In February John Hirschbeck, president of the World Umpires Association (WUA) negotiated an agreement with the Office of the Commissioner to hire back umpires Tom Hallion and Ed Hickox. Both umpires had been terminated in the failed resignation attempt by the previous union for major league umpires (MLUA).
Hallion and Hickox returned to minor leagues after their termination both to umpire in an attempt to work their way back to the major leagues.
Both umpires will return as full time major league umpires. Hallion will return as a fifteen year umpire and Hickox as a third year umpire. In return for hiring Hallion and Hickox the WUA agreed to umpire the 2009 World Cup and agreed to wear field microphones in limited situations.
The World Umpires Association is extremely happy to get Hallion and Hickox back to the major leagues full time. Hirschbeck has said it was a long term goal of the WUA to get Hallion and Hickox back to the major leagues where they belonged.
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