UMPS CARE Charities, the official charity of Major League Baseball umpires, recently held the 4th Annual UMPS CARE Charities Golf Classic on January 22, 2009 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Over 150 golfers joined foursomes at the McCormick Ranch Golf Club that included not just umpires, but also some current and former Major League players such as Russ Ortiz, Mike Hampton, Matt Herges and Mark Grace.
Over $75,000 was raised from the event to support UMPS CARE Charities youth programs, including Build-A-Bear Workshops® for hospitalized children coping with cancer, as well as tickets to big league baseball games for children awaiting adoption.
We are proud to be a small part in that amount through our Long Drive Sponshorship and pushing our customers to the online auction that accompanied the event.
TED BARRETT AND HIS FEARLESS FIVE
I was fortunate enough to land in a fivesome for the scramble format that included MLB Umpire Ted Barrett. No, not for his playing ability. One got a great sense from observing his interaction with other umpires that Ted is one of the most well-liked among them.
His resume is certainly the most unique as the only MLB umpire who is also an ordained minister... not to mention he also rides a Harley and once competed as an amateur boxer. As our leader that day, he made sure we enjoyed ourselves throughout the less-than-stellar golf performance. Thanks Ted. Read more about Ted here.
Another member of our fivesome, Brian Hommel, who is the Arizona Diamondbacks chaplain, is also a notable mention as he played baseball at the University of Louisville. So we enjoyed an "it's-a-small-world" moment. Actually, I couldn't have chosen 4 nicer guys to spend a half a day with chasing around little white balls.
MLB UMPIRES
I enjoyed getting to meet and talk with many of the MLB Umpires, probably about one-third of the 68 on the roster. For one, I appreciated talking umpire gear with Joe West, inventor of the Wilson West Vest Equipment.
Also, I was able to talk personally with Kerwin Danley about exactly what happened with his injury last year and his transition to a hockey style helmet after his hit last year. Read my previous blog about this.
One thing I learned from talking with umpires such as Lexington, Kentucky resident Sam Holbrook was that there are more MLB umpires from Kentucky than any other state but Michigan. I was not aware of that.
Other umpires who made an impression for one reason or another included younger guys Marvin Hudson, Jeff Nelson, Alfonso Marquez, Tim Timmons, Fieldin Culbreth and Eric Cooper and veterans such as Ed Rapuano, Tim Tschida and Gary Darling.
THANKS AND LINKS
A special thanks to Gary for his hospitality at the pre-event get-together the night before. And a big thank you to Samuel Dearth, director of UMPS CARES, for the wonderfully planned event. I look forward to next year.
UMPS CARE Links: Post Event Summary | More Photos
MLB.com Article about the event
5 comments:
Jim,
I can't thank you enough for your support of Umpscare. Simply put, we can't do this alone. People like yourself who not only help sponsor this great cause but give of your time as well, are blessings Umpscare can't do without. Your sponsorship allows me to see these brief, yet much needed smiles that come to the faces of the children I meet during the Hospital visits and at the ballpark. For that I thank you so much, Fieldin Culbreth
Jim,
One of the highlights of the weekend was hanging out with you. We may have had the worst score but I think we had the most fun. You can play on my team anytime! Hope to hook up with you on the road this season.
Blessings,
Ted
Jim,
I want to personally thank you for supporting Umps Care Charities. We appreciate the fact that you not only showed up and played, but that you helped make our auction a huge success and sposnored one of our Long Drive Holes. It's generous people like yourself that help make Umps Care Charities a success. Hopefully I work in Cincinnati this year and you are able to make it to a game. I promise to stay out of your way next time on the auction items. Unfortunately the Larry Fitzgerald signed helmet didn't bring the Cardinals any luck. The helmet was proudly displayed on my mantel during the Super Bowl. I guess 2nd place isn't too bad.
Thanks again for your support of Umps Care Charities!
Gary Darling
Thanks Fieldin for your kind words. You guys and Samuel made this a very successful event all the way around.
Ted, your offer to continue to accept me as your golfing teammate is a true testament to your character.
Thanks Gary. So sorry about the Cardinals loss. Your helmet would have surely increased value instantly with a win. At least you were not the untimely winner of an autographed Alex Rodriguez baseball.
Look forward to seeing you guys some time this spring training or season.
Jim,
Could you put up a blog about your conversation with Kerwin as to what happened here in Los Angeles last May? I think it would be in interesting study in a first hand account.
If not here then on one of the umpire message boards.
Thanks,
Arik Goldsmit
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