Emment Ashford

[heyblue26]

I just read a great article about this great umpire and how many think that he should be in the Hall of Fame. While I may agree on that as I watched Him Umpire in the PCL and also in the Big Leagues when he was called up in about 1965. Everytime he came to Portland Oregon to call a game I went he was so colorful both behind the plate and also on the bases and everyone one knew who was in charge. He talked to the fans and was just great to watch him in action. There are many a great umpires that are not in the Hall of Fame such as Dough Harvey and many more. I believe they both should be there as the others also. Hope that some one will submitt there names on a ballot and soon I mean real soon. What are others thoughts about this?

[Richard_Siegel]

The very nature of being an umpire is an adversarial relationship with all others who are part of the game. Umpires become the targets and adversaries of the fans, sportswriters, the media, players, coaches, team management, even the league management. In short, nobody likes them, nobody thinks about them. So when it comes to voting an umpire into the HOF who do you think the people are who have to send in the ballots?

The skills required to become an umpire can not be appreciated by non umpires. To be a great umpire you make the right call and control the game so that in the end your presence was barely noticed. Since the greatness of an umpire can only be truly recognized by other well-trained umpires I believe that none of the people who nominate the candidates for the HOF are qualified to judge who is a great umpire.

For this reason I think that a committee of professional umpires should create a set of criteria for consideration for the HOF and the same group should be the ones to nominate the umpire candidates. But sure I'm this would never happen because the folks who have to approve this change are the sportswriters, the media, players, coaches, team management, and the league management. So you know where that's going to end.

[heyblue26]

Richard thanks for you're thoughts on this as when I read the article it was great and as you said only umpires understand the greatness of an umpire. I should of also thought about yes the sportswriters, media, players etc are the ones that do the selecting and we are always heard but never seen.

Never have heard a coach or player or a sportwriter ever say that was a great call by the umpire and say some day he will be remembered when he is elected into the HOF.

Unless of course you have the book (As they See 'Em) then understand what a umpire really goes thru to get to the major leagues just as a player does but longer much longer and sometime never gets his calling.
It would really be Great for that to happen a professional committee of umpires set the critera and the same group also nominate those umpire candidates as you had mentions and you know were thats going to end, Yes it just is not going to happen aleast not now. But it should and as we both agree and understand that they are deserving of the induction to the HOF as well.

Thanks Richard

[HugoTafurst]

(snip).

Never have heard a coach or player or a sportwriter ever say that was a great call by the umpire and say some day he will be remembered when he is elected into the HOF.
(snip)

Not terribly important reading that sentence leads me to suggest that there is no such thing as a great call by an umpire.....

RIght call/wrong call

[heyblue26]

You may be right to some degree but I have seen some great calls in baseball. Either safe or out, right call or he blew that call or he was out of postion what a terrible call that was. more likey a statement by joe morgan. (Snip)

[AugieDonatelli]

Not terribly important reading that sentence leads me to suggest that there is no such thing as a great call by an umpire.....

RIght call/wrong call

I disagree. There are great calls that require balls to make, such as Harry Wendelstedt keeping Jim Dietz at home plate after being hit by Don Drysdale. Drysdale hit Dietz with a pitch that would have forced in a run and ended Drysdale's scoreless innings streak at 44. Wendelstedt ruled that Dietz made no effort to avoid the pitch, Dietz proceeded to fly out, and Drysdale's scoreless streak continued to a then-record 58 2/3 innings.

Some calls are just the right call, but there are others that are great because they were right when most umpires would have gotten them wrong.

[HugoTafurst]

I disagree. There are great calls that require balls to make, such as Harry Wendelstedt keeping Jim Dietz at home plate after being hit by Don Drysdale. Drysdale hit Dietz with a pitch that would have forced in a run and ended Drysdale's scoreless innings streak at 44. Wendelstedt ruled that Dietz made no effort to avoid the pitch, Dietz proceeded to fly out, and Drysdale's scoreless streak continued to a then-record 58 2/3 innings.

Some calls are just the right call, but there are others that are great because they were right when most umpires would have gotten them wrong.

I understand what you are saying.
Just suggesting.

[heyblue26]

I disagree. There are great calls that require balls to make, such as Harry Wendelstedt keeping Jim Dietz at home plate after being hit by Don Drysdale. Drysdale hit Dietz with a pitch that would have forced in a run and ended Drysdale's scoreless innings streak at 44. Wendelstedt ruled that Dietz made no effort to avoid the pitch, Dietz proceeded to fly out, and Drysdale's scoreless streak continued to a then-record 58 2/3 innings.

Some calls are just the right call, but there are others that are great because they were right when most umpires would have gotten them wrong.

Augie I remember that call and yes it was just that a GREAT call.

[AugieDonatelli]

Augie I remember that call and yes it was just that a GREAT call.If you remember that play....you are old like me!;)

[heyblue26]

If you remember that play....you are old like me!;)

Yes Augie but those were the days wouldn't you agree. Hows about the call in a 1971 Cardinals-Giants game when Umpire Billy Williams made the call at the plate involing Dick Dietz and Joe Torre at the plate or Babe Pinelli whom never missed a game during his twenty-two-year career which ended with Don Larsons 1956 perfect world series game or Stan Landes calling a play at the plate in 1971 St Louis-Montreal game pitcher Frank Linzy making a tag on montreals John Woods as he tries to score on a pitch that got away from catcher Ted Simmons.