In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump. They are also sometimes nicknamed blue due to the traditional color of the uniform worn by umpires. Although games were often officiated by a sole umpire in the formative years of the sport, since the turn of the 20th century, officiating has been commonly divided among several umpires, who form the umpiring crew. The position is analogous to that of a referee in many other sports.
Julius Edward "Chuck" Meriwether was a Major League Baseball (MLB) umpire. After working in the American League (AL) from 1988 to 1999, he umpired in both leagues from 2000 to 2009. Meriwether originally wore number 32, but in 2004 switched to number 14.
Harry Hunter Wendelstedt Jr. was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the National League from 1966 to 1998. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Wendelstedt umpired in the World Series in 1973, 1980, 1986, 1991 and 1995, serving as crew chief in 1980 and 1995. He also officiated in seven National League Championship Series and four All-Star games, calling balls and strikes in 1976. Wendelstedt umpired in the National League Division Series in 1995, 1996 and 1997. He wore uniform number 21.
Douglas Leon Eddings is an American professional umpire in Major League Baseball.
Joseph Henry West, nicknamed "Cowboy Joe" or "Country Joe", is an American former baseball umpire. He worked in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1976 to 2021, umpiring an MLB-record 43 seasons and 5,460 games.
Jerry Blake Layne is an American umpire in Major League Baseball who has worked in the National League between 1989 and 1999, and throughout both major leagues since 2000. He wore uniform number 24 in the NL, but when MLB merged the AL and NL umpiring staffs in 2000, Layne was forced to switch to number 26, as AL umpire Al Clark, who also wore 24, had more seniority. When Clark was fired midway through the 2001 season by MLB, Layne reclaimed number 24 and has worn it ever since. With Joe West's retirement in 2022, Layne became MLB's most senior active umpire.
Edward George Barrett is an American retired Major League Baseball umpire. He joined the American League's staff in 1994, and worked throughout both major leagues from 2000 until his retirement in 2022. Promoted to crew chief in 2013, Barrett worked in 33 play-off series, including five World Series. He retired following the 2022 season.
Brian Edward Runge is a former umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the National League in 1999 and throughout both major leagues from 2000 to 2012; he wore uniform number 18, and previously 71.
Harry Hunter Wendelstedt III is an American baseball umpire who has worked in the National League in 1998–1999 and throughout both major leagues since 2000. His father Harry Hunter Wendelstedt, Jr. was an NL umpire from 1966 to 1998. Hunter Wendelstedt goes by his middle name to avoid confusion with his father.
Mark Patrick Wegner is an American Major League Baseball umpire. He worked in the National League from 1998 to 1999, and throughout both major leagues since 2000. He was promoted to Crew Chief for the 2018 MLB season when Dale Scott retired after the 2017 MLB season.
Marvin Lee Hudson is an American Major League Baseball (MLB) umpire who began his career in the National League in 1998. He has officiated in the 2004 All-Star Game, eight Division Series, four League Championship Series, and two World Series. He wears uniform number 51.
Andrew Jay Fletcher is an American umpire in Major League Baseball, wearing number 49. He worked in the National League in 1999 and has worked across both major leagues since 2000. Fletcher has appeared in one Major League Baseball All-Star Game and in one World Baseball Classic.
David Ross Rackley is an American Major League Baseball umpire. He made his Major League umpiring debut on August 13, 2010. He wears uniform number 86.
Patrick Hoberg is an American Major League Baseball (MLB) umpire. In the 2022 World Series he called the first ever “perfect game” by an umpire by not getting a single ball or strike call incorrect.
Ramon Silvestre De Jesus Ferrer is a Dominican professional baseball umpire. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut on April 22, 2016, thus becoming the first MLB umpire from the Dominican Republic. De Jesus wears number 18, which was most previously worn by former umpire Marcus Pattillo.
Benjamin Joseph May is an American umpire in Major League Baseball (MLB). He has worked in MLB since 2014, and wears number 97.
John Libka is a Major League Baseball umpire.
Lindsay Imber is an American musician who is the stadium organist for the National Hockey League's Anaheim Ducks.
Ryan Blair Additon is an American umpire in Major League Baseball. After graduating from Lynn University, he pitched one season for the Kalamazoo Kings of the Frontier League. He wears uniform number 67.
Junior Taylor Valentine is an American professional baseball umpire. He has been an umpire in Major League Baseball since 2020, and was promoted to the full-time umpiring staff in 2023. Valentine wears uniform number 25.
