Death Threats, Stranded, and Williamsport

[TheGeneral]

One of my favorite displays of sportsmanship.

 

Six years ago, I worked a LL All-Star game.  It was an away game for my league, and our district has a umpire from each town work together, "to keep it fair."  My partner took the plate, and we worked great together.

 

The problem was all one-sided: my hometown.

 

Middle of the game, R1 and R2.  R2 leaves way too early, I indicate it by throwing my hat (how our district does it).  The batter gets a single, scoring both runners... however, due to LL rules, if a runner leaves too early, (s)he must return the last possible base not occupied by the batter-runner.  This brings both R1 and R2 off the scoreboard and back onto 2nd and 3rd base, respectively.

 

Crowd and coaches go insane.  I indicate that I made the call before the ball was even hit, and the rule does the rest of the work.  I handled the manager, and my partner ensured the 3B coach didn't include himself in the conversation.

 

Next batter strikes out, leaving ducks on the pond, a big hole on the scoreboard, and a growing sour atmosphere.

 

Late in the game, R1 and R2, two outs.  After some horrendous fielding, an inside-the-part-(error assisted)-home run, all the runs score and tying the game... except R2 missed 3B by no less than 4 feet.  The guys in NY wouldn't even need to see the replay to see how bad this runner missed the bag.

 

As expected, the home team appeals and throws over. I signal an out, as well as the dropping of the atom bomb.  All three coaches bum rush, my partner sprints down to shallow LF to assist in the commotion, and the fans lose their apples.

 

The manager initiates it with "we're protesting this game," and I toss the 3BC for throwing profanities at me.

 

Whoever is in charge of the protests in our district's LL board enters the field, and calls the person he's in charge of reporting to in Indianapolis, our LL's regional office.

 

Meanwhile, a fan threatening to "beat my ass" (a 40 year old threatening to beat up a 16 year old, how manly) is trying to enter the field.  We send the kids to the dugout and my partner calls for law enforcement.

 

Eventually, the district representative ends up being transferred/given the number to call an office at Williamsport, the HQ of LL.  Once with the right person, he explains the situation, and hands the phone to me.  The guy on the other end said that there was no protest because it was on a judgement call, they can't protest from the earlier play because it's already past, and way to have the balls to call it right even when it means terrible things for my hometown.

 

I hang up, give the verdict, and we finish the game, with my town's team losing by 1 run.  My partner and I go to the umpire room and change/post game, and I head out to the parking lot to catch my ride (Side note: I didn't have my license, but our local LL sends their umpire rep with a parent, so they don't have to cover transportation fees that are a couple hours away.  Screwy, but that's how they operate).  Problem is, my ride left me, as did all but one parent.

 

I asked where John Doe was, and he just gave me a look of concern and told me to hop in.

 

On the way home, I call my UIC/mentor/assigner and tell him the situation.  He said he was proud of me, keep my chin up, and way to call the game fairly.

 

I also receive a phone call from the league president, who says town B's police had called with reports of death threats on me, they were going to investigate, and wanted to know if he knew anything about it.  He told me that he was going to investigate, not to worry about it, keep my head low and not come around the field for a while.

 

One of the fellows who threatened my life was during the joint after game meal provided for both teams, you know, after the emotions from the field should have been cooled down.  It was the head coach.  Who lives 7 houses down from me.  Who turns out has been to prison for domestic abuse.

 

The kicker?  The (former) league president's brother.

 

Turns out, my league didn't help town B's police, stating there was a lot of things said in the stands, your fans must have just misheard our fans, and completely buried the whole felon/brother threats.

 

Instead of my league supporting me and it's umpires, it turned it's back on me to prevent a big black eye on it's organization.

 

I did get a little victory from the situation, however.  Soon, the league president was given the boot after many skeletons were found, as was his brother from coaching, and besides finding an odd amount of screws sitting right under my tires before I leave my house, I have a clear conscience and the cool confidence that I know I can be faced with the hardest call ever, and still call it fair.

[KLAH316]

Unfortunately alot of Little Leagues are quick to do whatever it takes to protect themselves and NOT the umpires..... We are a necessary evil in their eyes....

Way to go holding strong on your beliefs!

[Dannytheman]

Wow, just wow!!  I use to tell my leagues coaches, "I call what I see." 

 

Good job and I am happy you represented well!

[Jocko]

Gotta love youth league coaches :jerkit:

[siz]

Great job keeping your cool and thanks to the level headed parent that got you home....

[Majordave]

Great story. Sorry it happened. Just another reminder why I do not work 60' baseball on a regular basis.

[bam]

Great story. Sorry it happened. Just another reminder why I do not work 60' baseball on a regular basis.

Never. 

[BRUMP]

The sad thing is I have no problem believing people act like this. If someone told me this happened in my LL district I wouldn't be surprised.

[jhcoach19]

Kudos to you for having the stones to do what is right. You'll run into many classless people in this game. Don't lose any sleep over asses and keep up the GREAT WORK!!!

 

P.S. You will also meet some OUTSTANDING folks in this game too!

[philaump]

One reason why I stopped working little league years ago

[blue23ll]

I had a member of a LL board tell me, " you know what your problem is, you think umpires are special". I quit on the spot ( I was the league EVP and UIC).

[JaxRolo]

I had a member of a LL board tell me, " you know what your problem is, you think umpires are special". I quit on the spot ( I was the league EVP, UIC and PITA).

 

Sidebar

Fixed it for ya buddy!

[blue23ll]

 

I had a member of a LL board tell me, " you know what your problem is, you think umpires are special". I quit on the spot ( I was the league EVP, UIC and PITA).

 

Sidebar

Fixed it for ya buddy!

 

True DAT

[Stan W.]

HA! AREN'T WE?................

 

IF IT WAS EASY, ANYONE COULD DO IT................BUT IT ISN'T.....AND THEY CANT..........

 

My career is littered with the past names of people who thought umpiring was for them............

[blue23ll]

I was always utterly amazed at how many of the people involved with LL in my area thought that verbally and physically intimidating umpires ( especially youth umpires) was okay.  If I had a dollar for every time I heard someone excuse the behavior of adults by saying, " He's really a good guy, he's never acted like this before, he deserves another chance" I would be rich. 

[JasonPalo]

I tossed our so called league MVP and I got an ear full from the League President it was her son who I ejected LOL needless to say I left that league and started umpire for my mentor and enjoyed every time I was on the field with him and I never looked back.  that league is no longer around and im still umpiring.

[johnnyg08]

Everybody wants umpires like the pros in youth ball, until things don't go their way or you have the seeds to make the correct call in a big situation.

[Hawkman]

I've walked away from umpiring twice over the years because I grew tired of too many of the jerks and the hassles they bring with them. I sat out last year and decided to come back and work again this coming year. It's tough to figure out why I keep coming back but I guess the main reason is that I love the game and being around it and umpiring gives me the opportunity to do that. I gave up doing LL and travel ball years ago; the bad days just outnumbered the good so I have only worked HS ball for many years. In reality most games go just fine we just remember the really bad ones. I rarely have problems with players, it's nearly always coaches or parents who are the problem.

 

I know you were only 16 at the time which made it tough for you and further emphasizes what a bunch of losers the people threatening you were. Unfortunately, a lot of those people manage to get into positions coaching kids.

[JaxRolo]

you have the seeds to make the correct call in a big situation.

That's what some people call "preventive umpiring"

I hate that term!!!!

[zm1283]

It seems there is a strong reverse correlation between player age and parent/coach craziness. The younger the players, the dumber and crazier the parents and coaches. The older the players, the inverse is usually true.