Close Call Sports objectively tracks and analyzes close and controversial calls in sport, with great regard for the rules and spirit of the game. Developed from The Left Field Corner's MLB Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (UEFL), baseball's number one source for umpire ejections, video instant replay reviews and their corresponding calls, with great regard for the rules and spirit of the game.
38-year MLB umpire Gerry Davis achieved a milestone when he tied, now surpassed, Tom Connolly on the most games umpired in the history of Major League Baseball list. By officiating career game 4,771, Davis holds the #4 spot on the all-time most MLB regular season games umpired list.
Davis was joined for Tuesday's Reds-Angels game in Anaheim by umpires Kerwin Danley, Pat Hoberg, and Ramon De Jesus. Former MLB umpire Dale Scott was also in attendance for Angel Stadium's inaugural Pride Night, and Danley ejected two Reds during the contest, his first ejections since 2016. The Angels recognized Davis during the game. Related Post: MLB Ejections 104-5 - Kerwin Danley (1-2; CIN) (6/25/19).
Davis now occupies fourth place on the all-time regular season games worked list behind #3 Bruce Froemming (5,163), #2 Joe West (~5,250 and counting), and #1 Bill Klem (5,375). West, MLB's longest tenured umpire and still actively officiating, hopes to surpass Klem's record sometime during the 2020 season. Davis surpasses #5 Connolly (4,770), having previously leapfrogged #6 Doug Harvey (4,673), #7 Joe Brinkman (4,505), #8 Harry Wendelstedt (4,500), #9 Derryl Cousins (4,496), and #10 Mike Reilly (4,491).
Klem, Connolly, and Harvey were inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Gerry Davis holds the MLB all-time record for most postseason games umpired (151), with West in second place (128), and Froemming tied with Jerry Crawford for third (111). Davis has officiated 31 World Series games, second on the active list to West's 34 (#1 all time: Bill Klem [103], followed by #2 Cy Rigler [62] and #3 Hank O'Day [57]).
Davis, who first joined the Major League staff in 1984 as a National League umpire is also MLB's longest-tenured active crew chief, promoting to the leadership role in 1999. He has officiated four All-Star Games (1989, 97, 2002, 12), three Wild Card Games (2013-14, 18), 13 Division Series (1996, 99, 2002-04, 06-09, 11-12, 15, 17), 11 Championship Series (1990, 92, 95, 98, 2000-01, 05, 10, 13-14, 18), and six World Series (1996, 99, 2004, 09, 12, 17). Related Page: UEFL Profile of MLB Umpire Gerry Davis.
SIDEBAR: During our Podcast with Bob Davidson, we learned the allure of officiating milestone games at Angel Stadium (and why some NHL officials choose Anaheim for their milestones, as well). In Bob's case, his 2016 retirement game in Anaheim afforded the family an opportunity to vacation at Disneyland, located less than 5 miles from the ballpark. For Davis, a nearby Huntington Beach residence with the Santa Ana branch of Gerry Davis Sports nearby doesn't hurt, either.
MLB Crew Chief Larry Vanover officiated his 3,000th major league game Friday, serving as 1B Umpire for Friday's White Sox-Twins game in Minnesota alongside crewmates Sean Barber (HP), David Rackley (2B), and Jim Reynolds (3B).
Vanover umpires regular season game #3000 in his 26th season of MLB experience, following his major league debut in 1991 with three Division Series (2006, 2013, 2016), three League Championship Series (2003, 2007, 2011), and the 2016 World Series along the way. Vanover, who wears the sleeve number 27, also worked the 1999 and 2013 All-Star Games.
Veteran umpire and crew chief Ted Barrett officiated his 3,000th career regular season MLB game during Saturday's Giants-Padres match-up in San Diego. The Reverend Dr. Barrett served as 2B Umpire alongside crewmates John Tumpane (HP), Ramon De Jesus (1B), and Lance Barksdale (3B).
Edward George "Ted" Barrett began the 2019 season with 2,997 regular season games officiated over 25 years in the big leagues, and he hits the 3,000-game milestone just three games into his 26th Major League officiating season. Barrett has also called four Wild Card games, 10 Division Series, eight League Championship Series, and four World Series, in addition to the 2007 and 2018 All-Star Games.
Blue Cowboy and MLB Umpire Joe West officiates his 5,000th game in regular season action, a Diamondbacks-Rockies affair in Colorado on June 20, 2017, over 40 years removed from West's first taste of the big leagues during an Astros-Braves doubleheader on September 14, 1976.
Umpire Joe West reaches 5,000 MLB games.
Ever since his debut as the third base umpire in Atlanta 14,889 days before regular season Game 5000, West's mark on the Majors has been significant.
From his 173 career ejections (including Father's Day, that's one for every 29 games worked) to his two All-Star Games and 17 postseasons officiated, West's contributions to baseball span from designing and patenting the West Vest chest protector to serving as President of the World Umpires Association union. His 40 years of Major League service time is an MLB record, and would have been greater had West not missed the entire 2000 and 2001 seasons due to the infamous mass resignation collective bargaining strategy of 1999. His career began under Commissioner Bowie Kuhn and, five Commissioners later, reached Rob Manfred's tenure (the six Joe West-era commissioners are Kuhn, Peter Ueberroth, Bart Giamatti, Fay Vincent, Bud Selig, and Manfred).
A veritable entertainer, West won the UEFL Ejection of the Year Award in 2013, 2014, and 2016.
Born on Halloween, October 31, 1952 in Asheville, North Carolina, Joseph Henry West grew up playing baseball (catcher) and football (safety and quarterback), leading Elon College's football team to three conference titles and a second-place national ranking while earning an MVP nod for his efforts.
After a minor league career beginning in 1974 that included stops at the Carolina, Southern, and American Association leagues, West joined the National League and, at the age of 23 years old, was one of the youngest umpires to have ever worked a regular season Major League game, and, at age 28, was one of the youngest to work a League Championship Series.
West attributes his staying power, in part, to advice from Hall of Fame umpire Doug Harvey (aka "God"), explaining that as a young umpire, West would get upset when managers or players would argue with him. Harvey said, "Don't let them ruin your day. You're having a good day. If they give you trouble to kick them out, kick them out. But don't let it ruin your day." West called it "the greatest piece of advice I've ever been given."
Inducted into the Elon Sports Hall of Fame in 1986, West went on to design all high-end umpiring gear for Wilson Sporting Goods, including the West Vest, and continued his country music journey while developing his professional baseball umpiring career, performing at the Alameda County Fair, North Carolina State Fair, BoxCar Willie Theater, and Grad Ole Opry.
Joe West on the cover of Blue Cowboy.
West appeared on the former country music talk show "Nashville Now" and scored a role as third base umpire in The Naked Gun film alongside umpires Hank Robinson and (the fake) Enrico Pallazzo aka Frank Drebin aka Leslie Nielsen, who ejected both Robinson and West in one of the most iconic comedy baseball scenes to feature an umpire in cinematic history. He also appeared in the television crime drama "The Oldest Rookie."
West's Blue Cowboy music video was broadcast during an NBC baseball telecast, and his two albums remain available for sale on West's website, umpirejoewest.com.
In June 2016, several Dodgers players used tracks from Joe West's Blue Cowboy and Diamond Dreams CDs as walk-up music during a game in which West was the home plate umpire. In 2015, "Blue Cowboy" and "Cole Younger" could be heard at Chavez Ravine during an umpire discussion courtesy of organist Gil Imber, while Fenway Park organist Josh Kantor has also played West's music in tribute to the real-life Blue Cowboy.
Up next for Country Joe is Bruce Froemming's 5,163 games worked, followed by all-time leader Bill Klem, who officiated 5,375 National League games from 1905 to 1941. West would like to reach and surpass Klem's mark, even if it takes him until 2020 to do so: "That would be fun. If my knees hold up, I'd like to do that...Yeah, that would be quite an accomplishment." Said crew mate Hunter Wendelstedt, "That's an achievement that will never happen again. And that's guaranteed. It will not be able to happen again [due to replay center work and vacations]."
West knows of his controversial status with fans, and he's okay with that: "I just go out there and do my job the way it's supposed to be done. Sometimes that creates confrontation. But I don't think umpires should back down or run away from a situation. If you see a rattlesnake, you don't turn your back on it. That's kind of the way I like to portray this. You cannot back down as an umpire. You can't be scared as an umpire. You have to do what's right."
Alternate Link: Video tribute to Joe West's 5,000 regular season games as a big league umpire (CCS)
We have over 60 previous posts tagged "Joe West" on the website, which include Replay Reviews, ejections, and miscellaneous Umpire Odds & Ends. Click here to revisit these "Joe West" posts.
Fast Facts - Joe West's umpiring career
First Game - September 14, 1976 (HOU-ATL; 23 Years Old)
First Ejection - September 8, 1977 (PHI-NYM; Steve Henderson & Joe Torre)
First Postseason Game - October 13, 1981 (MON-LA [NLCS])
First All-Star Game - July 14, 1987 (3B)
First World Series Game - October 17, 1992 (TOR-ATL)
First HR Video Replay (as -cc Reviewer) - May 23, 2009 (Nauert; In Play Reversed to HR)
First Expanded Replay Review (as Calling) - April 5, 2014 (Out/Safe [Tag - Home]; Confirmed)
Most Recent Ejection - June 18, 2017 (Jeff Banister; HBP Call; QOC = Correct-Crewmate)
West plays himself in The Naked Gun.
Most Games Umpired, Major League Baseball History
1) 5,375 - Bill Klemm (retired, Hall of Fame umpire)
2) 5,163 - Bruce Froemming (retired)
3) 5,000 - Joe West(active)
4) 4,770 - Tommy Connolly (retired, Hall of Fame umpire)
5) 4,673 - Doug Harvey (retired, Hall of Fame umpire)
Most Years Umpired, Major League History (AL, NL, and/or MLB)
1) 40 - Joe West (active)
2) 37 - Bruce Froemming (retired)
2) 37 - Bill Klemm (retired, Hall of Fame umpire)
4) 36 - Gerry Davis (active)
5) 35 - (Six Tied)
West ejects former Twins skipper Gardenhire.
Most Postseason Games Umpired, MLB History
1) 133 - Gerry Davis (active)
2) 123 - Joe West (active)
3) 111 - Bruce Froemming (retired)
3) 111 - Jerry Crawford (retired)
5) 103 - Bill Klemm (retired, Hall of Fame umpire)
Most World Series Games Umpired, Active Umpires
1) 34 - Joe West
2) 29 - Dana DeMuth
3) 28 - Jeff Kellogg
Postseason and Special Events History, Umpire Joseph Henry West World Baseball Classic: 2009 All-Star Game: 1987, 2005, 2017 Wild Card Game: 2013, 2014 Division Series: 1995, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2016 Championship Series: 1981, 1986, 1988, 1993, 1996, 2003, 2004, 2013, 2014 World Series: 1992, 1997, 2005, 2009, 2012, 2016
Umpire Dana DeMuth worked his 4,000th MLB game Sunday afternoon in Kansas City where the Royals hosted the Cleveland Indians. DeMuth served as second base umpire alongside crewmates Ed Hickox (PU), Paul Nauert (U1) and Mike Estabrook (U3).
DeMuth's plaque. Photo: @awerdude13
DeMuth is just the 22nd umpire to officiate at least 4,000 Major League games. Tim Welke was the most recent umpire to accomplish the feat, calling his 4,000th on April 13, 2014. Joe West and Gerry Davis are the other active umpires to have officiated in excess of 4,000 games, with West recently passing Tom Connolly (4,768) to take over third place on the all-time list for most games officiated.
DeMuth has appeared in three All-Star Games, nine Division Series, five Championship Series, and five World Series since his 1983 National League debut. He most recently ejected White Sox Manager Robin Ventura for arguing crewmate Nauert's no catch (safe) call on September 1, 2013.
DeMuth, who is from Ohio, also served as one of the Major League umpires assigned to officiate the 2009 World Baseball Classic, working the WBC's Tokyo round.
Davis, who first joined the Major League staff in 1984 as a National League umpire is also MLB's longest-tenured active crew chief, promoting to the leadership role in 1999. He has officiated four All-Star Games (1989, 97, 2002, 12), three Wild Card Games (2013-14, 18), 13 Division Series (1996, 99, 2002-04, 06-09, 11-12, 15, 17), 11 Championship Series (1990, 92, 95, 98, 2000-01, 05, 10, 13-14, 18), and six World Series (1996, 99, 2004, 09, 12, 17).
