Let’s review the blunders. First, American League umpire John Hirschbeck mistakenly calls the Baltimore Orioles’ second baseman out on a third strike during a regular-season game; the pitch was in fact way outside. Alomar mouths off (no big offense either) and walks away, but Hirschbeck taunts him in the dugout. Alomar races back to the plate and spits directly in Hirsch- beck’s face. After the game, Alomar explains that Hirschbeck became ““real bitter’’ after his 8-year-old son died in 1993.
The next day, AL president Gene Budig announces that Alomar will be suspended for five games–but not until next April. Budig doesn’t explain the penalty or its timing. The umps go bananas: their union says they’ll boycott the playoffs and World Series unless Budig tosses Alomar immediately. Nyeh-nyeh, nyeh-nyeh. The players’ union chimes in, accusing the umps of ignoring the players’ labor agreement with the leagues, which forbids Budig from upping the penalty. Bud Selig, the acting commissioner, invokes the moral suasion of his office and declares that he’ll convene a summit this winter and now, couldn’t we just get back to the games? Yes, it turns out–but only after a federal judge in Philadelphia orders the umps back to work.
Umpires have never been a popular part of the game. Fans cheer for their favorite player; that guy in the chest protector, they pelt with deli produce. In the late 19th century, ““there were countless incidents of umpires requiring police protection,’’ writes baseball historian Bill James. ““If they didn’t kill one, then it just wasn’t destined to happen, because they sure tried.’’ Relations have improved only marginally. Umpires are taught not to park in the ““Umpire’’ space, for fear of finding their tires slashed. They don’t stay at the same hotels as the players, and they’ve been known to walk out of a diner if a player’s chowing down there. The disparity nowadays in salaries adds to the resentment, however infrequent the blowups. Umps can make between $95,000 and $280,000 a season; top players earn more than $7 million. It doesn’t help, either, that players are so pampered–they’ve got valets, agents, clothiers and chauffeurs–they feel downright put upon if a call goes against them. Not that players don’t have beefs. ““We get evaluated every day by our statistics and can get fired,’’ says one all-star. ““The umpires have tenure, and if they’re evaluated, it’s done in secret by the league.''
In the good old days–20 years ago–the combatants figured out how to earn dollars from their mutual disgust. Showboating umpire Ron Luciano became a best-selling author. Manager Earl Weaver, who baited umps for sport, once got miked up for an officially sanctioned ““reality reel.’’ The result was so foul that baseball’s marketers immediately dropped the experiment; bootleg copies are a prized possession of any memorabilia collection. Today, umps and their antagonists vent their anger in court, and no one pays to see those games. Next time, Robbie, keep your mouth shut.
Umpire salary Major leagues: $95,000-$280,000 Number of umpires Majors: 64, minors: 194 How to get ejected Curse, using the magic word “you” (as in, “You [expletive]!”); throw equipment or bump an umpire Notable incidents *1988: Cincinnati Reds manager Pete Rose was suspended for 30 days and fined $10,00 for bumping umpire Dave Pallone *1942: New York Yankees infielder Frank Crosetti was suspended for 30 says (beginning the following season) and fined $250 for pushing an umpire during the World Series *1909: Umpire Timothy Hurst spit at the Philadelphia Athletics’ Eddie Collins. Hurst was thrown out of the league.
