22 - Joe West
Umpire Joe West (left) ejects Ozzie Guillen during a dispute June 24, 2007 versus the Chicago Cubs
MLB debut
1976
Umpiring Crew
H
Crew Members
Joe West (Crew Chief)
Ed Rapuano
C. B. Bucknor
Mike DiMuro
Career highlights and awards
Two All- Star Games (1987, 2005) Three Division Series (1995, 2002, 05) Seven League Championship Series (1981, 86, 88, 93, 96, 2003-04) Three World Series (1992, 97, 2005)

Joseph Henry West (born October 31, 1952 in Asheville, North Carolina) is an umpire in Major League Baseball who has worked in the National League in 1976 and from 1978 to 1999, and throughout both major leagues since 2002. He is a crew chief. Nicknamed "Cowboy Joe", he is also known for being a singer/songwriter. He has umpired in the World Series in 1992, 1997, and 2005, serving as crew chief on the last occasion. He also umpired in the All-Star Game in 1987 and 2005, calling balls and strikes the second time. He has officiated in 7 League Championship Series (NL: 1981, 1986, 1988, 1993, 1996; AL 2003, 2004) and 3 Division Series (NL 1995; AL 2002 and 2005). He wears number 22. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 757 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1142 × 904 pixels, file size: 181 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Umpire Joe West (left) ejects Ozzie Guillen during a dispute June 24, 2007 versus the Chicago Cubs. ... Edward Stephen Rapuano, Jr. ... C.B. Bucknor (born August 23, 1962 in Savanna-la-Mar, Jamaica) is an umpire in Major League Baseball who has worked in the National League from 1996 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues since 2000. ... Michael Ryan DiMuro (born October 12, 1967 in Dunkirk, New York) is an umpire in Major League Baseball. ... is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1952 (MCMLII) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Not to be confused with Ashville. ... 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. ... Major Leagues redirects here. ... For other uses, see National League (disambiguation). ... For other events named World Series, see World Series (disambiguation). ... Dates October 17, 1992–October 24, 1992 MVP Pat Borders (Toronto) Television network CBS & Simulcast in Canada on CTV Announcers Sean McDonough, Tim McCarver Umpires Jerry Crawford (NL), Mike Reilly (AL), Joe West (NL), John Shulock (AL), Bob Davidson (NL), Dan Morrison (AL) The 1992 World Series was the first... Dates October 18, 1997 – October 26, 1997 MVP Liván Hernández (Florida) Television network NBC Announcers Bob Costas, Joe Morgan and Bob Uecker Umpires Ed Montague (NL), Dale Ford (AL), Joe West (NL), Greg Kosc (AL), Randy Marsh (NL), Ken Kaiser (AL) The 1997 World Series is regarded as... Dates: October 22, 2005–October 26, 2005 MVP: Jermaine Dye (Chicago) Television: FOX Announcers: Joe Buck and Tim McCarver Umpires: Joe West, Jeff Nelson, Jerry Layne, Derryl Cousins, Gary Cederstrom, Angel Hernandez ALCS: Chicago White Sox over Los Angeles Angels (4-1) NLCS: Houston Astros over St. ... 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 respective managers (from the previous years World... The 2005 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 76th playing of the midseason exhibition baseball game between the all-stars of the American League (AL) and National League (NL), the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. ... The League Championship Series is the official name for a round of playoffs in Major League Baseball. ... The 1981 National League Championship Series was a best-of-five series between the first-half Western Division champion Los Angeles Dodgers and the second-half Eastern Division champion Montreal Expos. ... The 1986 National League Championship Series pitted the New York Mets against the Houston Astros. ... The 1988 National League Championship Series was played between the National League West champion Los Angeles Dodgers and the National League East champion New York Mets. ... 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 1996 National League Championship Series matched the Eastern Division Champion Atlanta Braves and the Central Division Champion St. ... The 2003 American League Championship Series was played between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees from October 8 to October 16, 2003. ... The 2004 American League Championship Series was a Major League Baseball playoff series played between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. ... 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 2002 American League Division Series (ALDS), the opening round of the 2002 American League playoffs, began on Tuesday, October 1, and ended on Sunday, October 6, with the champions of the three AL divisions – along with a wild card team – participating in two best-of-five series. ... The 2005 American League Division Series (ALDS), the opening round of the 2005 American League playoffs, began on Tuesday, October 4, and ended on Monday, October 10, with the champions of the three AL divisions – along with a wild card team – participating in two best-of-five series. ...

His crew in 2007 included C. B. Bucknor, Ed Rapuano and Ed Hickox.

Background

Like fellow umpire Ron Luciano, West played collegiate football. He played at East Carolina University as a freshman and was a three-year starting quarterback at Elon College, winning the MVP award in 1973 there when Elon was ranked number two in NAIA Division I. The 1973 Elon team lost the National Championship Game for Division 1 to an Abilene Christian team lead by furture Dallas Cowboy Quarterback Clint Longley and future Eagle Hall of Famer Wilber Montgomery. West held three passing records at Elon until just recently and was inducted into the Elon College Sports Hall of Fame in the same class with Kay Yow (NC State Girls Basketball Coach). Ron Luciano (June 28, 1937 - January 18, 1995) was a major league umpire, known for his flamboyant style, simple love for the game, and clever quotes. ... A college football game between Colorado State and Air Force. ... East Carolina University is a public, coeducational, intensive research university located in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. ... Navy quarterback Aaron Polanco sets up to throw. ... Elon University is a private, liberal arts university located in Elon, North Carolina. ... Howard Clinton Longley, Jr. ... Sandra Kay Yow (born March 14, 1942 in Gibsonville, North Carolina), United States is the head coach of the womens basketball team at North Carolina State University. ...

Starting in minor league umpiring, West worked in the Western Carolinas League (1974; inducted into the Western Carolina League Hall of Fame in 2002), Carolina League (1975), Florida Instructional League (1974-1976), Southern League (1975-76), American Association (1976-77), and Puerto Rican Winter League (1977). The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic region of the United States. ... The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. ... The American Association was a minor baseball league at the Class AAA (Triple-A) level of baseball in the United States from 1902 to 1962 and 1969 to 1997. ...

When he broke into major league umpiring on September 13, 1976, he was only 23. He worked 8 games that year. Five years later, West worked in the 1981 NLCS at the age of 28, the youngest umpire to ever work in the NLCS. He worked in seven more after that, and also three World Series. During the 1999 season, West resigned as part of a controversial union strategy which backfired; however, he was ordered rehired by Arbitrator Alan Symonette with full back pay and benifits because Major League Baseball didn't retain umpires on the basis of skill and merit. Even as late as February of 2002 Sandy Alderson, Executive Vice President in charge of umpiring, tried to keep West off the field. But a federal judge ordered MLB to rehire him. He worked the playoffs his first year back and every year Alderson was in charge of the umpires. The first year Alderson left, West worked the All Star Game, the American League Divisional Playoffs, and the World Series. He was the Crew Chief of all three. is the 256th day of the year (257th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is currently under construction // This year in baseball Events January 14 - Ted Turner completes the purchase of 100 percent of the Atlanta Braves. ... 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 following are the baseball events of the year 1999 throughout the world. ... Richard Lynn Alderson (born November 22, 1947 in Seattle, Washington) is the CEO of the Major League Baseball San Diego Padres. ...

West is known outside of umpiring as a singer/songwriter and has performed with such artists as Merle Haggard, Bonnie Owens, Bobby Mackey, Box Car Willie, Mickey Gilley, Johnny Lee, Jason Scheff, Skunk Baxter, Les Dudek, Rick Seratte, T.G. Sheppard, Ray and Ron Hearndon,The Four Guys, The Jones Boys (George Jones' band), The Statesiders (Mel Tillis' band) and Charlie McCoy and the Hee Haw Band. Merle Ronald Haggard (born April 6, 1937) is an American country music singer, guitarist and songwriter. ... Boxcar Willie (1931 — 1999; real name Lecil Travis Martin) was an American country music singer who sang in the hobo music style. ... Mickey Gilley (b. ... Johnny Lee Ham (born July 3, 1946, in Texas City, Texas) is an American country music singer. ... Jason Randolph Scheff (born April 16, 1962 in San Diego, California) is an American bassist, singer and songwriter. ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... Les Dudek Biography Les Dudek was born August 2, 1957 on a naval base in Rhode Island to Harold and Alma Dudek. ... T. G. Sheppard (born William Neal Browder, July 20, 1942 in Humboldt, Tennessee) is an American country music singer. ... For other persons named George Jones, see George Jones (disambiguation). ... Mel Tillis (born Lonnie Melvin Tillis August 8, 1932 in Tampa, Florida) is an American Country Music Singer. ... For the African American blues musician, see Papa Charlie McCoy. ...

West appeared in one of The Naked Gun movies as an umpire also. The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! is the first film in a series of comedy movies starring Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, George Kennedy, and O.J. Simpson. ...

West designed and patented today's most commonly used chest protector, which is often referred to as the "West Vest", now marketed by Wilson Sporting Goods. He designed all of Wilson's high end umpire's gear and that gear is the only umpire's equipment endorsed by Major League Baseball for use by its umpires. Wilson Sporting Goods (or simply Wilson) is a sporting goods company that is based in Chicago, Illinois. ... Major Leagues redirects here. ...

West founded Majorleagueumpires.com and umpirejoewest.com.

West is an avid golfer and a member of the Celebrity Players Tour.

Career highlights

• September 14, 1976 West umpired his first game in the National League.
• October 13, 1981 West became the youngest National League Umpire to umpire a League Championship Series. He was 28.
• May 9, 1984: West ejected two television cameramen from Shea Stadium when they allowed the Mets to view replays of a controversial play at the plate in which Hubie Brooks was called out. The Mets won the game against Atlanta 3–1, with Ron Darling getting the win.
• In 1986 West was the plate umpire when Dwight Gooden and Nolan Ryan squared up and set the League Championship record for the most strike outs by the starting pitchers in an LCS.
• West was behind the plate for the first games Dwight Gooden and Greg Maddox ever pitched in the Major Leagues.
• West was behind the plate in the League Championship Game between the Dodgers and Mets when Mets Manager Dave Johnson requested that he check Dodger Pitcher, Jay Howell's glove. West and Crew Chief Harry Wendelstedt agreed that the glove was covered with "pine tar" and Howell was ejected.
• July 23, 1991: After Cincinnati pitcher Rob Dibble threw a ball at Cub Doug Dascenzo and was thrown out of the game, West was bumped by Cubs Andre Dawson in the same game; Dawson was suspended for one game and fined $1000. On the check he wrote to the league, Dawson wrote in the memo "donation to the blind."
• 1990: NL president Bill White was prepared to suspend umpire Joe West for slamming Philadelphia pitcher Dennis Cook to the ground while breaking up an on field brawl, but commissioner Fay Vincent intervened and no discipline was imposed.
• West was the on the crew that worked the first playoff game ever played in Canada (Dodgers at Expos in 1981) and was behind the plate in the first ever World Series Game played in Canada (Braves at Toronto in 1992) and ejected Braves' Manager Bobby Cox for throwing a helmet onto the field.
• West was behind the plate for Willie McCovey's 500th home run and at first base for Nolan Ryan's fifth no-hitter. He was at first base when Pete Rose tied the modern day record in the National League for most consecutive games with a hit and he was behind the plate when he broke it the following day.
• West was the home plate umpire for Clay Buchholz's no hitter against the Baltimore Orioles on September 1, 2007 at Fenway Park, and called a knee-high curveball strike three for the final out.
• West's career has spanned the tenure of Commissioners Bowie Kuhn, Peter Ueberroth, Bart Giammatti, Fay Vincent, and the current Commissioner Bud Selig. At the end of the 2007 season he had umpired 3,781 games... 27th all time.
• Prior to the 2007 post season West had worked 75 post season games... 10th all time for the number of post season games umpired.

is the 129th day of the year (130th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 1984 throughout the world. ... A cinematographer (from cinema photographer) is one photographing with a motion picture camera. ... William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium, is an American baseball stadium in New York City. ... Major league affiliations National League (1962–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 14, 37, 41, 42 Name New York Mets (1962–present) Other nicknames The Amazin Mets, The Amazins, The Metropolitans, The Kings of Queens Ballpark Shea Stadium (1964–present) Polo Grounds (1962–1963) Major league... Hubert Brooks, Jr. ... Major league affiliations National League (1876–present) East Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 3, 21, 35, 41, 42, 44 Name Atlanta Braves (1966–present) Milwaukee Braves (1953-1965) Boston Braves (1941-1952) Boston Bees (1936-1940) Boston Braves (1912-1935) Boston Rustlers (1911) Boston Doves (1907-1910) Boston... Ronald (born August 19, 1960) is a former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Mets, Oakland Athletics and Montreal Expos. ... is the 204th day of the year (205th 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. ... Major league affiliations National League (1890–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 5, 8, 10, 13, 18, 20, 24, 42 Name Cincinnati Reds (1958–present) Cincinnati Redlegs (1953-1958) Cincinnati Reds (1882-1953) Cincinnati Red Stockings (1876-1882) Other nicknames The Redlegs, The Big Red Machine... Rob Dibble pitching for the Cincinnati Reds in 1991 Robert Keith Dibble (born January 24, 1964 in Bridgeport, Connecticut) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. ... Major league affiliations National League (1876–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 10, 14, 23, 26, 42 Name Chicago Cubs (1902–present) Chicago Orphans (1898-1901) Chicago Colts (1890-1897) Chicago White Stockings (1870-1871, 1874-1889) (a. ... Douglas Craig Dascenzo (born June 30, 1964, in Cleveland, Ohio) was a Major League Baseball outfielder. ... Andre Nolan Dawson (born July 10, 1954, Miami, Florida) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 1990 throughout the world. ... William De Kova White (born January 28, 1934 in Lakewood, Florida) is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and left-handed batter who played for the New York and San Francisco Giants (1956, 1958), St. ... Major league affiliations National League (1883–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 14, 20, 32, 36, 42 Name Philadelphia Phillies (1884–present) Philadelphia Quakers (1883-1889) (Also referred to as Blue Jays 1943-1945 despite formal name remaining Phillies) Other nicknames The Phils, The Phightin Phils... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Francis Thomas Fay Vincent, Jr. ... Willie Lee McCovey (born January 10, 1938 in Mobile, Alabama), nicknamed Big Mac and Stretch, is a former slugger and first baseman who played Major League Baseball for the San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres and Oakland Athletics between 1959 and 1980. ... Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. ... Peter Edward Pete Rose, Sr. ... Clay D. Buchholz (born August 14, 1984 in Nederland, Texas) is an American baseball starting pitcher with MLBs Boston Red Sox . ... Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 4, 5, 8, 20, 22, 33, 42 Name Baltimore Orioles (1954–present) St. ... is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The following are the baseball events of the year 2007 throughout the world. ... Fenway redirects here. ...

External links

• Major league profile