Umpiring For A Living

[GhostRunner]

Maybe I'm in the minority, but has anyone else ever flirted with the idea of going into umpiring? I've always figured that for those of us (read: all of us here) who weren't blessed with MLB playing talent, being a "blue" would allow you to get as close to the action as possible.

 

Unfortunately, I'm in my early thirties now and probably too old to try and climb the umpiring ladder. Still, I think it would an incredible experience and a potentially lucrative job ($80-$300k at the MLB level), and you'd get to know players and coaches on a semi-personal basis. Being the bad guy everyday would probably be a drag, though.

 

MLB.com gives the basics for becoming an umpire, and lists two approved schools. Does anyone here have any experience umpiring in local levels or even in the MiLB? Ever been to umpiring school?

[Careless]

All I know is that they average one job opening a year for MLB umpires. I'd never consider going into it unless I was going to be satisfied being a minor league ump forever.

[Cubswin11]

Umping has never interested me. I would say my "dream" MLB job, other than being a player, would be being a bullpen catcher. I would think that would be a great job you travel with the team, probably get to know a lot of the guys, and play catch for a few innings every day. I have asked before but nobody has ever really answered. What does it take to be a bullpen catcher? Minor Leaguers that didn't make it, but the MLB club likes? Are there "tryouts"? Do you need to have a "in" with someone?

[Derwood]

You're both wrong. The greatest job in the history of baseball was "Pedro's midget companion"

[Hairyducked Idiot]

You will be one of hundreds scraping by on almost nothing and hoping for a long shot at making a real living at the MLB level.

 

If you want to risk your livelihood and probably waste your life chasing that, go for it, but it doesn't seem that great to me.

Edited April 17, 2009 by Hairyducked Idiot

[jersey cubs fan]

Maybe I'm in the minority, but has anyone else ever flirted with the idea of going into umpiring? I've always figured that for those of us (read: all of us here) who weren't blessed with MLB playing talent, being a "blue" would allow you to get as close to the action as possible.

 

Unfortunately, I'm in my early thirties now and probably too old to try and climb the umpiring ladder. Still, I think it would an incredible experience and a potentially lucrative job ($80-$300k at the MLB level), and you'd get to know players and coaches on a semi-personal basis. Being the bad guy everyday would probably be a drag, though.

 

MLB.com gives the basics for becoming an umpire, and lists two approved schools. Does anyone here have any experience umpiring in local levels or even in the MiLB? Ever been to umpiring school?

 

You suck. [expletive] you blue, you stupid son of a bitch, get some mother [expletive] glasses you cocksucking whore. He was [expletive] safe and you know it. Who paid you off? Does somebody have photos of you sucking a goat's [expletive] or something?

[weis21]

I used to umpire little league and quit because I couldn't stand all the whining and complaining from the coaches/fans.

 

Something tells me I wouldn't have made it far had I continued.

[rocket]

You will be one of hundreds scraping by on almost nothing and hoping for a long shot at making a real living at the MLB level.

 

If you want to risk your livelihood and probably waste your life chasing that, go for it, but it doesn't seem that great to me.

 

wait are we talking about newspapers or umpires

[jersey cubs fan]

I used to umpire little league and quit because I couldn't stand all the whining and complaining from the coaches/fans.

 

I umped a few youth girls softball, and a couple boys baseball games. It was amazing to me how horrible the coach/father types were with the girls game. They had one of those mats where if the ball lands on it, it's a strike, if not, it's a ball. And they still argued balls and strikes. The kids were all great though. Pretty easy and enjoyable $20-25 (I don't remember).

[weis21]

I used to umpire little league and quit because I couldn't stand all the whining and complaining from the coaches/fans.

 

I umped a few youth girls softball, and a couple boys baseball games. It was amazing to me how horrible the coach/father types were with the girls game. They had one of those mats where if the ball lands on it, it's a strike, if not, it's a ball. And they still argued balls and strikes. The kids were all great though. Pretty easy and enjoyable $20-25 (I don't remember).

Yeah, the kids in my games were like 7 or younger. They couldn't care less what happened on the field. Meanwhile I'm getting it from both dugouts and the fans behind me. I didn't even call balls or strikes either because the coaches threw the pitches (I think they got at a max 8 pitches or something like that). I was the only umpire for the whole field and they were getting on me for "running outside the bathpaths" and stupid things like that.

 

I couldn't imagine dealing with that on a day-in day-out basis. Guess it takes a certain personality.

[TruffleShuffle]

do you have poor eyesight? that's apparently the first requirement to become an MLB umpire so better make sure you've got that covered.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

You will be one of hundreds scraping by on almost nothing and hoping for a long shot at making a real living at the MLB level.

 

If you want to risk your livelihood and probably waste your life chasing that, go for it, but it doesn't seem that great to me.

 

wait are we talking about newspapers or umpires

 

 

Newspapers, umpires, professional sports, acting, music, art. It's a dynamic that plays out in any field where there's a lot of desire and little demand.

 

Freakonomics had a good chapter in that book on how drug dealing is set up the same way.

[illiniguy]

I always found it hard to do as I wanted to watch the game from a fans point of view. Too easy to forget your supposed to be refereeing. I would be too impressed with a guys move or pitch to make the proper call.

[hardcorecubfan]

I wrestled with Jerry Meals and as a kid he said he was going to be a major league ump and he umped everything he could from the little kids to adult (believe me he was short) but stuck to his dream and eventually got to the bigs and umped the famous Kerry Wood game.

 

I am hoping to get hold of him sometime this season to see if he would be willing to do a chat with us

[Bruno7481]

Maybe I'm in the minority, but has anyone else ever flirted with the idea of going into umpiring? I've always figured that for those of us (read: all of us here) who weren't blessed with MLB playing talent, being a "blue" would allow you to get as close to the action as possible.

 

Unfortunately, I'm in my early thirties now and probably too old to try and climb the umpiring ladder. Still, I think it would an incredible experience and a potentially lucrative job ($80-$300k at the MLB level), and you'd get to know players and coaches on a semi-personal basis. Being the bad guy everyday would probably be a drag, though.

 

MLB.com gives the basics for becoming an umpire, and lists two approved schools. Does anyone here have any experience umpiring in local levels or even in the MiLB? Ever been to umpiring school?

 

Read the new book "As They See Em".

 

Umpiring is far from lucrative, these in the minors barely get by. There as about as many appointments to the Supreme Court as there are MLB umpiring openings too.

 

Also, don't call them "Blue".

[Soonernation]

I have no idea why anyone would want to be a referee in any sport at any level; not worth the hassle