| Sam Holbrook | |
|---|---|
 Holbrook in 2011 | |
| Born:July 7, 1965 Morehead, Kentucky | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 26, 1996 | |
| Last appearance | |
| October 11, 2021 | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Special Assignments |
Samuel Woodford Holbrook (born July 7,1965) is an American retired Major League Baseball umpire. He made his MLB debut in 1996 and was promoted to crew chief in 2017. Holbrook worked the World Series in 2010,2016,and 2019. He retired following the 2022 season. [1]
Sam Holbrook began his umpiring career in the Appalachian League in 1990,followed by stints in the Midwest,Carolina,Texas,Eastern and International Leagues before making his Major League debut in June,1996. [2] Holbrook worked the 1996 season in the American League,followed by three seasons in the National League. In 1999,he was one of 22 umpires whose resignations were accepted (in a failed union negotiating tactic),and was rehired in 2002,umpiring games in both Major Leagues since then. [3] Holbrook has umpired in six Division Series (2005,2007,2010,2013,2019,2021),four League Championship Series (2008,2009,2011,2012),and three World Series (2010,2016,2019). He also officiated the 2004 MLB All-Star Game. [3] Holbrook was named a crew chief in February 2017 by MLB. He is joined on his 2017 crew by Greg Gibson,Jim Wolf and D.J. Reyburn.
 | This section needs to be updated.(November 2019) |
 | This section may lend undue weight to certain ideas, incidents, or controversies.(November 2019) |
On August 29, 1998, in the first inning and first plate appearance of the day for first baseman Mark McGwire, rookie umpire Holbrook ejected both manager Tony La Russa and McGwire for arguing a called third strike. [4] The game was halted for ten minutes and police were summoned as fans at Busch Stadium littered the field with trash and assorted knickknacks. Pitching coach Dave Duncan was also ejected after the Braves finished batting in the second inning. McGwire defended Holbrook, saying "I truly believe you guys shouldn't be having heat on the umpire. He has a job, I have a job, I crossed the line, I owe up to it. Period." La Russa did not agree, saying "I don't know if I'd have blamed (the fans). I'd have been hooting." Holbrook, in his first professional season as a full-time umpire, said "The farthest thing from my mind of what I wanted to do was eject Mark McGwire. I bent over backwards not to do so. I did everything I could to keep him in the game and he continued to argue. At some point I had to draw the line." Beer sales were cut off an inning early and security had to usher some fans out of the stadium. Fans again threw trash on the field at the end of the fifth inning after an awkward diving catch by Braves left fielder Ryan Klesko led to a double play. [5] The next day during a pre-game ceremony to honor Cardinals Broadcaster Jack Buck, Buck said "Yesterday was one of the darkest days in Cardinals history." Buck also went on to say "When the men in blue take the field, I want you to welcome them with respect." [6]
On July 7, 2012, in the first inning of a game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Houston Astros, while umpiring at first base, Holbrook ejected Brewers starter Zack Greinke. [7] Holbrook ruled Jose Altuve beat Greinke to the bag on a close play, prompting Greinke to throw the ball into the ground in frustration. Greinke was then ejected just four pitches into his start and Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke was also thrown out by Holbrook shortly thereafter. [8]
During the eighth inning of the 2012 National League Wild Card Playoff, Holbrook, acting as the umpire down the left field line, ruled that a popup in mid left field, 225 feet from home plate, [9] hit by Atlanta Brave Andrelton Simmons was an out under the infield fly rule. The ball dropped between St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Pete Kozma and left fielder Matt Holliday just as Holbrook made his call. Without Holbrook's call, the Braves, down 6–3, would have had the bases loaded with one out. The Braves and the fans in attendance at Turner Field were upset over the call, and the game had to be delayed 19 minutes as fans threw garbage on the field in protest. [10] [11] Atlanta played the rest of the game under protest, which was denied by MLB Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations Joe Torre. [12] Several commentators, including TBS studio analysts Ron Darling and Joe Simpson argued that the location of the fly ball should have prohibited the umpire from citing an infield fly. [13] MLB Network personality Harold Reynolds argued that the call was correct, employing instant replay to explain the call. [14] Analysts supporting the call cited the Official Baseball Rules, which states, in part, that the fly ball's depth into the outfield is irrelevant in adjudicating this play. [15] [a]
Holbrook was the third base umpire when the Texas Rangers set the American League record for most runs scored in a game with 30 against the Baltimore Orioles on August 23, 2007. [17]
Holbrook was the second base umpire for Félix Hernández's perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays on August 15, 2012. [18]
He was chosen as one of the umpires for the one-game Wild Card playoff between the Atlanta Braves and the St. Louis Cardinals on October 5, 2012, advancing to the 2012 American League Championship Series with the rest of the Wild Card umpires nearly one week later. [19]
Holbrook was the home plate umpire for game 7 of the 2016 World Series between the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians. The Cubs won the game 8–7 in 10 innings, also winning their first World Series in 108 years.
Holbrook received a B.S. and an M.S. from Eastern Kentucky University. He resides in Florida with his second wife, Sheri. Holbrook had two children, Adam and Amy, with his first wife Susie. [2] After she died from cancer in February 2014, Holbrook spent the 2014 season on the bereavement list, returning to work Major League games in March 2015. [20]
The infield fly rule is a rule of baseball and softball that treats certain fly balls as though caught, before the ball is caught, even if the infielder fails to catch it or drops it on purpose. The umpire's declaration of an infield fly means that the batter is out regardless of whether the ball is caught. The rule exists solely to prevent the defense from executing a double play or triple play by deliberately failing to catch a ball that an infielder could catch with ordinary effort.
The Jeffrey Maier incident occurred during Game 1 of the 1996 American League Championship Series between the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles. Twelve-year-old Jeffrey Maier deflected a batted ball, hit by Derek Jeter, into the Yankee Stadium stands for what umpires ruled to be a home run, rather than fan interference. His interference altered the course of Game 1. The resulting home run allowed the Yankees to tie the score. They were victorious in the game and won the series four games to one. "Maier became an immediate celebrity in New York, a pariah in Baltimore and an everlasting character in baseball lore."
In baseball, interference occurs in situations in which a person illegally changes the course of play from what is expected. Interference might be committed by players on the offense, players not currently in the game, catchers, umpires, or spectators. Each type of interference is covered differently by the rules.
Jeffrey Brian Nelson is an American former professional baseball umpire in Major League Baseball (MLB), who was named to the National League (NL) staff prior to the 1999 season, and worked throughout both major leagues from 2000 until his retirement after the 2023 regular season.
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.
Ángel Hernández is a Cuban-American former professional baseball umpire. He worked in the National League from 1991 to 1999 and worked throughout Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2000 until his retirement in May 2024. Hernández was involved in several controversial incidents and was widely criticized by players, coaches, and fans throughout his career.
Robert Allan Davidson is a former umpire in Major League Baseball (MLB). Nicknamed "Balkin' Bob" and "Balk-a-Day Bob" for his tendency to liberally invoke baseball's balk rule, Davidson was an umpire on the National League (NL) staff from 1982 to 1999, and he was on the combined MLB umpiring staff from 2005 to 2016. He worked one World Series (1992) and several other postseason series.
The 1997 National League Championship Series (NLCS) pitted the Florida Marlins against the Atlanta Braves. The Marlins won the series, 4–2, and went on to defeat the Cleveland Indians in the 1997 World Series.
Timothy Reid McClelland is an American former umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the American League from 1983 to 1999 and throughout both leagues from 2000 through the 2013 season. He called many important games, from post-season games to the George Brett "Pine Tar" game in 1983. He was the plate umpire for the Sammy Sosa corked bat game on June 3, 2003, when the Chicago Cubs hosted the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Wrigley Field. He wore uniform number 36 after his promotion to the AL, and kept the number when Major League Baseball merged the American and National League umpiring staffs in 2000.
Fredi Jesús González is a Cuban-born American professional baseball coach and manager who most recently served as the bench coach for the Baltimore Orioles. He managed the Florida Marlins from 2007 to 2010 and the Atlanta Braves from 2011 to 2016. González was fired from both managing positions. For four seasons prior to 2007, he was the third base coach for the Braves. Despite never reaching the playoffs with Florida, González nearly led the Braves to a playoff berth in his first season as manager in 2011. He then guided the Braves to the postseason in 2012 and 2013.
Edward Stephen Rapuano Jr. is an umpire supervisor in Major League Baseball who previously worked as an on-field umpire in the National League from 1990 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues from 2000 to 2012.
Gregory Allan Gibson is an American former Major League Baseball umpire who worked in the National League from 1997 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues from 2000 to 2022. He was promoted to crew chief for the 2022 season.
The 2010 Atlanta Braves season was the franchise's 45th season in Atlanta along with the 135th season in the National League and 140th overall. It featured the Braves' attempt to reclaim a postseason berth for the first time since 2005. The Braves once again were skippered by Bobby Cox, in his 25th and final overall season managing the team. It was their 45th season in Atlanta, and the 135th of the franchise. Finishing the season with a 91–71 record, the Braves won the NL Wild Card, only to be eliminated in the NLDS by the San Francisco Giants in four games.
Major League Baseball (MLB) uses instant replay review to allow league officials to review certain types of plays in order to determine the accuracy of the initial call of the umpires on the field. Reviews may be initiated either by a team's manager with limitations or by the umpires themselves. All instant replay reviews are examined by umpires at the Replay Command Center in New York City, who have the final decision as to whether to uphold or overturn the initial call.
The 2010 National League Division Series (NLDS) were two best-of-five-game series to determine the participating teams in the 2010 National League Championship Series. The three divisional winners and a fourth team—a "Wild Card"—played in two series from October 6 to 11. TBS televised all games in the United States.
Robert Paul Drake is an American umpire in Major League Baseball. He was named to the Major League staff in 2010, and wears uniform number 8.
The 2012 National League Wild Card Game was a play-in game during Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2012 postseason played between the National League's (NL) two wild card teams, the St. Louis Cardinals and the Atlanta Braves. It was held at Turner Field in Atlanta, on October 5, 2012, at 5:07 p.m. EDT. The Cardinals won by a 6–3 score and advanced to play the Washington Nationals in the NL Division Series. In addition to being the inaugural NL Wild Card Game, it is notable for being the final game of Chipper Jones’ career, as well as for a controversial infield fly rule call made by umpire Sam Holbrook. The game was televised on TBS.
Andrelton Alexander Simmons is a Curaçaoan former professional baseball shortstop. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels, Minnesota Twins, and Chicago Cubs. Drawing considerable attention for his defensive abilities, Simmons won four Rawlings Gold Glove Awards at shortstop, a Wilson MLB Overall Defensive Player of the Year Award, and six Fielding Bible Awards. As of the end of 2019 season, he ranked first in DRS and UZR against all shortstops played in the stats' respective eras.
The 2019 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2019 season. The 115th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff between the American League champion Houston Astros and the National League champion Washington Nationals. The series was played from October 22 to October 30. Washington upset the favored Astros, four games to three, to secure its first title in franchise history and first in the capital city since the 1924 series. Washington pitcher Stephen Strasburg was named the World Series Most Valuable Player (MVP) after earning two wins in the series.
