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| In 1976, New York Yankees manager Bill Martin, in a familiar pose, went nose to nose with Froemming in a World Series game. AP/file |
Bruce Froemming's home is behind the plate
Legendary umpire will retire after the longest tenure in Major League Baseball – one marked by occasional spats with managers and operatic calls of strikes.
from the September 28, 2007 edition
Page 3 of 3
It turned out to be an inauspicious start: The first big-league game he officiated was called in the sixth inning because of a blizzard. A few months later, he faced hotter conditions. The Philadelphia Phillies had a comeback rally going when Froemming called catcher Tim McCarver out for sliding into second base too aggressively. It negated two runs. The entire Phillies team burst from the dugout behind "a very excitable manager" (umpire speak for hothead).
"I had all I could handle with 25 guys on the field," says Froemming. It went on for 14 minutes. He eventually restored order. Future arguments have always seemed to be considerably shorter.
• • •
Over the years, Froemming has witnessed his share of historic moments, including 11 no-hitters. He has called many playoff and World Series games and suffered his share of nicks. "He took back-to-back skin shots," says San Diego Padres pitcher Trevor Hoffman, referring to foul tips that pinged off Froemming's arms in this year's All Star game. "And he didn't blink an eye."
Froemming's considerable presence in the game hasn't gone without controversy. He once was fined for asking All Star catcher Mike Piazza for an autograph – a violation of umpire neutrality – telling him that when Johnny Bench refused the same request, he struck out three times that day. Then there was the derogatory term he hurled at an umpire administrator that earned him a 10-day suspension.
Mostly, though, it's been a satisfying journey for baseball's man of law and order. "The easy part about the job is the job," he says. "The hard part is the travel, being away from family."
Now that he's down to his last few games, Froemming is being treated like a dignitary. People want to say farewell. They want his autograph. During our interview, a manager and a former player interrupt to reminisce and pay respects. It's like sitting with Don Corleone. Or a bonafide baseball legend.
OK, now we can safely retire the phrase.
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