MLB Umpire Doing His 5000th Game Tonight

detroitfan2

I'm probably the only one who finds this kind of amazing but . . .

I'm sitting here watching the Tigers game, and the home place umpire Bruce Froeming (sp?) is umpiring his 5000th major league game. Only one other umpire has done that, and that guy started back in 1904.

Anyway, this guy is 62 years old and he's calling balls and strikes tonight. Ivan Rodriguez fouled one right off his kisser. Guy just shook it off. I can't imagine being 62 years old and having the eyesight and the wits to call ball and strikes in a major league game, not to mention being able to take a foul ball off the lips like it was nothing.

The other thing I always wonder is this: Are there really no other younger guys that are more capable than this guy? Of course, every year I watch Chris Chelios log a million minutes on defense and I'm amazed that no youngster has taken his job either.

Axtell

I got ripped for saying Cal Ripken should have sat and not run his games streak up, but MLB umpiring is a very, very select group. I think 68 is the max number they have each year.

lawnmowerman

Yeah, but hes no Emmitt Smith

matt

detroitfan2

<<Yeah, but hes no Emmitt Smith

matt >>

That's true, I believe Emmitt was 72 years old when he finally decided he was through!

lawnmowerman

<< <i><<Yeah, but hes no Emmitt Smith

matt >>

That's true, I believe Emmitt was 72 years old when he finally decided he was through! >>



Yeah, but that 72 in football years = 35 real life years

ctsoxfan

I watched the game, he blew a call at home plate, and missed several ball and strike calls. Still, quite the achievement for him.