Written by Justin EslingerEdited by Jim Kirk
Plays happen quickly on the field. Perhaps it's hot. Maybe it's an important or tight game. And the umpire on the field needs to keep his cool and make the right call in an instant.
Most umpires fall back on years of experience to handle themselves in this situation. But not Tyler Vosteen (at right), he is only 16-years-old."I learned to always expect the unexpected. You never know when a play is going to happen so you have to be prepared," said Tyler, sounding much older than his age.
These are skills he says that he learned directly from his father, Dave Vosteen, (left in photo) who has been an umpire for over 20 years. Dave sees Tyler's interest in officiating as a great opportunity for the two of them to forge a deeper father-son relationship, a feeling shared by many other father-son umpire teams.
"There is nothing like family having your back on the field," explains veteran softball and baseball umpire Greg Lacy, Whittier, California, who for the past five years has called games with his 21-year-old son Matthew.
Father and son umpire teams are not uncommon in the world of baseball. At the major league level, you'll find several examples including Harry Wendlestedt, founder of the Wendlestedt Umpire School, and his son Hunter. At other levels of baseball, father and son umpires are more common.
Take Douglas Weiss, of Los Alamos, New Mexico, who serves both as a father to an umpire and a son to one as well. Weiss began his umpire career at the age of 14. He called games through college and quit when he married and started his family. Then, in 2005, 14-years after his last game, Weiss jumped headfirst back into the world of umpiring, working in little league and high school. In 2006, his 12-year-old son JD started umpiring little league games, too. The same year, Weiss encouraged his father, JD's grandfather, to begin umpiring. The Weiss's are certainly proud of the their three generations calling games.
That sense of pride also inspires Dave Vosteen when he sees Tyler umpiring.In spring 2010, Dave won, basically bought, a lunch with 3 MLB umpires and tickets to a Boston Red Sox game for he and his son at a charity auction through Umps Care Charities, a nonprofit organization founded by major league umpires.
Tyler and Dave (center) were excited about the opportunity to meet with umpires Mike Winters, Mike Estabrook (right) and Brian Runge (left) who along with his father Ed have umpired seven different All-Star Games together and are the only father-son pair to umpire no-hitters. (source mlb.com)
Since then, Tyler has kept in contact via email with the umpires who he sees as mentors. Tyler said Runge expressed to him that he would look out for him when he enrolls at the Wendelstedt school after he completes college.
Official Jamie Robinson, of Columbia, Mississippi, introduced his 16-year-old son Brooks to umpiring just last year. He sees many benefits to working closely with his teenage son, and sees him as one of the best partners he has worked with on the field. "I challenge all umpires who have sons to get them involved as early as possible," said Robinson.
We would like to salute all father and son officials (daughters, too) who have been on the field or court this Father's Day. See below for a list of father-son umpires who submitted their names for this article and MLB denoted ones as well (* source worldumpires.org):
- Rolando Almaguer and son Brandon
- Jeff Back and son Grant
- Kelly Baggett and son Aaron
- Scott Barelmann and son Brandon
- Bruce Borne and son Connor
- Dave Brown and son Nolan
- Henry "Shag" Crawford and son Jerry*
- Richard DeLorenzo and daughter Robin DeLorenzo
- Lou DiMuro and son Mike*
- Douglas R. Doudna and son Gregory
- Tim Finan and son Robert
- Tom Gorman and son Brian*
- Kevin Harvey and step-son Nick Webster
- Mark Hoffehein and son Trey
- David Kruse and son Tyson
- Greg Lacy and son Matthew
- Rick Lanning and son Evan
- Rob Nieuwhof and son Josh
- Greg Pettit and step-son Andrew Jenkins
- Bill Quigley, III and son Ryan
- Jamie Robinson and son Brooks
- George Tolbert III and son Joshua Hatten
And for all you father's out there, Happy Father's Day from Ump-Attire!
18 comments:
My father Bill Crane has over 35 years umping and got me into it at age 18... we been calling ball together for 24 years now.... even when he at his summer home in OH, we still call each other nightly to just go over plays and calls we have made. We keep each other on our A game all the time. As time has gone by, this shared love has made us closer as father and son as will as best friends. I love you dad Happy Fathers Day
William Crane & Richard Hunt-Adkinson 24 years exp together
Ok,,got it backwards. My 2 sons got me into umpiring. I was coaching my 2nd son select team, paying @ $50 a game. I asked the umpire in chief,"How old do you have to be?" He saw my oldest next to me(6'3") and said he was tall enough. Then my 2nd son started calling for some cash too. After @ 2 years, they asked me to come call....gas was heading up to @ 2.00 a gallon. So, I decided hell yea, I could use some extra gas money....haven't stopped yet. I called them for advise. It's been over 10 years now. I would never swap those/these days for anything in the world.
Between the 3 of us, we have over 25 years...it has been fun! Just trying to get over the Houston weather.
Dave and Tyler volunteer to teach youth baseball umpire clinics here in our league for free, and have not only helped make our league better by training up our umps, but have inspired at least two other father/son teams. We're lucky to have them on our team!
Just to let you know Tyler umpires JV High school games and has for 2 years. He also does Senior babe Ruth which is 17 and 18 year olds. He has done that for 2 years. He also does Mens games with wooden bats and former college players. He has done that since he was 14. He started at 12 years old. I am very proud of him.
Can't wait to see him in the show!!!!! I am proud of you son.
Dad
Some great stories and comments. This article began evolving from a customer profile into something bigger, but have enjoyed the responses we have gotten from this article.
I hope others will continue to post comments as a running tribute to fathers and sons (daughters, too) out there who umpire or referee together.
Thanks to everyone who have shared their stories for the article and after.
My father Karl has umpired for over 35 years. Myself, Peter, has umpired for over 23 years, 10 professionally. Mine and his dreams for me became a reality in September of 2006 when I umpired my 1st MLB game. Thanks to my Dad for leading the way for me.
Peter Durfee
Former minor league umpire
Two missing:
Harry Wendlestedt and son Hunter
Ed Runge, son Paul, and grandson Brian
Brian and I talked about his dad and grandfather. He is one great guy.
Some of you may have noticed my sons appearing on ABC during the US Championship game at the Little League World Series. They were both wearing umpire uniforms (my oldest was wearing an Adult XS from ump-attire) and holding a sign that said "Please don't kill the umpire....he's our daddy!"
While they are both too young to work any games, I thought we should be included as well, if only as honorary members...
That's such a great story Jeff. Thanks for sharing and for the LLWS Regional pin. Looking forward to doing your feature article and mention this story. Classic.
Thanks, Jim, for (parenthetically) including daughters. When I was 15, my dad suggested I join him in volunteering as an umpire for the local Little League to fulfill a school community service requirement. At the time, neither of us imagined the doors umpiring would open for me. Through trips to umpire school, the PBUC evaluation, a season and change of indie ball, and the IV Women's Baseball World Cup, my dad's always been my very strongest supporter, and there's nobody I want to umpire with more than Mike Sargeant.
Kate,
That is such a great story! Thank you so much for sharing. I am sure your dad is very proud of you. Hope you and your Dad have many more games together.
Jim
Here in Australia we do things a little different, my son and I umpire together. I have been working for a few seasons, this will be his first.
We spent 3 days at a State Title Tournament last week and had a ball working with each other and learning from each other and our fellow crew members.
My son Joshua got involved in umpiring with the support of his dad Rob. They have been doing games together since Josh was 15. He is now 19 and has been doing Perfect game since age of 16. Needless to say, his father taught him well!! Keep your dreams alive Josh, you got what it takes~
I had umpired a few middle school games while in high school (when the regular ump was unavailable) and was in training to work an Adult league when circumstances changed. Then, my two older sons wanted to take umpiring classes. I drove them to classes and stayed around. After they got started umpiring, I asked the commissioner if I could work games with my sons (as an unpaid base ump) to see if I could handle it (body does not react like it did 35 years ago). After a while, I got calls to work my own games. That was 4 seasons ago and this summer I worked about a dozen games with my middle son and half a dozen with my youngest. Nothing beat spending time with your son around a baseball game.
Thank you all for posting your umpiring stories with your sons, especially your unique one Carla as a mom. You are correct Bob, nothing better than being around a baseball field with your kids. Best of luck to all of you in 2011.
Hey Jim, In our family the slogan is, "The family who officiates together, stays together." We are a multi-sport offciating family. My wife does baseball, fast pitch softball and some football, my oldest son does baseball, F.P. softball and football, my youngest son just started F.P. softball this year, and I do baseball, F.P. softball, football and basketball. All except the youngest do all these at the high school varsity level. We also have a 'small' association in which my wife and I do the booking. And as I said we have stayed together! We often get to do games together. Nothing like it! James D. from Georgia.
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