Umpire Julius E "Chuck" Meriwether Dies at 63

Umpires still reeling from the untimely loss of Eric Cooper have been hit again with sorrow as longtime MLB umpire Chuck Meriwether died at the age of 63. The Nashville-born 17-year member of the staff officiated seven Division Series, two League Championship Series, and two World Series (2004, 07) before his retirement from on-field service; Meriwether would later join the Commissioner's Office to serve as an umpire supervisor.

Julius Edward Meriwether, who went by "Chuck," was born in June 1956 in Nashville, TN, attended the Wendelstedt Umpire School (then-newly acquired from Al Somers by Harry Wendelstedt) in 1979 upon reading an advertisement in the newspaper, and never looked back after his first game in Minor League Baseball in 1979.

Chuck made his way to the Pacific Coast League and American Association before his first American League game in 1987 and hiring to the AL staff shortly thereafter. 2,594 regular season games and 28 ejections later, Meriwether left the field after the 2009 season due in part to wear-and-tear on his knees, and soon became an umpire supervisor.

In 2016, his hometown Nashville Sounds renamed the First Tennessee Park umpire room the "Chuck Meriwether Umpire Room" and in 2017, the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame inducted Chuck as its newest member.
Related Post: Umpire Chuck Meriwether Inducted into TN Hall of Fame (6/30/17).

Chuck and Coop worked on the same crew under chief Mike Reilly in 2004 and 2009.

Video as follows:

Umpire Chuck Meriwether Inducted into TN Hall of Fame

Happy Birthday to new Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame umpire Chuck Meriwether, inducted this month.

Nashville native Meriwether is a TN Hall of Famer. MiLB

Julius "Chuck" Edward Meriwether, born June 30, 1956, officiated his first Minor League game in the Midwest League in 1979 after attending the Wendelstedt Umpire School, and worked his way through the Eastern League, Pacific Coast League, and American Association, before his promotion to Major League Baseball. A former collegiate first baseman, Meriwether has a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education from Athens State College and became an umpire after seeing an ad in the paper for umpire school.

Meriwether calls a runner out at second base.

He called his first Major League game on May 23, 1987, working his final game 23 years and 2,594 games later in 2009 when, according to Meriwether, his knees forced a decision to retire. He recorded 28 ejections during the course of his career, and was selected to two All-Star Games (1996, 2002), eight Division Series (1998-2002, 04, 07, 09), two League Championship Series (2003, 06), and two World Series (2004, 07).

Since his retirement following the 2009 season, Meriwether has served as a Major League Umpire Supervisor.

In 2016, the Nashville Sounds renamed the umpire room at First Tennessee Park the Chuck Meriwether Umpire Room, in his honor.

Link: Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame biography and inductee page for Chuck Meriwether
Meriwether video (Bobby Cox ejected by Eric Cooper, Narrated by Vin Scully) via "Read More"

Nashville Sounds Unveil Chuck Meriwether Umpire Room

Nashville's Chuck Meriwether has an umpire room, the Sounds honoring the retired MLB umpire in a pre-game ceremony Friday night naming the officials' room at First Tennessee Park where the Triple-A/PCL squad and Oakland A's affiliate plays its games.

Chuck Meriwether honored in NSH. Photo: Sounds/MiLB.

Chuck Meriwether is originally from Nashville, graduating from the local Father Ryan Academy high school before attending Athens State College in nearby Alabama, where he played first base for the school baseball team.

Meriwether enrolled in the Wendelstedt Umpire School shortly after graduating from Athens with a Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education, beginning his baseball career in 1979 and landing a full-time American League gig in 1993, where he umpired until 2010 (adding the NL in 2000 when the staffs merged), working several Division Series, League Championship Series, All-Star Games, and World Series.

Meriwether spent a total of 11 years in Triple-A, including the Pacific Coast League (1982-85) and American Association (1986-92). He currently works for Major League Baseball as an Umpire Supervisor, one of his duties involving the AAA-to-MLB transition, meaning he visits Triple-A stadiums such as First Tennessee Park throughout the season. He also has ties to the city of Nashville itself, serving on the Nashville Metropolitan Sports Authority Board of Directors for metro Nashville and Davidson County.

Surrounded by family and friends during Friday's pre-game event, Meriwether was presented with a plaque commemorating the new "Chuck Meriwether Umpire Room" by Sounds owner Frank Ward and team mascot Booster, a giant red rooster.