Umpire

Summary

Independent Contractor and Baseball Official for High School and summer travel organizations. Certified by Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (www.mpssaa.org).

Ages include 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U across Maryland (Harford, Baltimore, Howard, Carroll and Montgomery County as well as Baltimore City) New York and Virginia.

I’ve had the privilege to referee over 300+ games since I began getting paid in 2019. This includes Mid-Atlantic Baseball Association (MABA) tournament games, www.cooperstowndreamspark.com and www.cooperstownallstarvillage.com.

Record to-date: Zero (0) Ejections. But have certainly dealt with some Unsportsmanlike conduct and unruly fans.

Experience

Chronologically, I started learning about baseball as a fan shortly after attending my first MLB game @ Memorial Stadium with Brooks Robinson, Mark Belanger, Boog Powell, Al Bumbry, etc. I was one of the biggest fans I knew. I then started playing baseball around the time I began walking. I remember playing catch with my father in the backyard.

I played little league and quickly began playing competitive summer travel for the Yankee Rebels. I then earned 7 Varsity letters in High School and 3 JV letters. From there Semi-pro baseball with Wagners and Harbor Federal. I continued playing Club softball @ University of Maryland, College Park and Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

Technically, I started working as a Referee when I too was playing Little League over 40 years ago. However, only started truly working as a professional since my son started playing competitively.

Timing is everything! Sometimes, waiting that at extra half second can make all the difference in the world because you see the ball better, play it back in your head and get the call RIGHT.

My Discounted Rates:

(Independent Contractor / 1099)

$105.00 per game or $30.00 per inning. I accept cash on the field or Venmo. Double-header: $190.00 (SPECIAL: Two separate games, 5-7 innings each, with no new inning after 1 hour 45 minutes).

Cooperstown Dreams Park

<<< >>>

Cooperstown All-Star Village

Training

I will always be a STUDENT of Life and Baseball. What distinguishes this game from most other sports are the stats. For years, I thought I new the rules until I was required to pass a test.

www.umpirebible.com

Umpire Associations I worked for and rigorous training programs I’ve completed include:

Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Umpire Association (MAC)
Address: 8805 Southlea Court Fairfax, VA 22031-3233
John Porter, MAC Executive Director & Commissioner
Tom Honec, Assistant Commissioner http://www.umpires.org/staff
www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Brennan_Miller
www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Ryan_Wills
www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Chris_Segal

Mason Dixon (MDUA)
www.mdua.org

All American Umpires (AAU)
Address: 2517 Marbourne Avenue Baltimore, MD 21234
President: John Humphrey

Maryland Association Of Softball Officials (MASO)
www.masosoftball.org

Maryland USSSA Fastpitch Softball
UIC & Assigner: John Remmell

AWUA Softball
Assigner: Dwight Hirota

Baltimore’s Best Umpires

Blue Devil Umpire Association
Address: 15 Sunnyking Drive, Reisterstown, Maryland21136
President: Bob Frank and Larry Silverman

www.msuaonline.org

www.mpssaa.org/officials/new-officials-association-contacts

MABA Umpires

www.independentumps.com

Having attended the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame during my debut umpire career June 2019, I learned that there were ONLY 10 umpires ever inducted. If baseball decides to continue after the Pandemic Covid-19, I already have plans to see Derek Jeter get inducted and work in CASV again.

Since I have been playing baseball around the time I started walking, I have gained a GREAT deal of admiration for the officials! It is very easy to pick on them. It’s bad enough when the fans yell, “boo, bad call, you’re blind”. As an umpire, you MUST have thick skin, in addition to being cool, calm & collected. All umpires understand they have a target on their back.

A good umpire often will tell you, “I did my job successfully if both teams are not happy”. In other words, the MOST important role is to be FAIR and IMPARTIAL. More importantly, when the players and coaches have respect for you, that’s when you know you did your job well enforcing the rules and keeping the peace.

Over 10 years of experience calling balls & strikes. I have to admit, it can be safer and less painful officiating behind pitcher’s mound for 8U, 10U and 12U because often the catcher does not keep me from getting hurt (e.g. many balls off the feet, shin, shoulder and mask).

National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)

Click here

https://nfhslearn.com/dashboard

Baseball Rules Changes – 2022

6-1-1: Change: ART. 1 . . . The pitcher shall pitch while facing the batter from either a windup position (Art.2) or set position (Art.3). The position of his feet determine whether he will pitch from the windup or the set position. He shall take or simulate taking his sign from the catcher with his pivot foot in contact with the pitcher’s plate. The pitching regulations begin when he intentionally contacts the pitcher’s plate. Turning the shoulders after bringing the hands together during or after the stretch is a balk. He shall not make a quick-return pitch in an attempt to catch a batter off balance. The catcher shall have both feet in the catcher’s box at the time of the pitch. If a pitcher is ambidextrous, the umpire shall require the pitcher to face a batter as either a left-handed or right-handed pitcher, but not both.

Rationale: The pitcher acquiring the sign from the catcher is one of the fundamental rules of baseball. It not only signals the defensive team that action is about to be initiated, but it also establishes when an offensive base runner(s) can take a lead-off from his/her base. That simple act has evolved over the last decade but was not supported by an accompanying rule. This change validates the pitcher taking the sign from the dugout/bench via “call” signs, numbers, colors, or an arm wristband/placard that contains printed cards where the defensive set up/pitching repertoire is located. This aspect of the game has become more sophisticated to match the skill level and ability of today’s high school baseball player.