Joe Torre - Executive Vice President, Baseball Operations
Joe Torre serves as Major League Baseballs Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations, overseeing areas that include Major League Operations, On-Field Operations, On-Field Discipline and Umpiring. Torre is the Office of the Commissioners primary liaison to the general managers and field managers of the 30 Major League Clubs regarding all baseball and on-field matters. Since December 2009, he has served on Commissioner Seligs Special Committee for On-Field Matters.
Torre was originally appointed to his role by Commissioner Selig on February 26, 2011. On January 4, 2012, Torre resigned from the position, allowing him to explore opportunities with a group that pursued ownership of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Following that process, Torre returned to his position with MLB on March 23rd.
Torre is the Chairman of the Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation, which he and his wife, Ali, launched in 2002. The Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundations mission is to develop educational programs that will end the cycle of domestic violence and save lives. Since its inception, the Foundation has educated thousands of students, parents, teachers and school faculty about the devastating effects of domestic violence. Currently reaching children in nine schools and two community centers in New York and New Jersey, Margarets Place, a tribute to Joes mother, Margaret, provides middle and high school students with a safe room, in which to talk to each other and to a professional counselor trained in domestic violence intervention and prevention about violence-related issues. In 2010, Torre was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve on the National Advisory Committee on Violence Against Women.
In the fall of 2010, Torre concluded his third and final season as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, whom he led to the National League Championship Series in 2008 and 2009. Previously, he spent 12 seasons as manager of the New York Yankees (1996-2007), guiding them to the Postseason every year, including six World Series appearances and four World Championships (1996, 1998-2000).
Torre made his managerial debut with the New York Mets on May 31, 1977, becoming the first player-manager in the majors since 1959. He managed the Mets until 1981 and the Atlanta Braves from 1982-84. After spending nearly six seasons as a television broadcaster for the California Angels, Torre managed the St. Louis Cardinals from 1990-95.
Torre ranks fifth all-time in managerial wins with 2,326. In 1982 and 1998, he was named Manager of the Year by the Associated Press. In 1996 and 1998, the Baseball Writers Association of America named him American League Manager of the Year and, in 1996, The Sporting News named him Sportsman of the Year. He won ESPNs ESPY Award for Best Manager/Coach of the Year in 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2001.
During his 17-year playing career (first/third baseman, catcher) with the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets, Torre compiled a lifetime .297 batting average, had 2,342 hits, 252 home runs and 1,185 RBI, and hit over .300 five times. He was a nine-time All-Star and the National Leagues 1971 Most Valuable Player, batting .363 with 230 hits, 24 home runs and a league-leading 137 RBI.
In April 2011, Torre was honored at the Ellis Island Family Heritage Awards, which celebrate exemplary Ellis Island/Port of New York immigrants or their descendents who have made a major contribution to the American experience. Joes mother, Margaret, emigrated from Salerno, Italy through Ellis Island in 1911. Torre is the co-author of three books: The Yankee Years (Doubleday 2009); Joe Torres Ground Rules for Winners: 12 Keys to Managing Team Players, Tough Bosses, Setbacks and Success (Hyperion 1999); and Chasing the Dream: My Lifelong Journey to the World Series (Bantam 1997, 1998).
Torre was born on July 18, 1940 in Brooklyn, New York. He, Ali and their daughter, Andrea, live in Beverly Hills, California. His three adult children are Michael, Cristina and Lauren.
Peter Woodfork was named Major League Baseball's Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations on March 8, 2011. In this capacity, one of his primary responsibilities is oversight of umpiring.
Prior to joining Major League Baseball, Woodfork spent four years as the Assistant General Manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he also served as a Vice President in 2010.
Prior to joining MLB, Woodfork spent five years as the Assistant General Manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he also served as a Vice President in 2010. While in Arizona, Peter primarily focused on the D-backs 40-man roster management as well as contract negotiations, scouting and Minor League player development. He came to Arizona by way of the Boston Red Sox, where he served for three seasons (2003-05) as Director of Baseball Operations and Assistant Director of Player Development. With Boston, Woodfork played a key role in signing players, salary arbitration, monitoring league rules and working on player development issues.
Before joining the Red Sox, Woodfork spent three years in the Commissioners Office, working with MLBs Labor Relations Department. During his first stint with MLB, he worked with the baseball operations departments of all teams, assisting them with the interpretation of the collective bargaining agreement, salary arbitration and advising them of upcoming deadlines. Woodfork also took part in the creation of the 2003-06 Basic Agreement between MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association.
Woodfork is a 1999 graduate of Harvard University, where he earned a degree in psychology and started in the infield for the Crimson baseball team, who won three Ivy League Championships in his four seasons.
Randy Marsh begins his second season as Major League Baseballs Director of Major League Umpires in 2012. Randy became an Umpire Supervisor for Major League Baseball in 2010 after more than 40 years of professional umpiring experience, including 28 at the Major League level.
Marsh joined the Major League staff in 1982 after umpiring in the minors for 13 years. The former National League umpire worked four All-Star Games (1985, 88, 96, 2006), five Division Series, eight League Championship Series and five World Series (1990, 97, 99, 2003, 06), including serving as the Crew Chief in 2006. Randy was also part of the crew that umpired the Opening Series 2000 in Tokyo, Japan between the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets.
Marsh, who began umpiring Little League games when he was 15, has served as an instructor at Major League Baseballs inaugural Umpire Camps (MLBUC.com), held at MLBs Urban Youth Academy in Compton, California. He was also a part of the first Joint Committee on Training, and played a role in the collaboration on the first Major League Umpire Manual.
Marsh graduated from Covington Holmes High School in 1967, and attended the University of Kentucky and the Al Somers Umpire School before serving in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1968-74. In addition, he is involved in the D.A.R.E. program with local police and schools and the Kid Care ID program. Marsh, 63, and his wife Roxanne have a daughter, Lauren.
Rich Rieker enters his second year as a Director in Major League Baseballs Umpiring Department in 2012. As Director of Umpire Development, Rieker coordinates a wide variety of training and educational initatives and works closely with the Major League Umpires. Rieker joined MLB in 2002 as an Umpire Su per vi sor after spending nine seasons as a Major League umpire.
In 2006, Rich was responsible for the development of the inaugural Major League Baseball Umpire Camps (www.MLBUC.com), based at MLBs Urban Youth Academy in California. He continues to serve as the coordinator of the Camps, which resulted from a joint effort by MLB, the World Umpires Association, the Professional Baseball Umpire Corporation, the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring and the Wendelstedt Umpire School. The Camps have trained more than 400 military members and 2,000 attendees overall. In March 2009, MLB collaborated with the San Diego Padres to organize the Umpire Camp for Marines, which trained more than 100 Marines. Rieker has served as MLBs liaison to the United States Marine Corps and Columbia College of Missouri as the organizations collectively developed the U.S. Marine Corps Officiating Certification Program, which allows Marines to take courses that culminate in an internship at the MLB Umpire Camp.
Rieker developed and managed the production of the Virtual Umpire Camp CD-ROM, a first-of-its-kind product that illustrates the proper mechanics for two-umpire, three-umpire and four-umpire crews with umpiring signals in 3-D. The disk, produced in conjunction with the Professional Baseball Umpire Corporation and Immersion Media, is utilized by all professional umpires and is currently in distribution worldwide. Rieker also was responsible for the coordination of the training and assignments of both Major League and international umpires for the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
A native of St. Louis, Rieker graduated from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 1984 with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration & Marketing. Rieker, 50, resides in Orlando with his wife, Kathleen. He has two children, Jacob and Michael.
Cris Jones joined Major League Baseball as an Umpire Supervisor in 2005. In addition to evaluating games at the Major League level, he serves as the Umpiring Departments Triple-A Coordinator, assigning call-up umpires, overseeing and staffing the Arizona Fall League and assigning Spring Training Invitees. Cris also is part of the core staff for MLBs Umpire Camps as curriculum coordinator and heads the scholarship program.
The 2012 season marks the 26th year in professional baseball for Cris. He umpired in the Gulf Coast League, Midwest League, Texas League and the American Association. Upon leaving the field in 1997, Jones became an Umpire Supervisor with MLB Umpire Development Program, which reorganized in 1998 as the Professional Baseball Umpire Corporation.
Tom Lepperd, currently in his 38th year in professional baseball, joined Major League Baseball in 2000 after serving the previous two seasons as the assistant to Paul Runge, the National Leagues Director of Umpires. The 2012 season marks his first as an Umpire Supervisor for special projects, focusing on umpire development. Previously he served as Director of Umpire Administration.
Lepperd graduated number one in his class from the Bill Kinnamon Umpire School in February 1975 and was assigned to the Midwest League for that season. After working in the Midwest League (1975-76), Lepperd umpired in the Eastern League (1976-77) and American Association (1978-86). He was assigned to work in American League Spring Training games from 1983-86 and also served as a fill-in in AL regular season games (1984-86) before joining the Umpire Development Program as a supervisor in 1987, where he stayed until joining the National League in 1998. He was also a part of the first joint committee on training and helped to collaborate the first-ever Major League Umpire Manual.
Lepperd graduated from the University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana) with highest university honors and a B.S. in Teaching of Mathematics in 1972. Prior to attending the Kinnamon Umpire School, Lepperd taught mathematics at Evanston Township High School in Evanston, IL for three years. A native of Rochelle, Illinois, Lepperd resides in West Des Moines, Iowa, with his wife, Susan, and two children, Kelsey and Zachary.
Meriwether, who joined the American League staff in 1993, attended the Wendelstedt Umpire School in 1979 and began umpiring professionally later that year. He has worked eight Division Series (1998-2002, 04, 07, 09), two League Championship Series (2003 and 2006), two World Series (2004 and 2007) and two All-Star Games (1996 and 2002). In addition, he was part of the crew that worked David Cones perfect game at Yankee Stadium in 1999.
Chuck previously umpired in the Midwest League (1979), Eastern League (1980-81), Pacific Coast League (1982-85) and American Association (1986-92). A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Meriwether graduated from Athans State College in 1978 with a B.S. in Health and Physical Education. Meriwether, 56, has two sons, Jeremy and Christopher.
Following 34 years as a Major League umpire, Ed Montague embarks on his second season as an Umpire Supervisor for Major League Baseball in 2012. Montague, a former crew chief, retired following the 2009 season after working 4,369 career games, which ranks 10th all-time.
Ed became a member of the Major League staff in 1976 and worked seven Divison Series (1981, 95, 2000, 03-05, 07), eight League Championship Series (1979, 84, 87, 92, 96, 99, 2001-02), six World Series (1986, 91, 97, 2000, 04, 07) and four All-Star Games (1982, 90, 98, 2004). He was the first base umpire when Pete Rose singled to break Ty Cobb's all-time hit record in Cincinnati in 1985, and he was the home plate umpire for Game 7 of the 1997 Fall Classic.
A San Francisco native, Montague attended San Francisco City College and previously umpired in the California League (1972), Arizona Instructional League (1972-73) and Pacific Coast League (1973-75). Ed served in the U.S. Navy from 1969-73 and worked for the Disabled American Veterans for 10 years. His father, Ed Sr., played for the Cleveland Indians from 1928-33 and was later a scout for the New York/San Francisco Giants, where he was credited with the signing of Willie Mays.
Ed was credited with a role as an umpire in the 2011 Academy Award-nominated film Moneyball. Montague, 64, resides in California with his wife Marcia. They have three children: Eddie, Brooke and Brett.
Steve Palermo - Umpire Supervisor
Steve Palermo joined Major League Baseball in 2000 as an Umpire Supervisor. In his current position, Palermo serves as a liaison between Major League Baseball and the Major League Umpires.
Palermo previously was hired by MLB as a Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Major League Executive Council on April 6, 1994. He handled special projects, one of which was studying the length of games. Palermo was part of the first joint committee on training and collaborated on the first Major League Umpire Manual.
During his tenure as an American League umpire from 1977-1992, Palermo worked the 1983 World Series and the 1986 All-Star Game in Houston. He also umpired four American League Championship Series (1980, 1982, 1984 and 1989). Palermo was the third base umpire for the New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox A.L. East tie-breaker game on October 2, 1978 at Fenway Park. Five years later, he was behind the plate for Dave Righetti's no-hitter on the Fourth of July at Yankee Stadium.
After attending the Umpire Development Program, Palermo worked in the American Association, New York-Penn League, Carolina League, Eastern League, Florida Instructional League, Dominican Winter League and Puerto Rican Winter League prior to joining the American League staff in 1977.
Palermo's on-field umpiring career was abbreviated on July 6, 1991, when he was shot in the back while coming to the aid of a robbery victim in the parking lot of a Dallas restaurant.
In July 2005, Palermo served as honorary commissioner at The White House Tee Ball game on the South Lawn, featuring children with physical disabilities. The program was launched by President George W. Bush in 2001 to promote a spirit of teamwork and service for Americas youth. Other baseball figures to have served as honorary commissioner include Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr. and 2012 electee Barry Larkin.
A native of Worcester, Massachusetts, Palermo studied education at Norwich University, Leicester Junior College and Worcester State College. Palermo resides in Kansas with his wife, Debbie.
Following 19 years of umpiring in the Major Leagues, Charlie Reliford is now in his second season as an Umpire Supervisor for Major League Baseball in 2010. He is one of Major League Baseballs key liaisons to the Major League Umpires, particularly on rules interpretations and applications.
Reliford, who attended the University of Kentucky and Ohio University, is a former chief instructor at the Wendelstedt Umpire School. He also serves as a spokesperson for King's Daughter's Hospital Hospitality House Fund in Ashland, Kentucky. Charlie, 55, and his wife, Laurie, have one child, Logan.
A veteran of more than 23 years of Major League umpiring, Larry Young become one of Major League Baseballs Umpire Supervisors in 2008, serving as a liaison to MLBs active umpires.
Young joined the Major League staff in 1985. He worked two All-Star Games (1991, 2003), six Division Series, three League Championship Series and two World Series (1996, 2003). Prior to his Major League career, Young worked at the Minor League level from 1978-1982.
Young also serves as an adviser to the game's Playing Rules Committee, which is charged with voting to amend the Official Baseball Rules. He was the first umpire ever to be a part of the Committee. Larry often has helped articulate and instruct his fellow umpires on the rules changes enacted by the Playing Rules Committee. Young also has worked as an instructor at each of the first two Major League Baseball Umpire Camps held annually at MLB's Urban Youth Academy in Compton, California.
Young graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1976 with a B.A. in Education. He is President of Larry Young and Friends Charities, which raises money for various organizations like Special Olympics, Hospice and the American Heart Association. Larry has been the recipient of the JC Penny Golden Rule Award, the Special Olympics Volunteer of the Year, Florida Diamond Club Umpire of the Year, the Goodwill Abilities Center Distinguished Service Award and the 2002 Gold Whistle Award, presented by the National Association of Sports Officials. Young, 58, and his wife, Joan, have two children, Jessica and Darcy.
Bruce Froemming joined Major League Baseball's Umpiring Department in 2008 as a Special Assistant. In this role, Froemming works on various umpiring projects, focusing in particular on the training and instruction of young umpires.
In 2007, Froemming completed his 37th year of Major League service, attaining the longest period of consecutive years of service by an active umpire in baseball history. He surpassed Hall of Famer Bill Klem to gain the mark for longevity. The record was celebrated on April 16, 2007 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, with Solomon and Port in attendance. Later in the 2007 season, Bruce served as the crew chief at the All-Star Game in San Francisco and then led the crew that called the Yankees-Indians American League Division Series. (Froemming's equipment from his 5,000th game is on display at the Hall of Fame. The Boston Red Sox honored Bruce before his 5,000th game on August 16, 2006.)
Froemming's 111 career postseason games worked are the most in baseball history, and his total of 5,162 Major League games worked ranks second to Klem's 5,369. Froemming and Klem are the only umpires in history to work over 5,000 Major League games. Overall, Bruce worked three All-Star Games, nine Division Series (a record), 10 League Championship Series and five World Series (1976, 1984, 1988, 1990 and 1995).
Matt McKendry - Director, Umpire Administration
Matt McKendry enters his first season as Major League Baseballs Director of Umpire Administration in 2012. In this role, Matt will be responsible for administering day-today umpire operations and facilitating communication between MLBs Umpiring Department, the Major League Umpires and Minor League Baseball. McKendry also will assist in the scheduling of umpire assignments and maintaining records of information related to the Departments programs and initiatives.
Matts first duties with MLB started in November 2000, working in the Club Relations Department under Phyllis Merhige after being a part of the New York Yankees Media Relations Department during the 2000 season. The Fordham University graduate resides in Connecticut with his wife, Jackie, their daughter, Avery, and their son, Thomas.
Mark A. Letendre was selected by the Base­ball Office of the Commissioner to develop and oversee the first comprehensive athletic health care program for the 68 Major League umpires on October 15, 1999.
Letendre served as a Major League Baseball athletic trainer for 18 years with the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees. He was named to serve as National League athletic trainer at the 1987 and 1994 MLB All-Star Games. Letendre has been a certified member of the National Athletic Trainers Association since 1979 and is an active member of the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society.
In 2011, Letendre was honored with the prestigious PBATS Presidents Distinguished Service Award at the Baseball Winter Meetings in Dallas. In 2010, Letendre was a recipient of the National Athletic Trainers Associations Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award. In addition, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Boys and Girls Club of Manchester, New Hampshire. Letendre, who lectures on umpire health care techniques and educates audiences on the hazards of spit tobacco, also was honored in 1998 by the National Spit Tobacco Education Program (NSTEP) for his efforts to educate players and umpires on the effects of spit tobacco.
Mark is a member of the Scottsdale Charros, a civic group, and is on the board of governors for the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Scottsdale. Letendre also serves on the Board of Directors with the Baseball Assistance Team (B.A.T.), Major League Baseballs charitable organization dedicated to assisting members of the baseball family through financial grants, healthcare programs and rehabilitative counseling.
Letendre is a 1978 graduate from the University of Maine-Orono where he received a B.S. in Physical Education and Health. He resides in Scottsdale, Arizona, with his wife, Judy, and daughters, Alyssa and Shannon.
Cathy Davis - Specialist, Umpiring Administration
Cathy Davis came to Major League Baseball in 2000 after spending the previous 22 years with the National League, where she worked in the public relations department before moving to the Umpiring Department in 1987 as Senior Administrator. In her current position, Davis is re spon si ble for logistical and administrative day-to-day operations of the umpiring staff. Davis resides in Norwalk, CT.
Freddie Hernandez - Video Coordinator
Freddie Hernandez joined Major League Baseballs Umpiring Department in 2003 after working at Betelgeuse Productions. In his current post, Hernandez is responsible for all umpire-related video operations, including shooting game action video for umpires to review their mechanics, main tain ing a database of umpire-related footage and providing umpires, supervisors and other personnel with specific video requests. A native of Ponce, Puerto Rico, Hernandez currently resides in Manhattan.
Steve Mara - Coordinator, On-Field Operations
Steve Mara was named MLBs Coordinator of On-Field Operations prior to the 2012 season. He reports to Senior Vice President of Standards & On-Field Operations Joe Garagiola, Jr. Steves duties include investigating all on-field incidents and situations, assisting with disciplinary action decisions, monitoring pace of game issues and administering the departments stadium operations projects. Mara will also assist the Umpiring Department throughout the year with a number of administrative and research initiatives. Mara originally joined MLBs Umpire Administration staff during the 2010 season. Prior to joining MLB, Mara worked in Thomson Reuters Investment Management Research Department. The Boston College graduate resides in New York City.
Raquel Wagner - Umpiring Administration
Raquel Wagner joined Major League Baseballs Umpire Administration staff prior to the 2012 season after working for Major League Productions. She is the administrator for the Supervisor Umpire Review and Evaluation system, used to evaluate MLB umpires. Raquel also assists the Umpiring Department with various other duties, including Official Rule Book distribution and sales, maintaining schedules for Umpire Supervisors and Field Observers, and handling umpires tickets for games. Raquel, a St. Louis native, graduated from the University of Missouri in 2009. She currently resides in Weehawken, NJ.
2012 UMPIRE OBSERVERS
Dave Buck (Chicago)
Dave has 11 years of experience as a professional umpire, including a three-year stint in the American Association (Triple-A) from 1992 to 1994. He currently umpires Division I college baseball and was selected to work the College World Series in 2004. He also officiates high school and college basketball. Dave is a freelance web designer and computer consultant and resides in St. Joseph, Michigan with his wife, Vicki, and daughters Hannah and Olivia. The family is very involved in the fight against Cystic Fibrosis, with which Hannah is afflicted.
Terry Christman (San Francisco/Oakland)
Terry has been a basketball official for over 30 years and has refereed NCAA basketball for over 25 years. He has also been in education for over 32 years. Currently, Terry works as a professor of Physical Education at Skyline College in San Bruno, California. He played professional baseball in the New York Mets organization for seven years, was manager and instructor for the San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals, and served as a Minor League pitching coach and pitching chart coordinator for both the Giants and Oakland As.
Larry Hardy (Arlington)
Larry was a Major League pitching and bullpen coach with the Texas Rangers from 1996-2001. He was a scout for the Rangers from 1992 to 1994 and held various managing and coaching positions in the Minor Leagues from 1979 to 1991. Larry pitched professionally for nine years and set a Major League record for games by a rookie in 1974 as a member of the San Diego Padres.
Travis Katzenmeier (Phoenix)
Travis has 13 years of experience as a professional umpire, including 200 games at the Major League level. He began in 1990 as an umpire in the Gulf Coast League and worked his way through the Minor Leagues, including the Midwest League and the Texas League. Travis umpired for seven seasons (1996-2002) in the Pacific Coast League and spent parts of three seasons (1999-2001) umpiring games in the Major Leagues. Travis, who has served as an umpire supervisor since 2008, is married with three boys.
Matt Malone (St. Louis)
Matt became an umpire field observer for Major League Baseball in 2009, providing coverage from St. Louis. After graduating from the Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School, Matt began his career in 1986 in the Pioneer League and has also worked the Midwest League, Southern League, Dominican Republic, Pacific Coast League and finished his professional career after the 1996 season in the American Association. The 43-year-old Malone, a native of the St. Louis area, resides in O'Fallon, MO.
Mitch Mele (New York)
Mitch umpired professionally from 1985 through 1987 in the New York-Penn and Midwest leagues. He has been a NCAA baseball umpire since 1987, umpiring in the NCAA baseball championships since 1989. Mitch was selected to umpire in the 2008 College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. He is currently an account executive in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area for BioReference Laboratories, headquartered in Elmwood Park, NJ. Mitch resides in New Jersey.
Dr. Hank Nichols (Philadelphia/Baltimore)
Hank is the Chairperson in the Department of Education and Human Services at Villanova University. He holds a Doctorate in Education from Duke University. He received a Masters Degree in Counseling and a B.S. in English/Education from Villanova University. Hank, who will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012, has officiated basketball at all levels, including officiating the Final Four 10 times and the NCAA Championship game six times. He is the Chairperson of the Officials Committee for USA Basketball, the NCAA National Coordinator of Mens Basketball Officiating and the Secretary-Rules Editor of the NCAA Mens Basketball Rules Com mit tee. He played professional baseball for three years in the Cincinnati Reds organization.
Kevin O'Connor (Boston)
Kevin umpired professionally for 10 years, including in the International League (1992). Currently, Kevin is an operations manager for Alpine Industrial Inc. and is a licensed Real Estate Salesperson for ERA Realty Services, Inc. Kevin is a graduate of Joe Brinkman Umpire School. He also coaches youth soccer and baseball and officiates high school and college basketball.
Rick Reed (Detroit)
Rick, who has 28 years of Major League umpiring experience, will observe games in Detroit this season. Rick worked two All-Star Games, three Division Series, three League Championship Series and the 1991 World Series in his career. Rick, who is married with two children, played the home plate umpire in the 1999 Kevin Costner movie For Love of the Game. Rick also serves as a basketball referee observer for the Summit League Conference, an NCAA Division I Athletics Conference. The Michigan native is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University.
Steve Rippley (South Florida)
Steve, who was a Major League umpire from 1984 through 2003, joined MLB as an observer in 2009. The former National League umpire worked the 1990 All-Star Game, four Division Series, three League Championship Series and three World Series (1996, 1999 and 2001). Rippley, who also served as a crew chief, counts his experiences working the Fall Classic as the proudest moments of his career. Steve worked at various levels of the minor leagues from 1974 through 1982 before joining the National League staff.
Bill Russell (Los Angeles/Anaheim)
Bill has nearly four decades of professional baseball experience, as a player, coach, and manager. He appeared in more games than any other Los Angeles Dodger (2,181) in his 18-year Major League career. He played in three All-Star Games and four World Series. Bill was a coach in the Dodgers organization for 10 years and managed Los Angeles from June 1996 to June 1998. He has also coached in the Tampa Bay organization and managed Shreveport, the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, in 2001.