With retired baseball umpire Paul Runge about the legacy of his father, umpire Ed Runge, who has since passed away. Ed Runge made a key call in the 1956 World Series.

Planet of the Umps Ken Kaiser  ..listen here


 

Read the full story here

see what they were here

Draft Minutes more info

Marty Springstead was found deceased  Tuesday evening in his home in Florida. Springstead was 74 years of age when he died. Cause of death is unkwown.  
 Springstead was a native of Nyack New York who worked as  an umpire in the American League from 1966-1985. 

 Springstead at age 36 was the youngest umpire to work the 1973 World Series as the crew chief. 
 
 Springstead's resume includes working three World Series (1973, 1978 and 1983), three Major League Baseball All Star Games, Five American League Champioship Series.
After Marty Sprinstead retired as an umpire he became the AL Executive Director of Umpiring, a position he held until his retierment in 2010


 

The 10-team field is set for the 60Th Pony League
World Series, starting Friday at Lew Hays Pony Field in Washington Park PA. USA. ABUA GB Commissioner Darrin Muller will also be working his second Pony WS after being invited over by Abe Key the Pony President and friend to many baseball die hards here in the UK

ABUA GB veteran umpire BJ De Lorenzo reports  from his assignment  at the  European Senior Qualifiers that took take place July 26-29 in Tel Aviv Israel. Report

For the past decade the ABUA GB has been honoured  to support the Croydon Pirates during the London Tournament by providing umpires for waht has become a mojor event on the baseball calendar.
Full story
 
  


 

Update: It now appears BSUK are in the business of recruiting Softball umpires to work the National League and some AAA games. The invitation comes from Jason Greenberg directly. The ABUA GB has no direct relationship  with the British Softball Umpires (BASU) but we hope that they would understand the sitiation and come to the same conclusion that the reasons provided by Jason Greenberg in his official capacity as an employee of BSUK are not factual. See Email

Over the past few week there has been much speculation, discussion and rumors about the current situation regarding baseball umpiring. The ABUA GB would like to take this opportunity to provide the British Baseball Federation Membership with a clearer sense including emails between the BBF Board and ABUA GB of what has occurred and why and how this problem should be resolved, both in the short and longer terms. The ABU GB Board and many BBF Clubs know the BBF have misled the majority of the BBF Board and President. Read the entire statement and the email exchanges.

The ABUA GB was approached by former GB National Team Manager Gary Roberts with an offer of helping to resolve the umpire dispute currently ongoing with the BBF. The ABUA GB Board invited Mr. Roberts to a meeting and heard his offer where the board unanimously agreed for Gary to help negotiate a defined agreement between the ABUA GB and the BBF. It was also agreed that since Gary Roberts has no official affiliations to either the ABUA GB or the BBF he would able to offer both sides his expertise and opinions in bringing this to a satisfactory conclusion. Mr Roberts has already begun his consultancy by formally making contact with the BBF President.

The ABUA GB responds to the recent announcement by the British Baseball Federation that the BBF Board does not recognise the ABUA GB and will take over all umpires scheduling including umpire development. The ABUA GB believes that the decision reached by a few BBF Board members is in direct conflict with the BBF Constitution and the wishes of the Members of the BBF. The ABUA GB was formally recognised as a Member of the British Baseball Federation at the last AGM held in Birmingham. The BBF Board cannot do as they please and ignore the rights of any BBF Member in good standing. The ABUA GB is committed to providing game officials for as many BBF games as possible and at no time has the Association tried to destabilize the BBF Board or the sport as claimed by the statement of the BBF President. The ABUA GB will continue to work towards a negotiated agreement with the BBF Board with the hope our Members will be back on the field soon.

Update April 28, 2011: The BBF President telephoned the ABUA GB Commissioner April 27, 2011 with the ABUA GB making an offer to return to work May 1, 2011. The BBF Board held a meeting the same night and voted against the ABUA GB working May 1 2011. BBF President Mark Salter notified ABUA GB Commissioner Darrin Muller by text today 28/04/01 informing him the BBF Board voted against the ABUA GB providing any services to the BBF Leagues this weekend.. The ABUA GB Board will continue to offer services and negotiate with the BBF Board until an agreement is reached.


The ABUA GB Board at this time request that any BBF Team should put forth any questions or concerns they have to the BBF President by email

Have you ever wondered about a play and what was the rule? Try the new "ask the ump " feature where  you can submit your questions and or team of umps will post their answer and the specific rule that would apply to your question or situation. Try it today by asking the ump

The strike zone is one of those things that has been tweeked and change through the years either making pitchers mad or upsetting the batters. Read more about these changes to bring us to what we have today..more

As the Major League Baseball's season gets going, it's not only players who will step onto the field but four umpires, one for each base.

So this is a good time to remember Hudson native Amanda "Mandy" Clement, the first woman to be a paid baseball umpire. Full Strory

As umpire Jim Joyce and pitcher Armando Galarraga completed the writing of their book, Nobody's Perfect, Monday afternoon, Joyce accidentally highlighted the entire document and hit the delete key, thereby destroying all 240 pages of text. "I just cost that kid the whole book," a teary-eyed Joyce said to a group of reporters, adding that up until the end, the writing was going perfectly. "I was sure I put my finger where the period key was, I swear. But it was the delete key. It was the biggest moment of both of our writing careers, and I blew it." Though Galarraga forgave Joyce rather quickly, the umpire insisted on crying for a few more hours

It is that time of year again. It is time to begin conditioning our minds and bodies for the 2011 baseball season. For ABUA GB, the season started with the General Meeting on Jan. 16 at the tiny village hall just outside Birmingham. This was first opportunity to get together with fellow umpires and learn about what is new and exciting for the 2011 season. more info

Amateur Baseball Umpires Association (ABUA GB) is looking for new members and is currently taking applications for the 2011 season.   No experience necessary.   If you are 16 years or older, love baseball and are tired of sitting on the sidelines, join us! more info