Tim McClelland

Last updated

Tim McClelland
Tim McClelland 2012.jpg
McClelland in 2012
Born (1951-12-12) December 12, 1951 (age 73)
Jackson, Michigan, U.S.
Occupation MLB umpire
Years active1981–2013
Height6 ft 6 in (198 cm)

Timothy Reid McClelland (born December 12, 1951) 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.

Contents

McClelland retired as MLB's second-most senior umpire (after Joe West), and was the second tallest major league umpire at 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m)—Jordan Baker is 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m). McClelland was originally known for working in a kneeling position behind the plate, but switched in 2006 to a "box position," a form of squat. He was also noted for his deliberate umpiring mechanics, which earned him the nickname "Rain Delay McClelland," [1] and for his small but consistent strike zone. [2] Pitcher Zack Greinke said of McClelland's tight strike zone, "For some reason, he's the one umpire that scares me. I have nightmares about him." [3]

Umpiring career

McClelland has umpired in numerous noteworthy baseball games. He has been a World Series umpire four times (1993, 2000, 2002 and 2006), and worked in three All-Star games (1986, 1998 and 2003), calling balls and strikes on the last occasion. He has also called five Division Series (1997, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006), serving as crew chief in 1997, 2004, and 2006. McClelland has officiated eight League Championship Series (1988, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009), serving as crew chief in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009. [4]

Notable games

McClelland was the first base umpire for Jack Morris' no-hitter on April 7, 1984 [5] and was the umpire at third base for Nolan Ryan's sixth career no-hitter on June 11, 1990. [6] McClelland was behind the plate at Yankee Stadium when David Wells pitched a perfect game against the Minnesota Twins on May 17, 1998. [7] McClelland was umpiring at second base on April 21, 2012, when Philip Humber threw a perfect game. [8]

McClelland behind the plate in 2008 Tim McClelland 2008-2.jpg
McClelland behind the plate in 2008

McClelland also was the umpire during the 2003 game where famous slugger Sammy Sosa was caught with a corked bat at Wrigley Field during the interleague game between the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the Chicago Cubs. [9] Sosa broke his bat hitting a routine ground out, and upon inspection of the fragments of the bat, cork was found, leading to Sosa's ejection and subsequent suspension.

McClelland was the home plate umpire for the single-game playoff to decide the NL's 2007 wild card team, in which there was question as to whether Matt Holliday ever touched home plate, resulting in the Colorado Rockies defeating the San Diego Padres 9–8 in 13 innings. [10] He also worked the 2008 one-game playoff between the Minnesota Twins and the Chicago White Sox, which the White Sox won 1-0, on a Jim Thome home run in the 7th inning. [11]

During a spring training game on March 19, 2013, McClelland used the rare umpiring technique of calling balls and strikes from the infield while waiting for another umpire to put on the home plate gear after home plate umpire Seth Buckminster sustained a broken left hand and was forced to leave the game. [12]

Controversies

In his first season in the AL, McClelland was behind the plate in the infamous "Pine Tar Game" at Yankee Stadium on July 24, 1983, in which George Brett of the Kansas City Royals hit an apparent two-run home run, which was immediately protested by New York Yankees manager Billy Martin due to an obscure equipment rule. McClelland inspected Brett's bat, which had pine tar 24 inches up the handle. Because of the rule stating that pine tar cannot extend more than 18 inches up a bat handle, combined with the rule that a batter using illegal equipment should be automatically called out, McClelland called Brett out, which nullified the home run. In the melee that followed, McClelland registered the first four ejections of his career, beginning with Brett and continuing with Kansas City's manager Dick Howser, their coach Rocky Colavito, and their pitcher Gaylord Perry. [13] [14]

AL president Lee MacPhail later overturned McClelland's decision regarding overturning Brett's home run into an out, saying that the spirit of the rule mattered more than the one in the rulebook, and had the Yankees and Royals replay the game from after the now-counted home run. MacPhail noted that no claim had ever been made that pine tar gave the batter an unfair advantage, but rather that the rule was left over from concerns in earlier days about baseballs getting ruined from getting too much pine tar on it. A number of umpires were upset by MacPhail's decision. [15] [16] 27 years later, in 2012, MLB officially changed the rules wherein any protest regarding equipment must be made prior to a play.

Nine years later, McClelland was a member of the crew that worked Brett's 3,000th-hit game and was one of the first to congratulate him.

In 2007, McClelland worked home plate for the NL's Wild Card tiebreaker game between the San Diego Padres and the Colorado Rockies. In the bottom of the 13th inning, with the score even at 8–8, the Rockies scored the winning run on a sacrifice fly when McClelland called the tagging baserunner, Matt Holliday, safe at the plate. There were questions afterward as to whether Holliday had actually touched home plate on his slide. Padres manager Bud Black stated after the game that he believed Holliday did touch the plate. [10] Following the game, McClelland told The Des Moines Register that "Michael Barrett stuck out his leg, but he didn't have it planted in the ground. What I saw was Holliday kind of slide through that leg and touch the plate." [17] McClelland defended his deliberate safe call saying that he wanted to see if Barrett held on to the ball. [17]

On October 20, 2009, in an American League Championship Series game between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Angels, McClelland made two highly publicized controversial calls. McClelland called Nick Swisher out for leaving the base too early when Swisher was tagging up on a fly ball. Some analysts[ who? ] contend that video replays showed this call to be erroneous. With one out in the top of the fifth inning, an apparent double play was negated when McClelland called Robinson Canó safe at third after he was tagged by Mike Napoli while not in contact with the base.

Retirement

After spending the 2014 season on umpiring's disabled list, McClelland formally retired from the MLB staff prior to the 2015 season. Accordingly, his last game umpired occurred in September 2013, but he did not officially retire until after the 2014 season. [18]

Personal life

McClelland, who received both his BA and MA from Michigan State University, [19] resides in West Des Moines, Iowa. [20] He is married to Sandy McClelland; they have three children. [21]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Brett</span> American baseball player (born 1953)

George Howard Brett is an American former professional baseball third baseman, designated hitter, and first baseman who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Umpire (baseball)</span> Person charged with officiating a baseball game

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerry Davis (umpire)</span> American baseball umpire (born 1953)

Gerald Sidney Davis is an American former umpire in Major League Baseball. He worked in the National League from 1982 to 1999 and in Major League Baseball from 2000 to 2021. He was promoted to crew chief in 1999. Davis worked a total of 151 post season games,the most in MLB history. He umpired six World Series, eleven League Championship Series and thirteen League Division Series. He also worked in the All-Star Game four times.Davis was chosen to work a Special Event in an All Time record 24 consecutive seasons. He wore uniform number 12 throughout his career.

Joseph Norbert Brinkman is an American former umpire in Major League Baseball (MLB) who worked in the American League (AL) from 1972 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues from 2000 until his retirement during the 2006 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe West (umpire)</span> American baseball umpire (born 1952)

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Layne</span> American baseball umpire (born 1958)

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Messer</span> American sportscaster (1925–2001)

Wallace Frank Messer was an American sportscaster who was best known for his 18 seasons announcing New York Yankees baseball games, and as the recognizable emcee voice of various Yankee Stadium festivities during a three decade span.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Tschida</span> American baseball umpire (born 1960)

Timothy Joseph Tschida is an American former umpire in Major League Baseball. He joined the American League's full-time staff in 1986, and worked in both major leagues from 2000 until his retirement following the 2012 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Runge</span> American baseball umpire (born 1970)

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phil Cuzzi</span> American baseball umpire (born 1955)

Philip Cuzzi is an American professional baseball umpire in Major League Baseball (MLB). He worked as a reserve umpire in the National League (NL) from 1991 to 1993 and returned to the NL in 1999. Since 2000, he has worked in both major leagues. Cuzzi wore number 99 when his career started; he now wears number 10.

The 1983 New York Yankees season was the 81st season for the Yankees. The team finished in third place in the American League East with a record of 91–71, finishing 7 games behind the Baltimore Orioles. New York was managed by Billy Martin. The Yankees played their home games at Yankee Stadium.

The 1983 Kansas City Royals season was their 15th in Major League Baseball. The Royals finished second in the American League West at 79–83, 20 games behind the Chicago White Sox. Dan Quisenberry's league-leading 45 saves also set a single-season franchise record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 National League Wild Card tie-breaker game</span> 2007 Major League Baseball tie-breaker game

The 2007 National League Wild Card tie-breaker game was a one-game extension to Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2007 regular season, played between the San Diego Padres and Colorado Rockies of the National League's (NL) West Division to determine the NL wild card. It was played at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado, on October 1, 2007. The Rockies won the game 9–8 in thirteen innings on a controversial play at home plate.

The 1983 Major League Baseball season ended with the Baltimore Orioles defeating the Philadelphia Phillies in the fifth game of the World Series. Rick Dempsey was named MVP of the Series. The All-Star Game was held on July 6 at Comiskey Park; the American League won by a score of 13–3, with California Angels outfielder Fred Lynn being named MVP. As of 2024 this remains the most recent season where no player hit for the cycle in a game.

David Robert Phillips is a retired umpire, first with the American League from 1971 to 1999, then with both leagues from 2001 to 2002. Phillips wore uniform number 7 when the American League adopted uniform numbers for its umpires in 1980, and retained the number when the staffs merged in 2000.

The 1994 Cleveland Indians corked bat incident took place on July 15, 1994, at Comiskey Park in Chicago during a game between the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago White Sox.

The Pine Tar Incident was a controversial incident in 1983 during an American League baseball game played between the Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in New York City on Sunday, July 24, 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry Vanover</span> American baseball umpire (born 1955)

Larry Wayne Vanover is an American retired Major League Baseball umpire. Vanover worked in the National League from 1991 to 1999 and in Major League Baseball from 2002 to 2024. Vanover has umpired two All Star Games, and in the 2016 World Series. He was promoted to crew chief in 2015. Vanover wore sleeve number 28 during his National League tenure, then changed to 27 after his return to the MLB umpiring staff in 2002. Vanover became the oldest umpire in major league history during the 2024 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Segal</span> American baseball umpire (born 1982)

Christopher Robert Segal is an American Major League Baseball (MLB) umpire. He wears number 96. He made his MLB umpiring debut in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheating in baseball</span> Deliberate violation of baseball rules

Baseball personnel have cheated by deliberately violating or circumventing the game's rules to gain an unfair advantage against an opponent. Examples of cheating include doctoring the ball, doctoring bats, electronic sign stealing, and the use of performance-enhancing substances. Other actions, such as fielders attempting to mislead baserunners about the location of the ball, are considered gamesmanship and are not in violation of the rules.

References

  1. ↑ Lindsay (May 19, 2011). "Polls: Strike Mechanic". Close Call Sports . Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  2. ↑ Weinstock, Josh (January 11, 2012). "Which umpire has the largest strike zone?". Fangraphs . Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
  3. ↑ Kaegel, Dick (May 8, 2008). "Royals apply manager's advice in win". MLB.com . Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved August 31, 2008.
  4. ↑ "Tim McClelland". Retrosheet.org. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Detroit Tigers vs Chicago White Sox Box Score: April 7, 1984". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 1, 2022. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Baseball Almanac - Box Score of Nolan Ryan No-Hitter (Sixth)". www.baseball-almanac.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
  7. ↑ "David Wells Perfect Game Box Score by Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Chicago White Sox vs. Seattle Mariners – Box Score – April 21, 2012". ESPN. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  9. ↑ "McClelland no stranger to corked bats". Associated Press. June 4, 2003. Archived from the original on May 3, 2008. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
  10. 1 2 Stapleton, Arnie (October 2, 2007). "Colorado 9, San Diego 8, 13 innings". Associated Press via Yahoo! Sports. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2007.
  11. ↑ "Twins vs. White Sox - MLB Game Recap - September 30, 2008". ESPN. Archived from the original on August 25, 2018. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Buckminster Breaks Hand; McClelland Umps from Infield". Close Call Sports . CloseCallSports.com. March 19, 2013. Archived from the original on June 16, 2017. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Retirement of MLB Umpire Tim McClelland". Archived from the original on October 23, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Kansas City Royals 5, New York Yankees 4".
  15. ↑ "Lawrence Journal-World - Google News Archive Search".
  16. ↑ "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search".
  17. 1 2 Miller, Bryce (October 2, 2007). "Iowa ump admits doubt on key home-plate call, but says he'd make call again". The Des Moines Register . Retrieved October 7, 2007.
  18. ↑ Imber, Gil (February 17, 2015). "Retirement of MLB Umpire Tim McClelland". Close Call Sports/Umpire Ejection Fantasy League. Archived from the original on October 23, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Ask the Umpire". MLB.com. Archived from the original on February 17, 2007. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  20. ↑ "In the Loop". Des Moines Register. July 7, 2012. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  21. ↑ "Tim McClelland Biography". Archived from the original on November 2, 2019. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.