West Coast Umpire

I'm one of those umpires who wanted to go to get better at the amateur level. I would have loved to work pro ball, but I'm about twenty years too old. This was a bucket list thing for me that I really wanted to do. This leaves a big gap in the umpire education system - the trickle-down effect of people going to pro school and then coming back to their amateur systems as instructors was huge. The loss is definitely bigger than the MILB pipeline.

Does anyone know the real reason why the school is closing? I saw on Reddit that only on Wendelstedt grad from the 2025 class got a full-time job in MiLB. If that's true, then I can see why they'd wind it all up. When your pitch is that you train more umpires to the MLB level than anyone else and now you get one guy into the minors, it pretty well says it's over. I hadn't heard that HW was injured but that might also contribute to it. Saddened by this as I was set to go this year - one of the fantasy camp guys for sure - but due to work and family considerations, had the plan change, with an intent to go in 2027. I'm too old for pro ball by a long shot but did hope to work college and summer league games after finishing. Now that opportunity appears gone for good for many of us who wanted get better at the art but know we can't do it without focused training that isn't acquired on a weekend at best. Also curious that the School just launched a big online rules program (though not with much marketing push and at considerable cost). That must have been a lot of work that didn't have much of a chance to generate a yield for them.

That's good to know. There's a ton of room for improvement in both of them.

Hey everyone, In the before COVID times, the MLB and MiLB Umpire Manuals were reasonably well available for purchase. Since then, it seems like ABUA (the best source for the official MLB rule book and the MLB Umpire Manual) has gone out of business and of course, MLB has taken over PBUC so there are no publications available through the usual sources like Ump Attire or Gerry Davis. I love reading these publications so am wondering if anyone has any sources. I've tried writing to MLB but have had no response and Google equally turns up nothing. Thanks!

Thanks for the info, guys. I have a very old Jaksa/Roder manual so will write Rick to see about the updated version! Fingers crossed an update to the Jim Evans Annotated sees the light of day!

Anyone heard any rumours about this thing ever seeing the light of day? Have been looking on and off for an old copy but haven't been successful. Anyone know anything?