Why do YOU umpire?

[Dr. Blue]

Hey All!

 

What do you do for a living? Is umpiring your full-time or part-time job? What's your reason for umpiring? How long have you been an umpire for? Favorite and least favorite part about umpiring? Best moment of umpiring/Cool story to share?

[Vegas_Ump]

I got "volunteered" to be an umpire so as to lower the tuition costs of my kids playing softball.  I met some fine instructors who motivated me.  That was 34 years ago, and I have been a Little League Volunteer umpire ever since.  Done States and Western Region.

Alas!  This could be my last year, as age and physical infirmities seem to be creeping up on me.  I would like to umpire forever, but I don't think it would be fair to the game itself if I lost a step or had eyes starting to fail.  But I have always felt that the kids deserved a good effort.

Funny when I find out I have umped either with people for whom I have officiated when they played ball or their kids who were now playing ball.

When I die, I want to have an indicator in my hand that says 3 and 2, two outs.

Mike

Las Vegas

[SH0102]

3 hours ago, Dr. Blue said:

Hey All!

 

What do you do for a living? Is umpiring your full-time or part-time job? What's your reason for umpiring? Favorite and least favorite part about umpiring? Best moment of umpiring/Cool story to share?

I wish I could make umpire my full time job but alas, I can not.  I umpire for many reasons, but mainly because I enjoy it and it keeps me involved in the game I’ve loved since I was about 3.  Favorite part about umpiring is taking pride in doing well and constantly trying to get better.  Never baffles me how much I learn each year, how much I screw up something when I think I’ve learned so much, there’s always nuances to learn better or learn for the first time.  Least favorite part is easily the “chirping”. Now, as I’ve gotten better I hear much less of it, but there’s always some for every umpire, and I’m all for the “oohs”, but literally verbal abuse of an umpire, is expected and tolerated, baffles me. I’ve actually enjoyed college more than any other level I’ve done bc the fans and coaches are far more knowledgeable about rules.

I don’t have any really cool stories...just enjoyed meeting new people.  Had a couple calls this year that seemed “controversial” at the time I made it (FPSR and batters interference) that both coaches later in the season told me (after coming out to argue originally) I had the call right once they saw it on video.

I knew I had them right at the time but was kind of surprised a college coach, weeks later, would offer that up

[noumpere]

It's a hobby that pays me money, instead of a hobby that I need to pay to do.

[ousafe]

I really enjoy the challenge and it's my way of contributing something of value to my community.

Baseball is an amazing game and has taught my boys a lot about life - the value of hard work, resilience, teamwork, grit, and more. And "real umpires" is one of the foundations of little league, where I started and still volunteer: "Hey kids, what do you think about playing baseball with real fields, real coaches, real uniforms, and real umpires?"  I wanted to be part of that - as @Vegas_Ump said so well, the kids deserve a good effort.

And now, working in a great association, I'm learning from a lot of great umpires who are almost all pretty cool people.

[SeeingEyeDog]

Because it's there. Because without an umpire, it's just a scrimmage.

And to borrow from auto racing...the perfect lap can never be attained. There is always one more tenth or hundredth that could be squeezed out of the car.

So it is with umpiring...fans, coaches and players might tell us we had a great game. But, umpires know the perfectly umpired game can also never be attained.

There is also tremendous satisfaction in willingly inserting yourself into a competitive situation and handling all the things that need handling knowing full well, all the while, that no two baseball games are ever the same.

And while I would not umpire for free (LL umpires, you have my utmost respect), I also don't do it exclusively for the cash.

~Dawg

[GreyhoundAggie]

I love the brotherhood. The strive to always get better, and to give the kids the best game we can. 

It gets me out of the house, and a way to meet new friends.

And like Dawg said above. I don't do it for free, but I definitely don't do it for the money.

I love the game and want to put my own small stamp however I'm able.

[LMSANS]

My grandfather started umpiring in 1926. My father and uncle started umpiring in their teens. My brother, cousin & I started at 13. I took 30 years off after high school and picked up when my brother and cousin retired. So, as of now, there has been a member of my family umpiring for 95 years (skip 2020). I will continue to do it as long as I enjoy it until at least 2026. I did once get my brother and cousin to work with me for a charity game.

A couple of notes about my grandfather...he once umpired a charity game that included Babe Ruth & Lou Gehrig. He also umpired the Negro League barnstormers when they came through northern NJ.

So to answer why I umpire...it is in my blood.

[ArchAngel72]

I got asked to try it by our family's financial advisor as he said there was a need for more volunteers. Well I tried it and liked it and now have spent more on it than I have made. 

going on 5 yrs now..

It's fun and I like giving back to LL which was some of my more fun years of playing a sport I grew up loving.

I have done games from scrimmages up to States finals 

I do my best to give them my best and I hope and pray every game "don't suck!"

 

[Aging_Arbiter]

Why do I umpire?...............choose your answer

 

Little League- I like making kids cry!

HS- I like seeing frustrated parents when they don't realize the rule differences.

On a serious note, it is the closest thing to physical activity that keeps my old bones working.  I've been at it for awhile now, and enjoy the game.

[mark38090]

I was volunteered 17 or so years ago because I was coaching a team that was practicing and on the adjacent field the umpire didn't show. It quickly became more interesting and I no longer had to worry about politics or parents. I can still teach the game, watch kids play ball, get a little exercise, all while making a little money. 

 

My career is correctional officer for 20 years. 

[Velho]

Always contemplated it because it would fit my nature (understanding the rules, logic, objective application of rules, etc.) but avoided doing it earlier because of umpire abuse fears. When my son got to AAA our league uses volunteers to umpire the games so that's a way I contributed. That was 9 years ago and I've developed to be trusted as a "League and District" umpire (LL D12 and D44 in the San Jose / Bay Area). I haven't gone to San Bernadino yet but will some day.

I only do LL and refuse pay for leagues that pay. In fact, my jokes is that I'm bad enough that leagues get paid for me to do games (my company pays charities cash for volunteer hours worked). I'm lucky enough with work that I can self fund this as a hobby. 

Work: 26 years and counting working in Silicon Valley. I'm a CPA (see above  ) but don't do that or even Finance work anymore. I work in Data Centers now. I keep trying to convince my wife umping should be my full time job. She hasn't bit yet. 

[stevis]

When I moved out for a postdoctoral fellowship, I figured it was time to give back to a community, now that I couldn't claim perpetual studentdom any more.  I'd umpired (if you can call it that with no training or support) for youth rec while in high school, so I figured on that and found my local Little League.  I had so much to un-learn, but I did.  I'm glad to be part of a League and community, stay involved in baseball, stay somewhat active, strive to perfect a craft I'm pretty good at (if I do say so myself), and teach teen umpires to grow in their personal development.  The proudest moments are definitely the letters of recommendation I've been able to write for those young folks I've seen grow through our program.

[Mudisfun]

Let's all be honest: Umpire Groupies: that's the only reason... 

 

Brotherhood/comraderies with my partners
Have made great friends
Get's me outside and the wife supports my hobby
Actually get to see good baseball once in a while 

[umpstu]

Keeps me young mentally.  And the umpire numbers were so low this year I had to umpire because I didn't want these hs teams to not have umpires.

[MT73]

Retired law enforcement.
At age 52 I started in 2005.

Our league had a work detail rule so I decided to fulfill them by umpiring 3 games.

I had coached there before and I thought that I would be gods gift to umpiring.

True, I had no training or experience but hey—-how hard could it be?

One game taught me reality.

I worked the bases for a year and loved it but wanted to be a real umpire and was certified in 2008.

I worked for many organizations for 10 years but age and obnoxious parents/coaches have taken their toll.

Now I am back at my local complex ( 9 fields) where things are relatively mellow.

I still love it.

‘Why—-fun and challenge.

[SeeingEyeDog]

6 hours ago, Mudisfun said:

Let's all be honest: Umpire Groupies: that's the only reason...

Hey, Mudder...keep it down over there, will ya'?

~Dawg

[Mudisfun]

17 hours ago, SeeingEyeDog said:

Hey, Mudder...keep it down over there, will ya'?

~Dawg

You don't have groupies? They follow us around with our own theme music and everything here!

[SeeingEyeDog]

7 minutes ago, Mudisfun said:

You don't have groupies? They follow us around with our own theme music and everything here!

No, I absolutely do! But, if we keep talking about this...a bunch of dudes are going to start coming out of the woodwork and pick up umpiring!

~Dawg