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Bruce Neal Froemming (born September 28, 1939 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is the longest tenured umpire in the history of Major League Baseball in terms of the number of seasons umpired, currently in his 37th season [1]. He first umpired in the National League in 1971, and since 2000 has worked throughout both major leagues. Early in the 2007 season, Froemming tied Bill Klem for the longest umpiring career in major league history [2]. Previously, on August 16, 2006, Froemming umpired his 5,000th game between the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, placing him second on the all-time MLB list behind Klem's 5,374.^[1] On April 20, 2007, he umpired at first base in the Cleveland Indians-Tampa Bay Devil Rays game, passing Klem to become – at age 67 years 204 days – the oldest umpire in major league history. On June 14, it was revealed that Froemming will retire at the end of the season.^[2] Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... September 28 is the 271st day of the year (272nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nickname: Location of Milwaukee in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin Coordinates: , County Milwaukee Government  - Mayor Tom Barrett Area  - City  97 sq mi (251. ... Home plate umpire Gary Darling signals that the last pitch was a strike In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and meting out discipline. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the National League, is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada and the worlds oldest extant professional team sports league. ... This article is currently under construction // This year in baseball Events January 31 - The new Special Veterans Committee selects seven men for enshrinement to the Hall of Fame: former players Dave Bancroft, Jake Beckley, Chick Hafey, Harry Hooper, Joe Kelley, Rube Marquard, and executive George Weiss. ... Bill Klem, the father of baseball umpires, in 1914 William Joseph Klem, born William Joseph Klimm (February 22, 1874 – September 16, 1951), known as the father of baseball umpires, was a National League umpire in Major League Baseball from 1905 to 1941. ... is the 228th day of the year (229th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 2006 throughout the world. ... Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) Central Division (1998–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 2, 5, 6, 16, 23, 42 Name Detroit Tigers (1901–present) Other nicknames The Bless You Boys Ballpark Comerica Park (2000–present) Tiger Stadium (1912-1999) Briggs Stadium (1938-1960) Navin Field (1912-1938) Bennett... Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 4, 8, 9, 27, 42 Name Boston Red Sox (1908–present) Boston Americans (1901-1907) Other nicknames The BoSox, The Old Towne Team, The Sox Ballpark Fenway Park (1912–present) Huntington Avenue Baseball Grounds... “Fenway” redirects here. ... April 20 is the 110th day of the year (111th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 2007 throughout the world. ... Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 3, 5, 14, 18, 19, 21, 42, 455 Name Cleveland Indians (1915–present) Cleveland Naps (1905-1914) Cleveland Bronchos (1902-1904) Cleveland Blues (1901) Ballpark Jacobs Field (1994–present) Cleveland Stadium (1932-1993)* a. ... Major league affiliations American League (1998–present) East Division (1998–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 12, 42 Name Tampa Bay Devil Rays (1998–present) Other nicknames The D-Rays, The Rays Ballpark Tropicana Field (1998–present) Major league titles World Series titles (0) none AL Pennants (0) none Division titles... June 14 is the 165th day of the year (166th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Career

After a brief semi-pro playing career, Froemming became the youngest umpire in professional baseball in 1958 at age 18, working his way up through the minor leagues to the Pacific Coast League before joining the NL staff in April 1971. While in the minor leagues, his work had caught the attention of skilled observers such as Hall of Famer Jocko Conlan. Froemming became one of the NL's six crew chiefs in 1988. He also refereed high school basketball games, and was recommended for the NBA by Al McGuire, but declined the opportunity when NL umpire Al Barlick helped him in his advancement to the major leagues.^[3] The Pacific Coast League (PCL) is a minor league baseball league operating in the West and Midwest of the United States. ... John Bertrand Jocko Conlan (December 6, 1899 - April 16, 1989) was a player, and more famously an umpire, in Major League Baseball. ... A referee is a person who has authority to make decisions about play in many sports. ... “NBA” redirects here. ... Al McGuire was the coach who led the Marquette University Mens Basketball team from 1964-1977. ... Umpire Al Barlick Albert Joseph Barlick (April 2, 1915 - December 27, 1995) was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the National League for 28 seasons (1940-43, 1946-55, 1958-71). ...

He has worked in 5 World Series: 1976, 1984, 1988, 1990 (Games 3-4) and 1995. He has umpired in the League Championship Series in 1973, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1997 and 2000, all in the NL. With his tenth appearance in the LCS in 2000, he broke the record he had previously shared with Doug Harvey; Jerry Crawford tied the record in 2003, and broke it with his 11th LCS in 2005. (Froemming and Crawford share the record of 10 NLCS, as Crawford's 11th was in the American League.) For other events named World Series, see World Series (disambiguation). ... The 1976 World Series matched the defending champion Cincinnati Reds of the National League against the New York Yankees of the American League, with the Reds sweeping the Series to repeat. ... The 1984 World Series began on October 9, 1984 and ended October 14. ... Dates: October 15, 1988–October 20, 1988 MVP: Orel Hershiser (Los Angeles) Television: NBC CBS Radio (Jack Buck and Bill White announcing) Announcers: Vin Scully and Joe Garagiola Umpires: Doug Harvey (NL), Larry McCoy (AL), Bruce Froemming (NL), Durwood Merrill (AL), Jerry Crawford (NL), Derryl Cousins (AL) ALCS: Oakland Athletics... The 1990 World Series matched the defending champion Oakland Athletics against the Cincinnati Reds, with the Reds sweeping the Series in four games. ... Dates October 21, 1995–October 28, 1995 MVP Tom Glavine (Atlanta) Television network ABC Games 1, 4, and 5, NBC Games 2, 3, and 6 Announcers ABC: Al Michaels, Jim Palmer, and Tim McCarver NBC: Bob Costas, Joe Morgan, and Bob Uecker Umpires Harry Wendelstedt (NL), Joe Brinkman (AL), Bruce... In Major League Baseball, the National League Championship Series (NLCS) determines who wins the National League pennant and advances to baseballs championship, the World Series, facing the winner of the American League Championship Series. ... The 1973 National League Championship Series was played between the New York Mets and the Cincinnati Reds from October 6 to October 10, 1973. ... The 1977 National League Championship Series was a best-of-five matchup between the Eastern Division Champion Los Angeles Dodgers and the Western Division Champion Philadelphia Phillies. ... The 1980 National League Championship Series was played between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Houston Astros from October 7 to October 12, 1980. ... The 1982 National League Championship Series was played between the St. ... The 1985 National League Championship series was played between the St. ... The 1989 National League Championship Series was played between the National League West champion San Francisco Giants and the National League East champion Chicago Cubs. ... The 1991 National League Championship Series was played between the Atlanta Braves (94-68) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (98-64), with the Braves coming out on top in the series 4-3. ... Series MVP Curt Schilling allowed only two runs in two starts The 1993 National League Championship Series was played between the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves. ... The 1997 National League Championship Series pitted the Florida Marlins against the Atlanta Braves. ... The 2000 National League Championship Series, to determine the champion of Major League Baseballs National League, was played between the Central Division champion St. ... Harold Douglas Harvey (born March 13, 1930 in South Gate, California) is a former umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the National League from 1962 to 1992. ... Gerald Joseph Crawford (born August 13, 1947 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an umpire for Major League Baseball. ...

He has also officiated in a record 8 Division Series: 1981 (East Division), 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2003 (also all in the NL). He was the home plate umpire for the playoff games to determine the NL wild-card team in both 1998 and 1999. He also umpired in the All-Star Game in 1975 (played at County Stadium in his hometown of Milwaukee) and 1986, calling balls and strikes for the second contest. He has been selected to again umpire behind the plate for the 2007 All-Star Game.^[4] In Major League Baseball, the National League Division Series (NLDS) determine which two teams from the National League will advance to the National League Championship Series. ... The 1981 National League Division Series (NLDS), the opening round of the 1981 National League playoffs, began on Tuesday, October 6, and ended on Sunday, October 11. ... The 1995 National League Division Series (NLDS), the opening round of the 1995 National League playoffs, began on Tuesday, October 3, and ended on Saturday, October 7, with the champions of the three NL divisions – along with a wild card team – participating in two best-of-five series. ... The 1996 American League Division Series was a best-of-five matchup that saw the Eastern Division Champion Atlanta Braves face the Wild Card Champion Los Angeles Dodgers and the Central Division Champion St. ... The 1998 National League Division Series was a best-of-five matchup that saw the Wild Card Champion Chicago Cubs face the Eastern Division Champion Atlanta Braves and the Western Division Champion San Diego Padres face the Central Division Champion Houston Astros. ... The 1999 National League Division Series (NLDS), the opening round of the 1999 National League playoffs, began on Tuesday, October 5, and ended on Saturday, October 9, with the champions of the three NL divisions – along with a wild card team – participating in two best-of-five series. ... The 2001 National League Division Series (NLDS), the opening round of the 2001 National League playoffs, began on Tuesday, October 9, and ended on Sunday, October 14, with the champions of the three NL divisions – along with a wild card team – participating in two best-of-five series. ... The 2002 National League Division Series (NLDS), the opening round of the 2002 National League playoffs, began on Tuesday, October 1, and ended on Monday, October 7, with the champions of the three NL divisions – along with a wild card team – participating in two best-of-five series. ... The 2003 National League Division Series, the first round of the 2003 National League playoffs, pitted the NL East Champion Atlanta Braves (101-61) against the NL Central Champion Chicago Cubs (88-74), and the NL West Champion San Francisco Giants (100-62) against the Wild Card Florida Marlins (91... This year in baseball 1995 - 1996 - 1997 - 1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 Events January-March January 5 - Don Sutton, a 324-game winner is elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on his fifth try. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 1999 throughout the world. ... The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also popularly known as the Midsummer Classic, is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by fan vote for the starting position players and by the manager (the managers from the previous years... County Stadium was a ballpark in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1953 to 2000. ... Date July 10, 2007 Venue AT&T Park City San Francisco, California Managers American League - Jim Leyland (DET) National League - Tony La Russa (STL) MVP () Television FOX, Joe Buck, Tim McCarver, Ken Rosenthal (on-field reporter) Attendance 43,965 First pitch Willie Mays The 2007 Major League Baseball All-Star...

Through the 2005 season, he has umpired a record 107 career postseason games, surpassing the mark of Klem, who worked in 104 games (all in the World Series). He has officiated in 22 World Series games, 52 NLCS games and 33 NLDS games.

On September 3, 2001, Froemming was the second base umpire for the no-hitter pitched by Bud Smith of the St. Louis Cardinals. That game marked the record 11th time he had umpired in an official no-hitter; he had previously shared the record of 10 with Silk O'Loughlin, Paul Pryor and Jim McKean. On September 26, 1981, he was behind the plate for Nolan Ryan's record 5th no-hitter. He was also calling balls and strikes on September 2, 1972, when Cubs pitcher Milt Pappas had a perfect game with two out in the ninth inning before walking the 27th batter; Pappas then completed the no-hitter, but later criticized Froemming for wasting his chance at immortality. The umpire notes, "It's gotten ugly now. Right after the game, he said the 3-2 pitch had missed, but as time has gone on, that pitch has gotten better and better."^[3] Froemming did eventually work a perfect game, as the first base umpire for Dennis Martínez' gem on July 28, 1991. Two days earlier, he also umpired in what would have been a 12th no-hitter, but Montreal's Mark Gardner surrendered three hits in the 10th inning and lost; under current guidelines, baseball does not recognize games of nine hitless innings as no-hitters if hits are given up in extra innings. is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 2001 throughout the world. ... In baseball and softball, a no-hit game (more commonly known as a no-hitter) refers to a contest in which one of the teams has prevented the other from getting an official hit during the entire length of the game, which must be at least 9 innings by the... Bud Smith (born October 23, 1979 in Torrance, California) was an American baseball player for the St. ... Major league affiliations National League (1892–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 2, 6, 9, 14, 17, 20, 42, 42, 45, 85 Name St. ... Francis H. Silk OLoughlin (1870 - December 20, 1918) was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the American League from 1902 to 1918. ... Jim McKean (born 1945 in Montreal, Quebec) is a Canadian born major league baseball umpire and umpired games since 1976. ... is the 269th day of the year (270th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 1981 throughout the world. ... Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. ... September 2 is the 245th day of the year (246th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The following are the events of the year 1972 that happened world-wide throughout the sport of baseball. ... Milton Stephen (Milt) Pappas (born May 11, 1939 in Detroit, Michigan) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. ... Pitcher David Cone (left) of the New York Yankees reacting to the completion of his perfect game with catcher Joe Girardi on July 18, 1999. ... In baseball statistics, a base on balls (BB), also called a walk, is credited to a batter and against a pitcher when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. ... José Dennis Martínez Emilia (born May 14, 1955 in Granada, Nicaragua), better known as Dennis Martínez, was the first baseball player from Nicaragua to play in Major League Baseball. ... is the 209th day of the year (210th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is currently under construction // This year in baseball Events January 8 - Rod Carew, Gaylord Perry and Ferguson Jenkins are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America, with Carew becoming the 22nd player to be named in his first year of eligibility. ... Mark Gardner (born March 4, 1962) is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball and current bullpen coach for the San Francisco Giants. ...

In April 2001, Froemming was the home plate umpire for the first game at Miller Park in his hometown of Milwaukee. On July 24, 2004, he was the plate umpire in the famous game between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox that involved a large brawl initiated by Jason Varitek's punch of Alex Rodriguez. The game was won by the Red Sox on a dramatic walk-off home run by Bill Mueller off Yankees closer Mariano Rivera. Miller Park is a baseball stadium located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. ... is the 205th day of the year (206th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 2004 throughout the world. ... Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 23, 32, 37, 44, 49 Name New York Yankees (1913–present) New York Highlanders (1903-1912) Baltimore Orioles (1901-1902) (Also referred to as... Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 4, 8, 9, 27, 42 Name Boston Red Sox (1908–present) Boston Americans (1901-1907) Other nicknames The BoSox, The Old Towne Team, The Sox Ballpark Fenway Park (1912–present) Huntington Avenue Baseball Grounds... Jason Andrew Varitek (born April 11, 1972) is an American baseball player born in Rochester, Michigan. ... “A-Rod” redirects here. ... In baseball, a walk-off home run is a home run which ends the game. ... William Richard Mueller [MILL-er] (born March 17, 1971) is a former Major League Baseball third baseman who currently serves as special assistant to Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti. ... Mariano Rivera (born November 29, 1969 in Panama City, Panama) is a relief pitcher for Major League Baseballs New York Yankees. ...

Froemming is known for his extremely loud and enthusiastic strike call. He has worn uniform number 6 since the late 1970s, and kept the number when the umpiring staffs of the AL and NL were merged in 2000. Los Angeles Times sports editor Bill Dwyre has described him as as "one of the game's true characters and legends," also calling him the prototypical umpire: "If Hollywood did a movie, they'd send 27 yuppies to study him.^[3] Often regarded as being surly and stubborn, he has nonetheless occasionally displayed a sense of humor; when Fox Sports wired umpires with microphones for broadcasts of Saturday games in 2007, Froemming looked toward the huge baseball glove beyond AT&T Park's outfield wall and wondered aloud whether Fox analyst Eric Karros had ever hit a ball that far.^[5] This just IN !!!:paris hiltons new dog. ... The Fox Sports logo used from 1999 to the present. ... AT&T Park (formerly known as SBC Park and Pacific Bell Park) is an open-air baseball stadium, home to the San Francisco Giants of the National League. ... Eric Peter Karros (born November 4, 1967 in Hackensack, New Jersey) is a former American baseball player who played in Major League Baseball from 1991-2004. ...

A commanding presence on the field who has been fined by National League and Major League Baseball on more than one occasion for his public comments and behavior, Froemming has acknowledged that "The one moment I would take back if I could" was in January 2003 when he referred to an umpire administrator as a "stupid Jew bitch" during a dispute over a relatively minor conflict over travel arrangements to Japan; the comment was made at the end of a voice-mail message, apparently after Froemming thought the call had ended.^[1] He was given a 10-day suspension without pay for the incident, which he accepted gracefully after making a public apology. Froemming was also fined in 1996 for going into the Los Angeles Dodgers' clubhouse before a game in New York against the Mets to get Mike Piazza's autograph.^[6] Major league affiliations National League (1890–present) West Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 2, 4, 19, 20, 24, 32, 39, 42, 53 Name Los Angeles Dodgers (1958–present) Brooklyn Dodgers (1932-1957) Brooklyn Robins (1914-1931) Brooklyn Dodgers (1911-1912) Brooklyn Superbas (1899-1910), (1913) Brooklyn Grooms... Michael Joseph Piazza (born September 4, 1968 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA) is a U.S. Major League Baseball player for the Oakland Athletics. ...

In 1986, Froemming appeared in a commercial for McDonalds hamburger, the McDLT. McDonalds Corporation (NYSE: MCD) is the worlds largest chain of fast-food restaurants [1]. Although McDonalds did not invent the hamburger or fast food, its name has become nearly synonymous with both. ... The McDLT (McDonalds Lettuce and Tomato) was a hamburger product based on a novel form of packaging. ...

Froemming has been appointed crew chief of Mike Winters, Mark Wegner, and Brian Runge in 2007. Brian Runge is the son of Paul Runge, who served on the NL staff from 1973 to 1997; Froemming has recalled that he used to baby-sit for Brian.^[3] Michael John Winters (born November 19, 1958 in Oceanside, California) is an umpire in Major League Baseball who has worked in the National League from 1988 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues since 2000. ... Mark Patrick Wegner (born March 4, 1972 in Saint Paul, Minnesota) is an umpire in Major League Baseball who will be supervised by Bruce Froemming in 2007, along with Mike Winters and Brian Runge. ... Brian Edward Runge (born January 5, 1970 in San Diego, California) is an umpire in Major League Baseball who has worked in the National League in 1999 and throughout both major leagues since 2000. ...

Froemming was also associated with the Joe Brinkman umpire school in Cocoa, Florida, which was renamed the Brinkman/Froemming umpire school several years prior to its closing in 1998. Joe Brinkman (b. ... Cocoa is a city located in Brevard County, Florida. ...

Quotes

• "It's great to see a young umpire like that. He's a nice boy, conscientious, hardworking, a million-dollar heart. And guts. They told me that he put an announcer out of the ball park one night in Tulsa. The announcer made some remark or other over the public address system about the umpire. Froemming stopped the game, turned to the announcer and said, 'Get out.' When I heard about that, I said, 'This is something. I'd like to see that, making an announcer leave the ball park.'" - Jocko Conlan, in his 1967 autobiography Jocko
• "The sun is 93 million miles away, and I can see that." - Froemming, when asked about his eyesight ^[3]
• "For him, it's a calling, not a job. Something like holy orders. A sacrament, not a profession." - sportswriter Jim Murray ^[3]
• ""Bruce Froemming was an absolute terror at first - a cross between Napoleon and Hitler...especially if it's a day game after a midsummer's night contest and he has to umpire behind the plate." - Larry Dierker^[7]

Jim Murray (born December 29, 1919 - August 16, 1998) was a sports journalist. ... Lawrence Edward Dierker (born September 22, 1946 in Hollywood, California) is a former pitcher and manager in Major League Baseball who had a 14-year playing career from 1964 to 1977 and a 5-year career leading the Houston Astros from 1997 to 2001. ...

References

For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... August 15 is the 227th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (228th in leap years), with 138 days remaining. ... USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... August 17 is the 229th day of the year (230th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... June 14 is the 165th day of the year (166th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... June 14 is the 165th day of the year (166th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... June 14 is the 165th day of the year (166th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... June 14 is the 165th day of the year (166th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... // The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois and owned by the Tribune Company. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... May 11 is the 131st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (132nd in leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 30 is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... August 17 is the 229th day of the year (230th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Major league profile
• BaseballLibrary.com - career highlights and list of articles
• Umpire Revels in the Calls, and in Getting Them Right - New York Times profile article, September 2005
• USA Today: "Froemming calling his 5,000th"