Interviews - Articles

Interview with Mike Di Muro

Wed, 05 Jan 2011 04:58:01 +0000

I'm pleased to have Mike Di Muro join us for an interview. Mike is a 10 year veteran and has worked the 2000 NLDS, the 2005 All-Star Game, and the 2010 ALDS. Mike is also co-founder of Blue for Kids, which is now part of UMPS CARE. Thanks for giving us this opportunity.

Warren: You called Halladay’s perfect game earlier this year. Where does that rank among your career highlights?

Mike: It certainly is a career highlight that I won’t soon forget. A perfect game is such a rarity and the fact that only 20 of them have been recorded lends to its historic significance. As an umpire, you just happen to be the one back there when all the stars align and that pitcher and his team are absolutely perfect. I have never been one for umpire career highlights, but view it more as a privilege to be a part of such an incredible moment in baseball history.

Warren: How did you and your crew celebrate or what did your crew do for you after the game?

Mike: As a crew we went out and had a late dinner and a few beers. It was nice to talk about the game and experience it with the entire crew.

Warren: Tell us about your equipment. What type of helmet, chest protector, shins, shoes do you wear?

Mike: I wear the All Star helmet and the Wilson Gold chest protector and shin guards. For the last five years I have worn the Reebok plate shoes. The equipment has gotten so much better over the course of my career. I can remember starting in rookie ball 20 years ago with very thin equipment and really feeling the effects of it when you got hit. Today, with the advancement and technology of protective equipment, we are much better protected.

Warren: Have you made any modifications or had anything custom made?

Mike: No, everything fits well and comfortable, so I am fortunate that I did not have to make any major or minor modifications.

Warren: Do you have a particular favorite piece of equipment? If so, what is it and why.

Mike: I suppose my favorite piece of equipment is the Reebok plate shoes. They are so light and comfortable. Years ago, we used heavy steel toe boots and it made it tough when you were working a two-man system and running around quite a bit in those days. It really makes a difference now to be working behind the plate and having what is essentially a comfortable running shoe on. I began wearing a helmet style mask back in 2002 and have used a few different models over the years. This past season I started wearing the newly redesigned All Star helmet. It is extremely comfortable and provides great protection. This season in Milwaukee, Carlos Gomez swung and lost control of the bat. The barrel struck me square on the head and the helmet saved me from not only a serious injury, but beyond a headache, any injury at all.

Warren: Your umpiring story obviously begins with your father, but when did you actually begin umpiring and when was it that you decided you were going to make a shot at making the professional ranks?

Mike: I started umpiring when I was around 12 years old. After playing in my game, I would earn extra money umpiring the younger ages of our league. I remember one day, my Dad was home for a rare off day, and he came out to watch me umpire one of the games. Afterward, he showed me how to use the outside protector and gave me a few mechanical things to do. I think I am one of the rare kids in the world who actually grew up wanting to become a Major League Umpire. I stopped umpiring in high school and did not pick it up again until college. While attending the University of San Diego, I worked high school games around San Diego County. It was a great way to earn some extra money and see if it was still something that I wanted to do. We had some great guys in the local association who really loved the profession of umpiring and were always willing to help out the younger umpires. I made some great friends over the course of those years. Once graduating from USD, I attended the Jim Evans Academy and was fortunate enough to enter into the minor leagues that year.

Warren: Was it known while you were an amateur umpire that you came from an umpiring family? If so did you feel you were treated different because of it?

Mike: Most of the members of the association knew the family name, but I did not feel any special or poor treatment. It was a great group and I was glad to be a part of it.

Warren: Your brother Ray was also an umpire. At any point in your career did you get to work with him?

Mike: I was fortunate to work with Ray in the PCL for a season and then in 1997, we were both called up to work a series in Oakland. That really was a great thrill for me. We always enjoyed working together and then to have the opportunity to work a Major League game with him was just amazing.

Warren: Does your brother call and give you advice, critique you or just fulfill his brother obligations in giving you some grief about your umpiring?

Mike: We still talk umpiring sometimes, but mostly just the usual brother stuff. I am not sure how much baseball he is able to watch being so busy with his investment firm business in Arizona.

Warren: You were a co-founder of Blue for Kids back in 2004 after only 5 years in the big leagues. What was your inspiration for creating Blue for Kids?

Mike: Blue for Kids was born from Marvin Hudson and Samuel Dearth. Marvin had been working with at risk youth in his hometown for years and Samuel was a former minor league umpire who had worked with Marvin. It seemed that many of the umpires were doing various programs and events in their hometowns, but there was no structure or organization in place, which all MLB umpires could participate. The three of us got together over one off-season and Blue for Kids was born. Having grown up around baseball and having the opportunity to attend games was something I took for granted. It was not long into my Major League career that the realization set in that attending a Major League game was not something everyone had the opportunity to do. A whole host of cultural and monetary factors played a part in that, and forming Blue for Kids would give that opportunity to kids who otherwise would have been left out.

Warren: In 2008 Blue for Kids merged with UMPS CARE and has continued to grow, did you ever imagine this becoming as large as it has?

Mike: It has become such an important part of my life now and the growth of our programs and reach that we have attained is something that I could not have imagined happening so quickly. It is a testament to the efforts of every MLB umpire, but there is so much more that goes into making it such a success. Samuel was able to lay a strong organizational foundation during the first few years and it has enabled us to expand each year with greater ease and without the usual growing pains.

Warren: Tell us about one of your most memorable experiences working with Blue for Kids/ UMPS CARE.

Mike: There were two memorable experiences that I had and I wrote about them on the UMPS CARE blog. Here are the links:

http://umpscareblog.com/09/20/2010/seize-the-opportunity/
http://umpscareblog.com/08/20/2010/what-one-bear-can-do-boston-childrens-hospital/

Warren: One of the many things you do for UMPS CARE is write the UMPS CARE blog (http://umpscareblog.com/). How did you get into that?

Mike: In an effort to increase the awareness of the charity and to reach out to more people, we decided to launch the UMPS CARE blog. Our short-term goal was to have a series of meaningful articles and perspectives for the blog to help raise interest in the programs. We are looking at continuing that and adding additional content and formats for this year. I hope it is something that will continue to grow and gain interest in the future. You can expect more posts and articles in the upcoming season.

Interview with Jim Reynolds

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 04:04:19 +0000

I recently had the opportunity to ask Major League Umpire Jim Reynolds (#77) a few questions. Jim is a 1992 graduate of Jim Evans Academy and had a particularly quick rise through the ranks and was added to the Major League staff in 1999. Since then he’s worked the 2004 All-Star Game, 2005 ALDS between the Angels and Yankees, 2007 NLDS between the Rockies and Phillies, 2008 NLDS between the Cubs and the Dodgers, and most recently the 2010 ALCS between the Rangers and Yankees. Jim is also the Secretary/Treasurer of UMPS CARE Charities. Jim, thank you for agreeing to speak with Umpire-Empire.

Warren: You have a pretty interesting story about how you became an umpire. Tell us a little about that.

Jim: I was attending the University of Connecticut and in my freshman year and there was a fire drill. I grabbed my high school jacket and went outside. While waiting outside there was this guy wearing his high school jacket and it was from a rival school. We struck up a conversation and that’s how Dan Iassogna and I became good friends.

He later talked me into taking a 1 credit course on umpiring taught by UConn coach Andy Baylock. It wasn’t an intense rules and mechanics course like pro school, just an introductory course. The first pitch I ever saw as an umpire was from Charles Naggy, who later had a great career with the Cleveland Indians, in the UConn batting cages. It was pretty much trial by fire. Through this I was able to start doing JV regular season games and varsity fall ball. I quickly found myself doing everything from 13-14 year olds to Legion.

Dan then told me he was going to pro school to try and become a professional umpire and asked if I would go with him.

We went to pro school and were both selected. We were also pretty lucky to be assigned together our first year. That made a lot of difference in going on the road together with your best friend. It was a great experience.

Warren: In the introduction it really stands out how quickly you rose through the ranks. Making it in just 7 years is practically unheard of. Tell us what you think made you stand out and able to rise so quickly.

Jim: It’s not all about ability; there are a number of factors involved. One major factor for any umpire is timing. There are always a good group of umpires coming up who would be great major league umpires, but sometimes there just are not any openings. I was very blessed to make it in the timeframe I did.

Warren: Tell me about the pressures you’ve faced and how you’ve dealt with them from your first MLB game June 4th 1999, to the 2004 All-Star Game, to your first post season appearance in 2005, your first post season plate appearance a year later and your appearance in this year’s ALCS.

Jim: Oh, there definitely is a lot of pressure for each one of these. The run up to the game is more stressful than the game itself. It’s more self imposed pressure and anxiousness than nervousness. You’re playing mental games and running through every potential situation which could happen and every sticky situation that’s happened to you all season thinking that they’re all going to happen to you in this game. Then you get in there settle in and the anxiousness slips away.

I have such an appreciation for the guys who work the playoffs year after year and go through this and have been successful and are able to set aside the pressure and focus on the game.

Warren: How did your crew help you or what words of advice did they give you?

Jim: I was on a great crew and they all had some great advice for me. Fieldin Culbreth and I had a great conversation where he told me to treat it just like any other game. There’s nothing that is going to happen out there which we haven’t seen or dealt with before.

Warren: In Game 1 when Sabatihia's pitch goes to the back stop. Posada recovers and throws back to Sabathia to tag Cruz. We had a lengthy discussion on this call at Umpire-Empire on how great this call by Davis was, not only in nailing it but the timing is and how it is both powerful and nonchalant. Seeing your partners’ make a call like that, what's going through your mind?

Jim: That was an incredible call. That call set the credibility for the crew for the series. At the time I really couldn’t appreciate it. Afterwards when I did see the play then I could not only appreciate the call, but it emphasized just how good these guys are. That’s why guys like Gerry Davis are constantly working the playoffs. Our crew had a few really good conversations about that call.

Warren: In game 3 of the ALCS, when you had the dish, you had a phenomenal plate job. Even the TBS Pitch Track showed you were spot on. How did you feel after that game?

Jim: I felt really good, but I was very fortunate that both Lee and Pettit were both pitching incredibly.

Warren: Could you tell you had a really good game going at the time or is something you had to look back to realize?

Jim: I felt that I was seeing the ball well. Walking off the field I felt that I had done a good job. I still haven't watched the game yet.

Warren: The next game you had the right field line. Tell us a little about Robinson Cano’s homerun in game 4. After the fact and reviewing it too many times your call seemed to be dead on. What did you see?

Jim: This was really the ideal situation for why we use six-man crews in the playoffs. I was able to get out and get into position where I had very good look at the play. From my position I was able to see the depth of the ball as it went over the glove.

Warren: Did the thought of replay come into your mind?

Jim: No, I had an excellent angle to see the play and I was 100% confident of my call. In a press conference after the game, once we had the opportunity to see it, a reporter asked about the call. Gerry Davis replied to the effect of, ‘We did look at the play and the ball was in the stands, had we gone to review we would have ruled the same.’

Warren: Then, just two batters later Berkman hits one which was initially called a HR, what went through your mind in going to a review?

Jim: That was another tough call, but the difference between the two was my confidence in making the call. I wasn’t 100% sure on this call. There were a few factors like angle and lights which came into play giving me reason to. I knew one of my partners would have had a better view than me.

Warren: Let’s discuss your equipment to satiate our equipment junkies. Tell us about what you use for a chest protector, shins, shoes and mask?

Jim: For a chest protector I currently use the Wilson Gold. I use the Wilson Pro Shin Guards, I think they’re really good. I wear the Wilson Dyna Lite mask, Reebok Magistrate Base shoes and Nautilus mid-cut plate shoes.

Warren: What is your favorite piece of equipment and why?

Jim: I’d say my mask. It has great protection, is light and is comfortable.

Warren: What equipment changes do you plan on making if any?

Jim: I may try the Platinum and see how I like it. I change up my equipment as needed. I’m not superstitious about any piece of equipment and am going to get something new when it becomes worn, damaged or just needs to be changed out .

Warren: A lot of the MLB guys have been spotted wearing the Reebok Premier Road IV lately, which are not available to the general public yet. If you used these, what were your thoughts on them and how do they compare to the Reebok Field Magistrate’s or other shoes you’ve used?

Jim: I did not use the new shoes and continued with the Magistrates, just out of personal preference. But a number of the guys have spoken highly of them in terms of their comfort and traction.

Warren: As I mentioned earlier, you are the Secretary / Treasurer of UMPS CARE Charities. Tell us a little about UMPS CARE, your role, and why it’s important to you.

Jim: UMPS CARE was formed 12 years ago by Larry Young. The purpose was to raise money to help retired umpires in need. In 2004 Mike Di Muro and Marvin Hudson founded Blue for Kids with an emphasis on helping children in need by visiting children’s hospitals and providing tickets to foster children awaiting adoption.

In 2008 the two charities merged to form UMPS CARE Charities. Today UMPS CARE Charities participates in four major programs.

We are still assisting retired umpires in need. We do the hospital visits and give the children a wonderful Build a Bear experience and often times will take the local team’s mascot with us and have a great experience for not only the kids but for us as well. Let me tell you, there is not much more in this world which can put things in perspective for you than when you are able to put a smile on these kids’ faces. These children are remarkable. Some have faced such hardships and have shown more courage than most adults would ever be able to do. They’re just amazing and it is an incredible experience.

We also have the Blue Crew ticket program where this year we provided 750 kids the opportunity to go to a game and enjoy one of the great memory building experiences of a day at the ballpark that other children have, but isn’t always available to children awaiting adoption. We provide these children with tickets, a goodie bag, a drink, Cracker Jacks, hot dog as well as some on the field pictures.

Our newest program, which started this year, is the All-Star Scholarship. This program is for adopted children to help provide a college education to students who otherwise might not be able to afford one. There are a number of programs out there for scholarships for those who are still awaiting adoption, but often times those who have been adopted will need financial assistance, and that’s where this comes in.

Warren: Now you have the UMPS CARE Charities Golf Marathon coming up next weekend tell us a little about that.

Jim: It is November 10th at Augusta Ranch Golf Club in Mesa, AZ. We’ll be playing 100 holes of golf and have reserved the entire course for the day. It’s a lot of fun, and one of our larger events.

Warren: Jim, I want to really thank you for this opportunity in agreeing to speak with us and reaching out to the amateur umpire community.

Jim: Thank you, and I want to let you know how much I appreciate what you all as amateur umpires do. It’s not easy. Most of you guys work your full time job then, no matter what happened that day, you’re then expected to go onto the field and be perfect.

Interview with Bob Bainter

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 17:52:04 +0000

I’m pleased to have the second interview in our interview series with Bob Bainter former AAA umpire and founder of the Oceanside Umpires Training School (OUTS). We spent a quite enjoyable few hours on the phone recently discussing Bob’s career and umpiring in general.

Warren: Bob, start out by telling us a little about your umpiring career and your progression through the ranks.

Bob: I was hired in 1995 and went into the Gulf Coast League. I was fortunate enough to earn a playoff spot in my first year. I’ll never forget the game I had the plate was an incredible game final score 0-1 and we got it done in 1:57.

The next year I went to the Northwest League after extended spring training. I got to work the championship game that year which was another great experience.

After that I went to the Midwest League. I also got to work the championship game that year, but one of the even greater events was getting to call a game near my hometown. My first game there I must have had between 50-100 family members there to see me.

1998 was probably the toughest year of my career. I was promoted to the Florida State League. On top of that I was being evaluated probably once a week. That year everything seemed to happen to me rather than my partner. I had 13 ejections at the All-Star break and 22 for the year, but I still got to the playoffs.

In 1999 I was promoted to the Class AA Eastern League and was the only rookie assigned to the playoffs. I was promoted to crew chief in 2000 and worked the championship series. In 2001 I was promoted to AAA before mid-season, and that ended my string of playoff appearances, but I couldn’t complain with the promotion! I worked in the International League and made the playoffs in 2002, 2003 and 2004. I was also selected to be Crew Chief in the All-Star game in 2004.

Also, a little piece of trivia I was behind the plate for 2 perfect games. In 2000 I was behind the plate when Pete Zamora had one in a 7 inning game and Bronson Arroyo in 2003 which was a 9-inning game. Both were great thrills.

Warren: That’s quite an incredible journey. What were some of your best memories of your career?

Bob: Hands down my best experience was working the All-Star game in Pawtucket. It was just a perfect combination of the game, the festivities surrounding the game, the fans, the complete environment, and my performance. It may have been one of the best games I ever called.

Warren: Tell us a little more about the environment and festivities there.

Bob: One of the greatest things they had was a round table discussion with Dom DiMaggio, Johnny Pesky, and Bobby Doerr. They were sharing their memories and I would still be sitting there listening to them if I could be, they were just amazing.

Also the city of Pawtucket went all out too. Everything was just incredible.

Warren: And how about the game?

Bob: The game was perfect. We went into the 10th inning tied 1-1 and the announcer told the crowd that by rule this as the last inning and the game could end in a tie. The crowd didn’t care too much for that rule. The top of the inning went 1-2-3. The bottom went 1-2 and Andy Phillips digs into the box. As he’s digging in I asked him, “Have you ever hit a walk off home run?” He just grinned. “You’d better do it now.” I said jokingly to him, and what do you know; he did.

Warren: What umpires influenced you the most in your career?

Bob: There are too many to name, but on the list would definitely be Justin Klemm, Matt Hollowell, Mike Fichter, Mark Carlson, Pat McGinnis, and David Riley. I just learned so much from them. Also, I’d have to include guys like Tim Timmons; he’s kept me sane. Rob Drake is another; he has the appearance and presence you have to have as an umpire. I have to mention Greg Chittenden. He is just one of the finest guys around. He’s calm and one of the greatest balls and strikes umpires I’ve ever seen. I’d say I don’t think he’s ever missed a pitch. Then I’d have to say Tim Tschida as well. He’s a super nice guy and I’ve admired his mechanics and even tried to duplicate his strike three call. I could really keep going forever. I’ve been really fortunate to have so many great influences.

Warren: Going back to the beginning, how did you start your umpiring career?

Bob: I started like so many other guys with some 7-8 year olds in a coach pitch game. I then did my first big boy game when I was 16. I was told at the end of the season I wasn’t good enough to work the next level. Which was actually the truth at that time. But at 18 I worked the classic C State Championships.

Warren: Now all umpires have great stories about event’s they have been involved in what’s one of your craziest stories?

Bob: It definitely has to be when I was in the Northwest League and went to Medford for a Timberjacks game. One game I was on the bases and between innings the mascot of the Timberjacks comes out carrying a foam rubber mannequin dressed in a Northwest League Umpire’s uniform and has some words with my partner. The mascot then begins to body slam the dummy repeatedly and just really crossed the line. My partner ejected the mascot.

A few weeks later we went back to Medford, and this mascot was earning a very bad reputation among the umpires for his acts. Well we arrive really early and while at the stadium the see the mascots uniform. So we took the head and hid it.

The game went smoothly and no sight of the mascot. Well then he must have found the head of his costume and between innings sometime around the 6th inning comes out from behind the outfield wall driving an ATV which is dragging his umpire mannequin by a noose. He was promptly ejected again. That ended up being the last game of that mascot’s career as the league took action.

Bob: I also have another story about my worse experience. We were leaving one city and heading to another and as is the policy we call the GM of where we are going to confirm everything for the game. I spoke to the GM and was told the game was the next night at 7:00 which was the standard. We got into town checked into our hotel. Then about 5:15 when we were just heading out to the field we got a call asking where we were. We casually answered we’re on our way to the field now. Well the game was scheduled to actually be a double header and started at 5:00. We rushed out there and got the game started at just before 6:00. Well after the game one of the league officials came to the locker room to read us the riot act. Even after the GM confirmed to him that he told us 7:00. We were handed 2 brown envelopes as the league official left the locker room. We were each fined $100 for being late. That really hurt.

Warren: I want to find out about your equipment. What do you use?

Bob: I use the West Vest Gold chest protector. I’ve had it for probably 10 years. It was actually given to me by Joe West. A group of us umpires were in a restaurant in Florida with Joe and having a great time talking with him and learning. At the end of the night as we were leaving he brought us to his truck and pulled out a number of the vests and started passing them out. I also use the heavy duty West Vest shin guards, I think they are an absolute must. And the West Vest Mask. For plate shoes I use the Gerry Davis patent leather ones.

Warren: What are some of your favorite ball parks?

Bob: I definitely have to rank Pawtucket number one. The fans are crazy Red Sox fanatics and they pack the house nearly every night and are really into their team. I’d also have to say Portland, Maine. The people who run it are the top of the line. I really want to move there. Then there’s also Memphis. It’s just a great city a great location and just two blocks off of Beale Street.

Warren: How about the other side of the coin, what’s your least favorite?

Bob: I’d have to say WPA field in Clinton Iowa. The fans there are just relentless on umpires. They could be winning and they are still malicious.

Warren: Let’s switch gears a little bit and talk about umpire training and OUTS. As an instructor what is the number one piece of advice you can give regarding base and plate work?

Bob: I see too many guys selling the obvious like the can of corn to the center fielder. I also see a lot of timing issues which some effort can be corrected. Then come some of my biggest pet peeves; hustle, appearance and guys who call being the 3rd base umpire the rocking chair.

Hustle is easy, being out of position is not as bad as not hustling out on the field. Appearance, this is easy too, I don’t understand guys who go out on the field looking sloppy. Appearance and hustle are the two things somebody who knows nothing about umpiring can take notice of and still accurately judge an umpire.

Then calling the 3rd base umpire the rocking chair; that tells me right off the bat what their attitude is going to be for the game. If the three man mechanics are done correctly, that is a very active, responsible position.

Warren: What made you stand out from your peers and rise like you did and get all of the post season assignments?

Bob: The great thing about what I feel made me stand out is that anybody can do it. The first thing was the way I handled odd situations. I earned a reputation of being neither a red ass nor a politician. The coaches knew and respected that and so did my evaluators. I also have to go back to what I said before, hustle. I had a home run which was hit up the left field line and was really a trouble ball in terms of fair foul. I made it to the third base when I stopped and made my call. The third base coach commented to me how nice it was to see an umpire get out there and hustle. And maybe most importantly, I enjoyed every minute of it. This just wasn’t a job for me I took it very seriously and still enjoyed it.

Warren: How did you get the idea to start OUTS?

Bob: I’m currently working as a conductor on the BNSF Railway and a guy I was working with who is a baseball encyclopedia about both players and umpires. We were talking about how in most training umpires don’t get the opportunity to call live games being video taped and deal with real live situations. I thought that is a down side. So I got to thinking and then bounced it off of Jeff Biddle, the athletics director of Cocoa Expo, about training umpires in his live games. He liked it and that was the start of it all.

Warren: Is OUTS going to focus on more two man mechanics or three man mechanics?

Bob: I originally thought we’d only have 2 man mechanics, but then there was so much demand for three man what we decided to do is offer a break out session for those who were interested in three man where they could get what they are seeking, while still giving those who don’t have any interest in three man all the same instruction they originally signed up for. I think this will be a great way to give everybody what they want.

Warren: How many students will you have at OUTS?

Bob: We’re capable of having 100 students. Some will be one week students some will be 2 week students. We’re really excited because we have students registering from all across the country. I honestly don’t expect to reach capacity our first year, but I think with our concept of training revolving around live game situations will be very popular. As the word spreads we’ll fill it up. Plus our staff is great and offers a tremendous amount of experience students will be able to learn from.

Warren: Bob, thanks for joining us and giving us some great insight. Also, good luck with the inaugural year of OUTS. Be sure to let us know how it turns out.

______________________________________

Since this interview was completed OUTS has been required to change their name. They are now Oceanside Umpire Training Seminar. Apparently the state of Florida has some regulations on naming an organization "school"

Interview with Jim Kirk of Ump-Attire.com

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 17:48:50 +0000

I'm glad to have the opportunity to ask Jim Kirk, owner of Ump-Attire.com, a few questions. I think you'll enjoy some of his insight as a supplier.

Warren: How did you originally get into the business of being a supplier of officials’ products?

Jim: I wish I had some grand story, but it is one of those one-thing-leads-to-another stories.

I was working on an MBA and feeling entrepreneurial when I decided to get into doing E-Commerce development for small businesses. I read a story in 2001 about a company called Ump-Attire, basically down the road from me that I had never heard of, who was manufacturing some products for umpires and had stated in the article they wanted to get more involved in Internet sales.

Are you kidding? I mean could this have been more up my alley or what, especially with my background in baseball and as a former umpire? Well after a few phone conversations and meetings, we started working together. I saw a lot of potential with the company, and especially in this niche officials’ supplier market.

The company started to grow as did my involvement to the point that the owner, Beulah Hester, had a vision to sell the retail portion of the business to me while she would focus on her strength as a designer and manufacturer of products.

So, I bought Ump-Attire.com in March of 2006, moved it to Louisville and soon began focusing on it full-time. We continue to have a close relationship with Ms. Hester where she not only provides us with our specialty items such as our Ultimate Ball Bags and Ultimate Shirts, she has been a great adviser and friend as well.

Warren: I read somewhere that baseball umpires are the most difficult of officials to supply. Do you think this holds true?

Jim: No, I don’t agree with that. Most of our umpire customers are very easy to deal with. The only truth to that could be based on the fact that umpires have so many more items they need versus what is needed for let’s say basketball officials. I will add that I am impressed with the level of knowledge umpires have when it comes to gear and apparel. I believe sites like yours at Umpire-Empire have been a big part of that. And the more educated our customers are and the more they know what they want, the easier it makes life for us.

Warren: What are some of the biggest changes you have seen in terms of umpire equipment over the years?

Jim: Well, over the last 10 years, there is the borrowing from football their shoulder pads in the development of hard shell chest protectors and the borrowing from hockey their goalie helmets for umpire helmets.

Then, more recently, there has been the move to lighter weight frames for masks. The titanium ups the bar here because if you have one of these you realize how much better visibility you get through its thinner bars and less contrast lighter color in its raw form.

Plus, there are now more household brands making umpire shoes than ever before when you have New Balance and Reebok.

The largest change, though, in my opinion, is the move toward performance synthetics. But it’s not just under apparel or compression wear anymore, it’s also shirts – an area where we have provided some leadership, pants, socks or even mask padding that have made life more comfortable and functional for umpires.

Depending on these synthetics and how they are treated, you can obtain benefits such as moisture management, quick drying, wrinkle resistance, odor blocking anti-microbial agents, no picking or pilling and more.

Warren: What changes do you see coming in the future?

Jim: I think in the near future, you’ll mostly see the industry improving on recent changes.

For instance, companies will tweak their shoes. Reebok is already planning on toning down the white logo on theirs and there seems to be a small trend in incorporating a patent look on shoes without making it a completely harder-to-maintain patent.

There will also be more hard shell chest protector options in the future once the Joe West patent expires in a few years where it vaguely appears now that virtually everything hard shell is a potential infringement. More options will provide some lower cost alternatives, especially for beginning umpires and perhaps some improvements.

Performance fabrics will move beyond just ones that wick moisture. We’ve already raised the bar here with our new Ultimate Umpire Shirts that have additional features and have some other products in the works that will do so as well.

Warren: You spent some time as an umpire, tell us about your umpiring experience.

Jim: I got married right out of college, and I was looking for a way to earn extra income in addition to my full-time job. Having played baseball in college, umpiring high school baseball seemed like a logical choice. For a reference point, this would have been 1993-94 and that would have put me at 23-24 years of age. I umpired in the southeastern part of Kentucky.

By year two, I felt I was a decent umpire as far as my demeanor with coaches, strike zone and calls on the bases – I really worked on playing that close play over in my mind before making a call.

But, I honestly struggled with gaining a sense of satisfaction in being an umpire. I remember being given an important district rivalry game near the end of the year with the top two teams and teams with very good, but vocal coaches. I knew I was taking the plate and spent some time preparing myself mentally for the game. I remember having as many butterflies before the game then as I had before any game as a player.

The game was very tight and came down to a close play at home. As far as I was concerned, I called a very solid game and managed the game and coaches in a highly professional manner. I would say it was my best game! But the fans were all over me for most of the game on both sides and the losing coach let me have it over the final call. I just remember thinking, "I just called my best game, and still no one is satisfied with me".

So although I was doing well, umpiring just didn't fit my personality, which was to make everyone happy. I’d probably do better now that I’m older and wiser.

So I quit to focus on a graduate degree. But I can tell you, I never yelled at a referee or umpire again after that experience.

Warren: If it's umpiring or any other aspect of life, you need to have a passion for what you're doing. You've obviously found your passion with Ump-Attire.com.

Warren: When you umpired what equipment did you use?

Jim: Well, I know I skimped when I umpired. I did and bought things I wouldn’t advise a beginning umpire to do now that I know what I’m doing. I didn’t wear plate shoes, but fortunately was never hit on the foot. I had one of those ball bags where the brush goes on the outside and an Elbeco shirt I bought from Honig’s. I hated that shirt. It was always coming untucked. Boy, could I have used a flex or ultimate belt.

I also had a “The Ump” thin soft foam chest protector with no hard plastic inserts or anything hard. I really liked it a lot until I took a very hard shot once that shook me up, left me with a long-lasting bruise and with a realization I should have gotten something more involved.

Warren: What equipment would you use today?

Jim: I would definitely be upgrading my chest protector that’s for sure. Depending on the game or weather, I‘d go with either the Wilson Platinum or Diamond iX3. The platinum fits me better around the neck than the Gold, and I think the iX3 would be sufficient protection or me at the high school level or lower.

For head protection, I’d err on the side of safety with a Shock FX Umpire Helmet…. Great vision, not-too-heavy.

Shin guards… Wilson Charcoal - I think they provide the best combination of comfort and protection without being too bulky.

Shoes… New Balance for both plate and base… the new MF995 lows on the bases.

On shirts, the Majestic polo blue with black collar. I love the look at that shirt. But I’d have to say our new Ultimate Umpire Shirts in navy and powder blue for now and other colors when they become available later. Was that enough of a plug?

Pants… Smitty. The ones from this year are a big improvement.

Ball bag… I think you know that answer there.

Warren: Does your experience as an umpire come into play as you decide what to carry?

Jim: Well, I’m glad I have that background, but I would say not so much except for knowing what it’s like to be a starting umpire with limited funds and that I won’t be carrying the Elbeco shirts anytime soon. I’m much more influenced by listening to umpires who have much more experience than I have than anything else.

Warren: As new products and new equipment companies enter and leave the market how do you decide which line of products for Ump-Attire.com to carry and how hard is it deciding?

Jim: That’s a tough question to answer because we don’t have any set formula. Early on, it was much easier to decide because we had a lot of gaps in our selection. For instance, when we started we basically had no shoes. How could we be a serious contender in this market without shoes? That was a no-brainer, and now we have a pretty strong selection of something like 18 options in all sports.

When things aren’t so obvious, there are really a lot of things you could start carrying from your suppliers, other suppliers or that you could do yourself. So you have to weigh all those, listen to your customers and just determine what combination of new things just feels right without going completely overboard.

It’s a little easier to decide on new products already carried by one of our suppliers. Is it a quality item? Would we use it if we were umpiring at the level it’s intended for? Is the price to us reasonable? Can we sell at a price where customers would find it as a good value? Does it fit well into our product selection where it’s not too similar to something else?

When you have an opportunity to buy products from new suppliers or some already out there, you ask some of the same questions. But it’s important to get a good sense that a supplier is going to be easy to work with. If your early interaction with a sales rep or the company in getting more information or in getting set up isn’t going well, and that happens more than you’d think, then it’s highly likely it’s not going to be worth the headache.

Warren: We’ve all seen things like the radar gun type indicator, the belt hook to carry your mask on, and other such items. What are some of the more “interesting” things which have been brought to your attention or someone has tried to get you include in your product line?

Jim: It seems like a year ago, we were being approached by some company or person every other month with something.

One interesting item someone approached me with two years ago was a retractable umpire brush. Well, the umpire brush itself wasn’t retractable, but it had a retractable extension that would allow one to brush off the plate without bending over. Just picture an umbrella but instead of the top of an umbrella it was an umpire brush at the end of a metal rod. That product was actually not made yet. It was sent to me as a drawing. The person who had the idea got the idea because his father was an umpire who had trouble bending over due to a medical condition. Obviously, we passed on the idea.

Sometimes the best things are the simplest things.

Warren: What do you think sets Ump-Attire apart from the other suppliers of officials needs?

Jim: With out a doubt, openness. Whether it’s sharing product information, good or bad, on the website or directly with customers, we try to be very open and honest. Just read any of our umpire gear buying guides or my Officially-Unofficial blog. You’ll notice things we might say about products or about us that others might not readily want to share about their products or themselves.

Most umpires are really down-to-earth. I believe they’d rather buy from a company they feel they know a little bit and trust will be even-handed with them rather than one who just slaps a bunch of products and prices on a website somewhere. Anyone can do that.

Warren: How much in advance do you know about new products coming down the pipeline?

Jim: With outside suppliers, such as Wilson, Diamond and Reebok, it’s typically about 4-6 months. This time frame is usually when we book or place our orders in advance to have available at the beginning of the next season.

We might hear a rumor here or there earlier on some things such as we did with the Reebok plate shoes. Or we might suggest something that might not be available until a year or so later. This was the case on the Diamond silver frame mask.

Warren: Is there any product you are surprised hasn’t/didn’t do better in the market?

Jim: Hmmm. Not really. Most products sell as expected or, when they don’t, they’ll sell better than expected. The only item that really surprised me on the better-than-expected end of the spectrum was the Diamond Ultimate Umpire Equipment Bag. I didn’t think we’d sell many at $140 each, and at the time the most expensive bag we previously had was in the $40-45 range. And I was off, pretty far off actually, as the item has done really well. It truly showed me that umpires are willing to spend money on things that are of high quality and/or address a need.

Warren: What is the biggest hurdle you have had to overcome in the officials supplier market?

Jim: The market itself is pretty much uncomplicated. The customers are a target group that you can easily find and get feedback and ideas from. There is a narrow range of products to select from. And you can always easily find what your competitors are up to.

Our biggest hurdle honestly has been managing our growth. I hope none of our competitors are reading this, but we’ve averaged in the ball park of doubling each of the last 3 years. So making sure we have the right amount of people, inventory, systems and training to keep up with this growth has been quite the challenge. A good problem to have as they say, but a challenge we’re continually overcoming.

Our ability in keeping it together is all a testament to the great crew we have here.

Warren: Ump-Attire.com seems to be a good community citizen actively involved in various charities including Blue for Kids, UMPS CARE and more. Tell us a little more about your community involvement.

Jim: Thanks for noticing. I am a big believer that businesses should give back.

UMPS CARE, our largest charity, is a no-brainer for us. The MLB umpires and Samuel Dearth, the director, do all the work. We just lend our monetary support to them and do our part in promoting their events with our customers. All of this work is eventually for the benefit of children in hospitals or who are awaiting adoption.

In May, I will participate in a hospital event in Cincinnati with umpires Ted Barrett, Greg Gibson and Andy Fletcher where we’ll visit children and do Build-A-Bear workshops with them. I’m really looking forward to that.

We’ve also been a sponsor for Wrestle for Autism and an educational partner for NASO, both the last 2 years. We even sponsor a local little league team in the Louisville area.

Having said all of that, we can still do better and have some plans in the works for additional community involvement.

But you know being a good community citizen is also good for business. Staff know we are a part of something bigger and not just a company who sells stuff – so that’s good for morale. And I think our customers see it, too, and prefer to buy from us knowing we are giving something back. It’s just a win-win all the way around.

Warren: Jim, thank you for your time and also thanks for being actively involved with the umpiring community not only here but a number of other places as well.

Interview with Hunter Wendelstedt

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 17:27:41 +0000

I’m honored to have the opportunity to interview Hunter Wendelstedt for our first interview in this new feature.

Warren: This will be your tenth year in Major League Baseball. Looking back what are some of your favorite experiences?

Hunter: Every time I walk onto the field, I still get excited. I enjoy being a part of a game that I love and being able to have such a close seat. It is a wonderful time. Some of my most memorable experiences have been my times in the playoffs, both the Division Series and League Championship Series. I also enjoyed being offered the opportunity to umpire the Opening Series for 2008 in Japan and the MLB China Series. It is a terrific opportunity when we are offered these types of special events. Of course, my favorite experience of all time would have to be the incredible opportunity to work with my father in a Major League game. It is the only time in history that a father and son have worked a Major League game together, and it stands out in my mind as the most memorable moment of my career.

Warren: You mentioned that last March you had the distinction of going to China for the first ever MLB games played in China in the stadium which was later used for the Olympics. Tell us how did you earn the opportunity to get those games? And tell us a little about your experience in China.

Hunter: Japan and China were wonderful experiences. Major League Baseball determines the umpires that are selected to be put on that main stage. It was an honor to be selected to work there. The entire event was great. All of the people there were very inviting. During our off days, we were able to visit tourist spots like the Imperial Palace and the Great Wall of China.

Warren: Did you get to meet and work with and/or instruct the umpires from the China Baseball Association?

Hunter: We met both umpires in China and Japan. We worked with several Asian umpires during exhibition games. It was a terrific experience, and they all did a great job. Our umpire school has a working relationship with these umpires already, so I knew several people that we worked with. There was no instructional period, though our school will be hosting a clinic in Tokyo at the end of the year.

Warren: Many amateur umpires are equipment junkies. What is your preferred equipment?

Hunter: Well, Wilson is our official supplier but there are a lot of very good equipment companies and dealers out there. The important thing is that each umpire finds what they think is best. No umpire’s body is the same as the other and one chest protector might fit more comfortably on one than it would the other. The same thing goes with masks, shin guards, etc.

Warren: Being the son of the legendary Harry Wendelstedt I think would have two possible outcomes: 1, some doors being opened for you; 2, the bar being set higher, as people’s expectations are set higher actually making it harder for you. Which do you feel is more accurate?

Hunter: Both. Absolutely, it is a certainty that more people may have looked at me during my career but with those looks came more scrutiny. I had to prove myself just that much more and throughout my Minor League career I was always compared to my dad. It is hard to be compared to a future Hall of Fame umpire but I have never looked at it that way personally. I just have always gone out and worked hard and be myself. I let my work do my talking for me.

Warren: Other than your father, what umpires influenced you the most?

Hunter: There are so many. I have grown up with umpires like Randy Marsh, Bruce Froemming, Lee Weyer, Dutch Rennert, Paul Runge. The list goes on and on. I was fortunate to be able to work with Marsh and Froemming in the past, and their guidance on the field has been tremendous.

Warren: You have a pretty unique perspective of amateur umpires through the Harry Wendelstedt Umpires School. What are a few of the more common mistakes or bad habits you see people come in to the school with that an umpire could correct easily at home?

Hunter: The habits they come in with aren’t necessarily “bad”, they’re just not what we teach. We teach the way we do for a couple of reasons. The first is that we are able to grade everyone on the same standard. If we had everyone doing their own thing, it would become very, very subjective. The second reason is that we believe that this is the best way to teach umpires. Basically, our teaching system and methods have remained consistent for more than 50 years. This has obviously worked, because our success rate is much higher than all other programs in history, combined.

Warren: What would be your number one tip for working the plate?

Hunter: There are a few things. No matter what the stance an umpire works, it is important to have proper head height, get positioned well in the slot, track the pitch all the way into the glove, and the timing that is used in calling pitches should all remain the same. Those are all equally as important.

Warren: What would be your number one tip for working the bases?

Hunter: I would say timing. If you slow everything down, you will be able to replay the action in your head and then make the correct call. Too many umpires call plays as soon as they happen, sometimes even before they happen. The whole play has to end and then you should be able to say what the decision is in your head, before you make the call.

Warren: As both a Major League umpire and an instructor, what makes an umpire stand out from the crowd and be promoted quicker.

Hunter: Handling situations. The difference between a good AAA umpire and a Major League umpire is the ability to handle the situations that arise on the field. Most umpires at that level can call balls and strikes, safes and outs, fairs and fouls. It is the ability to diffuse a situation, attempt to keep people in the game, but eject when necessary.

Warren: All umpires have a best story which they love to tell about their umpiring experience, what is yours?

Hunter: I love to tell the story of my dad and myself working together in St. Louis for the first time in history. That is an experience that I am so proud of, and love to tell.

Warren: Do announcers who perpetuate rules myths bother you?

Hunter: They don’t bother me because we all expect it. There is always going to be the guy that sees an umpire signal Spectator Interference, but then gets very upset that the umpire awarded three bases because he is certain that the umpire gave the Ground Rule Double sign. What I appreciate the most is when an announcer, even if they have to say something on air, checks with us later about a ruling. If they misspoke, then go on air again and correct it, I have no problem. It is the announcers that just spout off rulings that they know nothing about, and make no effort to get it right.

Warren: What is your favorite park to work, including MiLB?

Hunter: I love going to San Diego and San Francisco. Both of those cities are great. But there is nothing like going to the historic ballparks like Fenway or Wrigley.

Warren: When you’re not working can you still sit down and enjoy watching a game, or are you paying more attention to the umpires and what they’re doing?

Hunter: I still love watching baseball. It is a great game but your loyalties change a little bit after you become an umpire. I still like to see great plays on the field but I am always looking to see the positioning of the umpires, their timing, the rotations, etc.

Warren: Do big league managers still believe many of the rules myths that we, as amateurs, have to hear all of the time?

Hunter: Some do. For the most part though, managers are very well versed on the rules. Actually, they tend to know the most obscure rules out there because they studied it the night before while they were on the plane, or something, but they have no idea that they may elect to take the results of the play if the penalty for catcher’s interference is enforced. They miss opportunities like this. Also, though batting out of order doesn’t happen that often in the Big Leagues, when it does, it is usually brought to our attention too early. When we tell them that they won’t be getting an out, but instead, will just bring up the proper batter to assume the count, they say, “No, no, no. I’ll just wait until he finishes his at-bat.” But, of course, we can’t. Once they bring it to our attention, we have to correct the mistake.

Warren: In this example with catchers interference; at the Major League level do you offer the option to managers or not? Would the answer change at the amateur level?

Hunter: I don’t think that my answer changes from one to the other. This gets into “coaching” the teams. Even though they probably don’t the players and coaches are required to know the rules, too. We are not supposed to tell them what they can do, only allow them to make the decision on their own. However, that doesn’t mean that a reasonable question can’t be given a reasonable answer. And remember, some of their questions won’t have that question mark at the end of it. It may just be a statement like, “Hunter, there’s got to be a way I can get that run.”

My reply would be, “Why yes there is,” and then wait. If he asks how that is, I tell him. If not, too bad.

Warren: Tell us some of the differences between the Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School and the other major school?

Hunter: There are several differences that I think are substantial. Our staff is comprised of both umpires from every level of the Minor Leagues and the Major Leagues. I am proud to announce that all of our AAA umpires were sent to the Arizona Fall League and all seven have also received full schedules for this year’s Major League Spring Training. Though we have many Major League umpires on staff, our Minor League staff is the cream of the crop. These are going to be the guys that get the next Big League jobs. I credit this to my dad’s ability to recognize umpiring talent. He still makes the decisions as who to newly hire on our staff each year.

Consistently, these umpires have gone on to become Major League umpires. Currently, we have 12 full time Major League umpires on staff. Though it is important to have a competent Minor League staff to keep our school abreast of the new things coming out of there, there is nothing that can replace the experience of our Major League instructors. These aren’t guys that don’t deal with only four-man mechanics. Remember, they teach the Two-Man System every year. They know what they’re doing and the system that they teach is one that was designed by my dad. No other program in history can boast the extensive staff that we have. Our nearest competitor’s staff is mainly composed of first and second year umpires, who, though may be good umpires, do not have the experience to make them as good of instructors.

Another difference is our teaching methods. Though we have controlled situations (with an instructor holding the bat), daily drills, continual cage work, and camp games, we are the only school that uses live games played by college and high school teams in its curriculum. This is important, not only because it offers the students live game experience but because it is also the only thing that is used at the PBUC placement camp to determine starting leagues and levels of entry umpires. Our students are better prepared for this evaluation than a school that only offers simulated situations. Finally, the results speak for them self. Our school has produced more professional umpires and more Major League umpires, than all other programs in history combined. Since the inception of our newest competitor’s first umpire to reach the Major Leagues, our numbers more than double that of theirs. With well over one hundred Major League umpires produced, our nearest competitor doesn’t even come close with their less than a handful.

Though statistics can often be skewed, these are hard to move. In fact, they claim that their senior instructor has trained or supervised a large number of the current Major League staff. What they fail to say is that the vast majority of the MLB umpires trained by him were while he was an apprentice instructor with our school.

Warren: What should an umpire considering attending the school know before heading down there?

Hunter: Just work hard. No matter what you’ve learned in the past, we promise it won’t be the same as what you will learn here. Also, knowing the rules is important, but it is more important to be able to apply them on the field. Don’t study the rulebook looking for knotty problems; instead, learn the basic concepts that we teach you and you will be able to solve any rhubarb that comes your way. Just taking it step-by-step.

Warren: Your website mentions “The Wendelstedt Rules and Mechanics Manual.” Tell us about that and when that will be available.

Hunter: We’ve already published it. However, the updated version will be coming out by the middle of February. This is necessary as professional baseball makes changes to either the rules or its interpretations. They recently made some changes that we must adjust to. It will be available with the rest of our new product line, at our newly designed website. The new site and product line will be available following the completion of this year’s course.

Warren: Your website also talks about “The Wendelstedt Umpire School 2009 Clinic Circuit.” What can someone expect from the circuit? Will it be staffed by your regular 5 week staff? Which locations will the circuit be hitting? Will you be changing the locations next year?

Hunter: Our new schedule will be posted with our new website as well. Each clinic will include members of our regular staff, as well as local clinicians and other professional umpires. This upcoming year, we will be traveling to West Virginia, Missouri, California, Vancouver, Hawaii, Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, and Japan. If local umpires, groups, or associations are interested in having a clinic hosted in their area, they are free to contact the school at admin@umpireschool.com. Also with our new website, we will offer potential students a wonderful opportunity for a non-profit organization called The Umpire Education Tuition Assistance Program. This independent organization will offer students need-based grants between $250.00 and $2800.00.

Warren: Hunter thank you very much for your time. Have a great season and we’ll be looking for #21 out there