MLB: Blue Man Crew [1] Trivia Quiz

Answer: William "Bill" McLean

Born in Scotland in 1833, William McLean relocated with his family to Philadelphia at age 10. William established himself as an all-around star athlete during the 1860s, participating in cricket, race walking, gymnastics and boxing. McLean played baseball in Philadelphia Amateur clubs in the mid 1860s. With the decline of his athletic stills, William converted his skills into the art of umpiring in 1872. McLean soon gained the reputation of being one of the few baseball umpires (of the time) who could be counted on to fairly officiate and control a baseball game. When the first National League game in history was played in 1876, McLean was selected to umpire the game.

Answer: Crew Chief

The Crew Chief of an umpiring team is usually the most experienced of the quartet of umpires assigned to officiate a Major League Baseball game.
Crew Chiefs are appointed by the Office of the Commissioner on or before January 15th of each year, and is charged with the direct supervision of his assigned crew.
Duties of the Crew Chief includes providing timely reports to the Office of the Commissioner regarding irregularities in the conditions at any ball park as well as any unusual or noteworthy game situations.
The crew chief is also responsible for coordinating all activities with his crew, including leading periodic discussion to review rules, plays, uniformity in applications of rules, and the maintaining a professional appearance and demeanor.
An umpiring crew will normally work together as a unit for the duration of a season.

Answer: third base

Umpires normally rotate position assignments in a clockwise motion around the diamond. The ultimate goal of this procedure is to ensure that during the course of a season, each umpire has an equal opportunity to officiate at each position.
In the event of a field umpire is unable to continue due to illness or injury, the remaining field umpires position themselves in the area between the bases.
Should the home plate umpire become unable to continue due to injury or illness, standard umpiring procedure call for the second base umpire to assume the home plate position.

Answer: Bill Klem

Bill Klem is generally referred to as the "Father of Baseball Umpiring".
Klem worked as a National League Umpire from from 1905-1941, giving him one of the longest career as a Major League umpire.
Klem is credited with bringing dignity and professionalism to the profession of umpiring. Klem's new and innovated approaches to umpiring included being the first umpire to use arm signals while working behind the plate as well as being the first umpire to use the smaller and more pliable chest protector inside of his shirt, a practice that is now a practiced exclusively.
Klem was the last umpire to routinely work behind home plate during each game he umpired.
Among the accomplishments during his 37-year career, Klem officiated 18 World Series, and worked the second half behind the plate of Major League Baseball's very first All-Star game in 1933. During his career, Klem officiated in 5,368 Major League games, including five no-hit games.
In 1953, Klem became one of the first two umpires to be inducted into MLBs Hall Of Fame. Klem's uniform number, #1, was permanently retired by Major League Baseball.

Answer: John McSherry

John McSherry drew the assignment of working behind the plate on April 1, 1996, for the MLB season opening game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Montreal Expos. After calling the first seven pitches of the game, McSherry called time out and started to walk towards the Red's dugout. McSherry stumbled, then fell on the field, the victim of a massive heart attack. Attempts were made on the field to revive the fallen umpire, and he was rushed to an emergency hospital, but died less than an hour later. Third base umpire Tom Hallion accompanied McSherry to the hospital, leaving umpires Jerry Crawford and Steve Ripley to determine the fate of the game. Following discussions involving the two umpires and the managers of the teams, a decision was made and citing "The emotions of all involved", Crawford called the game off. Crawford later lamented, "It's probably a little too traumatic" (to continue the game).
McSherry was known for his considerable girth. McSherry's weight was considered one of the contributing causes for his heart attack.
McSherry was 51 at the time of his death.
John McSherry was a National League umpire from 1971-1996, and wore uniform number 10. During his career, McSherry officiated World Series in 1977 and 1989. McSherry also worked 8 league championship series, tow division championship series, and officiated in All-Star games in 1975, 1982, and 1991.
McSherry was also the home plate umpire on July 9, 1976 in Houston when Astro right-hander Larry Dierker threw a no-hit game against the Montreal Expos,
Tributes to John McSherry included the New York Mets wearing a patch on their 1996 game uniform jerseys bearing his initials on a home plate with crossed baseball bats. One year after McSherry passed away, the Cincinnati Reds dedicating the umpire's dressing room at their new Cinergy Field ballpark to his memory.

Answer: 70

The Major League umpiring staff at the start of the 2009 consisted of 70 permanent umpires who are assigned to crews of four umpires, each crew lead by a senior supervising umpire who had been designated by the Office of the Baseball Commissioner as the "Crew Chief".
The 17 crews were identified with alpha designations, from "Crew A" through "Crew Q".
Until the 1980s, umpires crews worked as a unit for the entire season without breaks. As a result of "work actions" staged by the Umpire Union in the late 1970, working conditions improved in the 1980s, including each umpire receiving a total of 4 weeks paid vacation during the regular season, with the stipulation that the umpire takes three weeks off at the same time, with days off during the 4th week being approved by umpiring officials. Request for vacation days off are made and approved prior to the start of the season.
There are also 15-17 Minor League umpires (from class Triple-A baseball) who are eligible to work Major League Baseball Spring Training games, and can be called up for Major League Baseball assignments as needed during the season.

Answer: Florida

The only two school sanctioned by Major League Baseball are:
* The Jim Evans Academy of professional Umpiring in Kissimmee, Florida,
* The Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School in Ormond Beach, Florida.
Both schools are operated by former Major League Baseball umpires, and each offers an intensive 5 week course covering all aspects of officiating a baseball game.
Completing the course does not guarantee a position as a Major League Baseball umpire. Only the top students from each class advance to the next phase, which is a comprehensive skills evaluation course conducted by the Professional Baseball Umpiring Corp (the authority that oversees all professional baseball umpires) in St. Petersburg, Fl. Following the evaluations which last approximately 10 days, some of the successful candidates as assigned, based on need, to lower level (Class A Baseball) umpiring assignment.
The average time for an umpire to be considered for a Major League Baseball level assignment is between seven to eight years.
Umpires are expected to advance at an acceptable pace throughout their minor league assignments. Umpires not advancing at the prescribed levels are dropped from the program.

Answer: Runge

The Runge family holds the distinction of being the first three-generation baseball umpiring family in Major League baseball history.
Ed Runge (father) umpired in the American League from 1954-1970. In addition to being involved in three World Series and five all-star games, Ed was a member of the umpiring crew that called Don Larson's perfect game in 1956.
Ed also called balls and strikes on September 16, 1965 when Boston Red Sox pitcher Dave Morehead hurled a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians
Paul Runge (son) worked as a National League umpire from 1973-1997. Paul worked the World Series in 1979, 1984, 1989, and 1993 as well as All-Star games in 1978, 1986, and 1994. Paul Runge was behind the plate when the first no-hitter was thrown in the history of Olympic Stadium by Montreal Expo pitcher Charlie Lea on May 10, 1981.
Brian Runge (grandson) started his career as a National league umpire in 1999, and in both leagues when all umpires came under the control of Major League Baseball in 2000. Brian worked the American League division series in 2004 and 2007. Brian was the third base umpire on September 3, 2008, when New York Yankee slugger Alex Rodriguez hit a home rune down the third base foul line. The play became the first ever play in which "video instant replay" was used to confirm a home run call. Brian was behind the plate when San Francisco Giant picture Jonathan Sanchez pitch what was the first complete game, shutout, no-hitter in the history of San Francisco's AT&T ballpark against the San Diego Padres.

Answer: Ed Montague

Umpire #11, Ed Montague, was assigned as chief for the "K" crew of umpires for the 2009 season. Montague with 33 years experience as a Major League umpire was first promoted to the position of Crew Chief in 1996. Montague's experiences includes working the World Series in 1986, 1991, 1997, 2000, 2004, and 2007, serving as Crew Chief for the last four series he officiated. Additionally, Montague worked the All-Star games in 1982, 1990, 1998, and 2004. Montague became the first umpire in baseball history to work both the All-Star game and the World Series in the same year. Known for his animated quick flick of the wrist when calling strikes and his quick punch-out motion in calling the third strike to left handed batters, Montague has also worked seven league championship series, seven division playoff series, and in 2007, the single game playoff that determined the National League wild card team. Edward Michael Montague was born on November 8, 1948 in San Francisco, California.

Answer: Harry and Hunter Wendelstedt

This historic event occurred on August 10, 1995, in a regular season game between the San Diego Padres and the Florida Marlins.
Rookie umpire Hunter Wendelstedt was assigned by the Office of the Baseball Commissioner to the umpire crew headed by his father, Harry Wendelstedt. As the senior umpire in Major League Baseball, Harry was routinely assigned rookie umpires for on-the-job training and observational purposes.
The elder Wendelstedt was quoted in the press as describing the event as "the proudest day in his career". A plus to the event was that the game was being televised by "ESPN" as the "Game of the Week", which allowed the father of Harry and the grandfather of Hunter, to view the game, which he did.
In a sad twist, shortly after the game, Harry was informed that his father passed away shortly after the conclusion on the game. Harry Wendelstedt retired at the end of the 1998 season. As a tribute to his father, Hunter Wendelstedt wore uniform #21, the same number used by Harry throughout his career.