- April 22, 2024
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Very few baseball fans watch major league games and aspire to become umpires. They want to be the heroes of the game — not the scapegoats — which is how officials are usually represented by fans.
But some don’t mind the identity. That’s why dozens of this select group have traveled from all across the country to attend the five-week Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex, hoping for an opportunity to call pitches in the big leagues.
One thing that surprised me at the school is they play control games, which look like typical baseball games — except with only umpires. They do this to play out in-game scenarios to practice calls and running formations for the umpires. I didn’t know umpires had to do so much outside of yelling “strike!” “You’re out!” and other calls.
Junior Valentine, an instructor at the school, currently umpires in Triple-A — the highest level of Minor League Baseball. He’s wanted to umpire, since he was a little kid. Even he used to get angry with those who have made calls against his team, but now, he’s on the receiving on those negative scolds, the worst part about being an umpire.
“I’ve had a guy tell me he would rather have a colonoscopy than to watch me umpire,” he said. “More than anything, it’s funny. They might make me chuckle, but I’ve never gotten mad at a fan.”
They’re never celebrated, and they’re only remembered, when they make a mistake. I’ve known only one umpire’s name — Jim Joyce — throughout my life, and it’s because he made the wrong call that did away with major leaguer Armando Galarraga’s perfect game.
But someone has to umpire games, and thankfully, these baseball fans — and many more like them — have chosen the path less taken.
It’s true what Major League Baseball umpire Jeff Nelson told the umpires: “This is the only time in your umpire life that you get to be around 150 other guys who are just as big nerds about umpiring as you are.”
Are you one of these umpires? Wendelstedt Umpire School is hosting a free clinic for ages 16 and up for beginner and advanced umpires from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at the OBSC.
Contact the Leisure Services Department at 676-3250.
