The Loneliest Man on the Diamond-Interview with the Enemy
On a beautiful Saturday afternoon down at the ballfield, you’ll see lots of interesting interactions throughout the day. Teams playing baseball competing for a victory!! Little brothers and sisters on the outskirts of the baseball field playing little games to pass the time and parents enjoying watching their child as they converse with other parents who share a common interest for baseball. As you watch this game, you’ll also notice one lonely man, sporting a blue outfit, a mask and a pair of long slacks who doesn’t seem to fit in with the rest, but a man who is critical to the greatest game on earth. Yes, he is the Umpire. Clearly the loneliest man down at the baseball fields, the umpire goes about his business filling up his sack with brand new baseballs each and every inning as he tries to make sure he calls balls and strikes accurately and fairly.
The Umpire is a unique job, one in which you seldom get credit for making the right call. Let’s face it, when was the last time an Umpire called a strike-a strike, and the coach walks up to him and pats him on the back saying “You know something, you did a great job calling the ball a strike, it was clearly on the outside corner, and I just want to say thank you”. Fact is it never happens. Let’s however, flip that switch a bit, a close play at first that results in an infield base hit for the opposing team, a play in which to the naked eye it would be difficult to make the “right” call, too close to call as they say. The Umpire can’t say “well folks, that one is too close to call so we’re going to do a “do-over”. The Umpire needs to make the call using his best judgement knowing full right whatever the call, ½ the people at the ball field will be pleased, the other ½ half will let him know he made the incorrect call. The Umpire often gets the opinions of the coaches who disagree, but the Umpire may also hear from players, siblings, hecklers, and sometimes even Grandma who proceeds to swing her cane in the direction of the man in blue. So the age old question becomes, why in the world would anyone ever want to become an Umpire???
We thought we’d uncover the mystery of what prompts a man to suit up in Blue and Scream out “Play Ball” each and every weekend. We’ve decided to journey onto the dark side and for the first time interview , yes an Umpire….
Bob Battis is a big man, intimating to say the least, unshaven and focused. Here is a summary of our interview with Bob:
Interviewer: “Why in the world would you want to become an umpire and subject yourself to the abuse from Coaches, players, parents and even Grandma”.
Bob: “I love it. I love the kids and it is a nice way to spend the weekends. I sometimes feel like I’m out there playing with the kids. It’s a great experience for me. It gives me the opportunity to play the game again, and I really enjoy it-I still get butterflies before each and every game, like a kid, you know what I'm saying?”
Interviewer “What are some things that impress you about the game”
Bob: You know after a game, I hope I’ve done a good job and as I walk away from the field, the thing that stands out to me is when a young player walks up to me, unsolicited and says “thank you” and we shake hands, to me it makes it all worth while. That impresses me about kids and baseball the boys who do that. It just makes me feel good, you know what I mean.
Interviewer: “What do you like least about the game?”
Bob: “I hate Balks!! I just don’t like them!!!
Interviewer: I thought you were going to say “over the top” parents
Bob: “They don’t bother me as much, I just hate Balks”….
Interviewer: “What is your proudest moment as an umpire working for Bill Hess’ organization? “
Bob: “Being interviewed by a class act program like the Bulldogs, you guys should be proud of the way you run things, I’m proud to be here with you guys, you really got it right”
Bob Battis is a class act and he has dispelled the myth that umpires are cranky old men who sit at home in their recliners complaining about the Red Sox all weekend long. Fact of the matter is Bob Battis does what he does, not for the money, not for the recognition, but for the love of the game and the love of kids. Bob really cares and he prides himself in trying the do the best job that he can each and every week. This article would not be complete without arguing a call so without further ado, I’d just like to say, “Bob, I know it was close, but that was clearly a dropped third strike.” I will kick dirt on your shoes next time I see you-Just kidding."
As a thank you to Bob for all he does for youth baseball, the Bay State Bulldogs boys all lined up and thanked Bob for his time. The boys extended a hand to the "Evil" Umpire who in reality is just a genuinely nice guy.
Bob has earned himself the title as “The Official Umpire of the Bay State Bulldogs”. Thanks Bob, you are a class act!!!
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