-1982) When National and American League umpire uniform numbers were re-issued by the Major League Baseball Commissioner's Office to the combined umpiring staff, the retired numbers were put back into use. The numbers retired in each league are now in a status of commemoration by Major League Baseball. The only uniform number that cannot be used by an MLB umpire is 42, Jackie Robinson's uniform number.
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Which Major League umpires followed in their fathers' footsteps? Have any brothers worked as Major League umpires?
Paul Runge (1973-1997) was the first son of a Major League umpire to become an MLB umpire himself. Paul's father, Ed Runge, worked from 1954-1970. Jerry Crawford (1976-resent) was the next; his father, Henry "Shag" Crawford worked from 1956 to 1975. Brian Gorman (1993-present) is the son of Tom Gorman (1951-1976). In 1999, three umpires who joined the full-time MLB staff were sons of former Major League umpires. Mike DiMuro is the son of Lou DiMuro (1963-1982), and Hunter Wendelstedt is the son of Harry Wendelstedt (1966-1998). Brian Runge is the son of Paul and the grandson of Ed, making him the first grandson of a Major League umpire to work in the big leagues. Tim and Bill Welke are brothers currently work in the Major Leagues while brothers John and Mark Hirschbeck are brothers who have worked as Major League umpires.
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