Why I Umpire

[Jocko]

Our brother NFUA44 wrote an eloquent post in another thread. It got my juices flowing so-to-speak. When I feel strongly about something, my emotional outlet is extemporaneous writing. I'm no William Shakespeare or Robert Frost, but my feelings come out in my written word. I felt compelled to PM NF and share with him how moving his words were for me. As I wrote to him, the emotions overflowed the dam that is my percieved self and made small, damp trails down my cheeks. Here is an excerpt:

"God, I love this game. I'm not, nor will I ever be, the best umpire in most groups. My desire is to be the best umpire I can be. I miss calls. I misinterpret rules. I make mistakes. But with each error I make, it only strengthens my resolve to honor the game by learning from it. And with each lesson learned, I become a better umpire. As I become a better umpire, I honor the institution that is Baseball."

Baseball is an old friend. She is an historical timeline. She is a refuge. She can be infuriating, tiresome, and even excruciating at times. And yet Baseball was my respite during an extremely troubled youth. She was a bridge over troubled waters. The game has always been a part of my life, I just never really understood how big that part was.

Why do you choose to pursue the ominpotence we umpires are expected to have?

[NFUA_44]

Order, Tradition, Passion.

 

This happens, do this.  That happens, do this.

 

Out of the Chaos comes consistent execution.

 

Puts my scattered brain back in order.

 

Ruth, Gibson, Musial, Kofax.  Passion to excel.

[th3]

I hate to admit it, but its the one area of my life where I am in charge!

[Jocko]

The funny thing, for me, is this. When I'm on the field instincts, muscle-memory, and training kick in. I trust these implicitly. I misquoted the situation R3 responsibilities in another thread. This NEVER happens ON the field. And I don't have to think about it. It's a preprogrammed response and situational awareness. Like the PLC Ladder Logic that tells industrial robots what to do and when to do it, I just go where the program takes me and trust the system works. Maybe that's why our actions are described as mechanics.

[bam]

Jesus Christ!  Do you get weepy on the bases or just behind the plate? 

[NFUA_44]

Jesus Christ! Do you get weepy on the bases or just behind the plate?

I do when calling pitches from behind the mound! Tears of joy cause I'm going to have a PERFECT game.

[bam]

Jesus Christ! Do you get weepy on the bases or just behind the plate?

I do when calling pitches from behind the mound! Tears of joy cause I'm going to have a PERFECT game.

Only in Iowa, brother, only in Iowa. 

[JaxRolo]

". I miss calls. I misinterpret rules. I make mistakes. ."

 

 

We Know!

[Welpe]

I'm a bit of an idealist so a lot of what you write hits home for me. Baseball has always been there, as a player, fan and umpire. It's something my dad and I shared together, especially iconic father-son game of catch. Me being an umpire and by that extension, a sports official, became just a natural evolution for me. It is my best fit with the games I love.

[James Walker]

I do it to stay close to the game I love. Walking on the field, smelling the freshly cut grass and the feel of dirt under your feet. Nothing is better. Everytime I step foot on a field, I'm instantly reminded of my grandfather. He instilled the values of fairness, hustle and getting better everyday in me. When he passed last year, I was in the middle of fall ball. The only place I felt at peace was on the field.

Also, it is for the kids. Hopefully, I can help them get as much out of baseball as I did. And watching the kid that usually rarely plays make a big play or get their first hit, that's priceless.

[JaxRolo]

I Umpire because it relaxes me. Takes me away from work and home stresses.

[johnnyg08]

For a couple of hours I can focus on one thing. My game.

[th3]

all great reasons

[BalkHawk]

I could go for hours on this topic. I could mention my spotted past and explain how important my newfound responsibility is. I could continue and tell you how umpiring is making me a better man and a better husband. I could honestly say that when I see the sun shining on all that green grass, and ole glory watching over it all from center field, I feel close to God; just plain blessed to be alive.

The real reason, though, is, I think, much more elementary. I umpire because it makes my heart that of a child's again.

[Dannytheman]

I don't know where I fell in love with the game, but I know I was very young. I played it almost everyday. I hated when summer ended and my gang wanted to switch to tackle football. I only played basketball because of the snow on the ground. But when spring came?!?!  I was a catcher, and never the number 1 pick. Maybe 3rd or 4th, but I was always there. I was a great defensive player with speed on the bases and the field, my problem was hitting. But as a catcher I worked in front of some great umpires, some recommended as I aged to get into umpiring. I did. It's the greatest seat in the house, right behind the plate. I made every smitty mistake, but I kept showing up. I've been threatened and chased, and I kept showing up. I worked in some of the worse areas of Philly and Chester, PA. I have life long friends from those areas to this day. It's in my blood. I yearn for the game and the enjoyment. In my job I use baseball analogies in almost every presentation.

 

I love the game, and NEED to give back a little of what it has given me.

[SnareDrum]

All the reasons above, yeah... I'm down with all of them. Great stuff! (Especially motoUMP and James Walker)

 

A few years ago... it was a jr. high game between a tiny town local team, and a travelling (not so well funded) team from another small town. The travelers even had two girls, including a pitcher that left a few of the hometown boys making the u-turn back to the dugout after she showed off her slider and a nasty curveball. The virtually immaculate field was literally in the middle of nowhere and I could tell that long ago they had leveled a hilltop for it because there wasn't any flat ground for miles around. It was between games, the sun was setting, the lights had just come on... the sounds of the impromptu practice that broke out, the locals in the stands on the three rows of wood plank bleachers, the kids goofing off in the dugouts made of stacked cinder blocks, the surrounding hills covered in white and pink dogwood blossoms... as I took in the scene, for some strange reason, what I'm about to write started flowing around in my head. I'm not a poet or an author, and none of this is the sole reason or reasons I do what I do, but I think it's finally time to share. It's been stuck in my head in a constant editing for a long time, and even now before I "post" (still thinking twice about it), I could probably edit and add even more.  But this is the basics of it...

=================================

 

Keeper Of The Flame

 

The sun goes down, the lights come up,

And the sounds echo through time.

Crack of the bat, ball in the glove,

Cheers and groans from the stands.

I do what I do for the best of all games

Keeping letter and spirit alive,

Far beyond judge, not just the decider

I'm a Keeper Of The Flame

 

They call me "Blue", and other names, too,

And every Spring I make my return

The robins are back, the dogwoods bloom

Then something inside me begins to burn.

There's meetings, new shirts, a new rule or two,

And it's time for me to take aim,

Spring is here, it's time to play...

And I'm a Keeper Of The Flame

 

For close to two hundred years, it has been I

The one at every game

From Round Ball, Goal Ball, and sticks for bases,

The one at every game

In tiny towns and overflowing stadiums

The one at every game

Both history and future depend on me,

For I'm a Keeper Of The Flame.

 

Now don't get me wrong, there's fun to be had,

Like when a six year old gets their first hit.

Or when I'm in the stands, just enjoying the day at Wrigley,

Watching the other Blues for a bit.

Then I take the field, dirt under my feet,

With the prayer: "Lord, don't let me suck".

Because I know it's true, that it's beyond just a game,

I'm a Keeper Of The Flame.

 

I help the newbs as best as I can,

and listen to the Old Guys advice

I learn my mechanics, the rules as well,

Until I know them cold as ice.

I have so much to offer, and much  to give back,

I will never disappoint this or any game...

It's what I do, with soul and heart.

I'm a Keeper Of The Flame

 

It's much bigger than me,  much older than me,

and it will be here long after I'm gone...

Time will pass and so will I,

But one thing is carved in stone...

 

I do what I do for the best of all games

Keeping letter and spirit alive,

Far beyond judge, not just the decider

I'm the Keeper Of The Flame.

 

Play!

[MT_Blue]

the poem struck a note in me... i agree with all of the posts above, something about stepping foot back on the field that sets me free

[Big Red]

C’mon man, haven’t you heard?!?  There’s no crying in baseball!  No crying! 

Seriously, great post.  As NFUA mentions, it can all be boiled down to simply having that passion for baseball.  I’ve had the honor/privilege to play, coach and now umpire it.  And for me, the deeper aspect behind all that goes to my dad.

Of all the people I’ve known/encountered, I’ve never seen anyone more honorable than my father.  He served his country for 28+ years and until I served myself, I had never appreciated what an incredible man, husband, father, officer, athlete and leader he was/is. 

He was a pitcher in HS with a wicked knuckleball…his love/passion for the game was obvious, even today.  He was recruited heavily by college scouts, but chose a path to serve his country.  I was blessed to be adopted by a great man/woman…he passed on what he knew/loved of baseball and no matter what he had to do, he was there for almost every one of my practices and games. 

Of course, the fondest memories I have are those times where we simply played catch, where the world disappeared and he took advantage of my interest to pass on life’s lessons.  I can still remember what he was wearing some of those times, 25-30 yrs later.  And that knuckleball, holy crap…I felt as if I had conquered the world when I would catch that thing.

 

As with most, we had our differences as I transitioned the teenage years.  Much to his chagrin, I turned away from baseball in HS after getting caught up in Texas HS football fever and Friday night glory.

But, he was always there and supported me in everything…baseball, football or motocross (can’t say the same for my mom on that one!).   Yet, in the worst of times and since, baseball was always the glue that held us together.  I always think of that when I see that scene in “City Slickers†where Daniel Stern is talking about connecting with his father via baseball. 

My dad served two tours in Vietnam (one above-&-beyond in order to exempt his younger brother from having to go) and was exposed to Agent Orange multiple times.  As such, I now helplessly watch the related cancer he has destroying him and his mind…his VA doctors give him less than a year to live. 

This is a guy who once built his own TV from scratch in the 70’s, and played both baseball and fast-pitch softball on several AF base teams (back in the day)…now, he can’t balance a checkbook, can’t walk without assistance and can’t remember a conversation from 5 minutes ago.  My mom and I try hard not to get frustrated with him as we work through their affairs, and at times it gets contentious. 

 

Yet again, ironically with the tables now turned, baseball remains the one thing that brings us all back to our “happy place†and rights the world, and even if for a moment, clears his mind and erases the pain/fear.   Recently, I was driving him to a VA appointment and an ad came on the radio for Baylor baseball.  Despite his dementia and being doped on morphine, he suddenly asked if I remembered going to a Baylor game back in the mid 80’s.  I was dumbfounded to listen to him recall that game with such clarity and detail.  Longest conversation we’ve had in months.  As then, and now recalling it, I get misty-eyed.  I know, I know…no crying!

 

Perhaps my best moment is when my dad told me he was proud of me umpiring.  My one wish, which diminishes each day, is that he could come see me call one game, to confirm what he’s ingrained in me to the benefit of this timeless institution that has held us together through all these years.   To proudly show the drive he inspired, which I now use as an umpire to compete with myself and with perfection. 

To that end, I too have sat up for hours at night, and thought for days, despairing over a missed/booted call…even in a scrimmage.  And the camaraderie I find/treasure in the military, or as a former police officer is the same I find on the field.  I firmly believe all are professions and in each case, when the crap hits the fan, the world around you is losing their minds and we are violently cast into the fish bowl, the honor/satisfaction is found in those bonds of service when you only have each other to prevail and restore order.

I wear my umpire uniform as proudly as my military uniform, with the same attention to detail (I have at least two of each shirt…one fitted for plate, one for bases) and maybe a li’l prouder since I display the flag on my umpire shirt that I can’t on my AF uniform.  I maintain my fitness as much to exemplify working the game as I do to perform my military duties. 

As a kid playing catcher, I dreamed of playing in the bigs catching for Charlie Hough or Nolan Ryan…that kid still comes out every now and then when I’m on the field and between innings; I’ll drift away for a moment and imagine I earned the privilege to work game 7 of the WS.   I work each game as if I am and I get a high being on the field I don't find elsewhere.

I umpire to honor the game for all involved…past, present and future, but particularly for my dad who will always be with me on the field and for what he brought to this life and the game. 

 

Please forgive me the long and sentimental post, but many thanks for allowing me to share.

[bam]

I've never been accused of being a warm and cuddly guy.  And none of you are going to throw that accusation my way, either.

 

I don't do it because I love kids - generally I don't like them - any of them. 

 

I don't do it because of the coaches - they're worse than the kids.

 

I DO like the camaraderie with fellow blues - beer in the parking lot after the game!

 

I like it because there's no clock - hockey, football, basketball all have one. 

 

I like the challenges of having to think on my feet and managing a game.  I like working hard and sweating my ass off (I'm not a fan of April games). 

 

No dewy-eyed, sentimentality for me, thank you. 

[Jocko]

I've never been accused of being a warm and cuddly guy.  And none of you are going to throw that accusation my way, either. I don't do it because I love kids - generally I don't like them - any of them.  I don't do it because of the coaches - they're worse than the kids. I DO like the camaraderie with fellow blues - beer in the parking lot after the game! I like it because there's no clock - hockey, football, basketball all have one.  I like the challenges of having to think on my feet and managing a game.  I like working hard and sweating my ass off (I'm not a fan of April games).  No dewy-eyed, sentimentality for me, thank you. 

I'm emotionally vacant. I didn't cry for Old Yeller. I wanted Jack and Rose to drown. Goosebumps during the National Anthem? Pppfffttt... I don't think so. I call ball games for the $. Screw the kids.

[bam]

There's hope for you yet, Jocko.

I do like the National Anthem, though, but only when it's done live, by a student (preferably a cute girl).

And I'm TOTALLY down with Jack and Rose drowning. THE most insufferable movie evah.

[Welpe]

Big Red I swear I wrote that. Not all of the details are the same but the sentiment is. My dad loved watching me work games as a teenager. I think one of his proudest moments as a father was watching me work a terrific game with some of the big wig umpires in the league. He bragged about that to his baseball friends for months. He was diagnosed my freshman year of high school with lung cancer which later metastasized to his brain. He fought like mad and with the treatment, he miraculously went into remission. That next summer, the organizer of a local tournament I had umpired in before asked him to throw out the first pitch during the opening ceremonies and asked me to catch it. So there I was in my umpire uniform and catcher's mitt basically playing catch with my dad in front of a lot of people. It is one of my most cherished memories of him. He passed a few years ago and at the end, reminiscing about those times helped us say goodbye. Suffice to say baseball is just a part of me. Peace be with you and your family, Big Red. Thanks for letting me share.

[NFUA_44]

To me the beauty of what we do is in the journey.  This forum, and
others, gives us the chance to have an extended post game with others of
our profession that share in the same human failings, and the same
drive to get better that makes it all so worthwhile.

 

The beauty of the game itself is what spawns it all.  Consistent
failure, leading to marked improvement, followed by "getting it" applies
to all the human beings in the game.

[carolinablue]

I have never been satisfied just watching a game.

 

However, today, 30 degrees and 30MPH winds, I wonder why I do umpire.

[GreyhoundAggie]

Boils down to this for me. I love the game of baseball, love watching my Texas Rangers play.

 

I can't play anymore, but I can still be involved by calling ball. It appeals to my nature. I always want to get better, and I want to call that perfect game, where you can walk off the field knowing you got it all. The game deserves your best, and I try to give it.

 

It's a game where we can always improve, and you never know what you are going to see that day. You can move towns, things can happen in your life, but baseball is a constant.

 

It's the most love/hate relationship I know of, and we keep coming back to it.