Chief among game's umpires
Froemming on verge of service record
Posted: April 14, 2007
St. Louis - When Bruce Froemming umpired his first major-league game at Shea Stadium in 1971, he was thrust into an iconic crew that included future Hall of Famer Al Barlick, Harry Wendelstedt and Ed Vargo.
"What a terrific crew that was to work with to start my career," said Froemming, whose debut was delayed a day by a snow-out at Shea. "You couldn't do any better than that."
Froemming returns to that same venue today to do something no one in the umpiring profession believed was possible. Unless a projected storm postpones the scheduled game between the New York Mets and Washington Nationals, the Milwaukee native will surpass umpiring legend Bill Klem for most service time by a major-league umpire, with 36 seasons and 12 games.
"It's a record that nobody thought would be broken," said Froemming, 67, who has had his eye on that mark for quite a few years. "I'm very proud of that."
Klem umpired for 36 seasons until he announced his retirement on Dec. 10, 1940. But, after being named chief of umpires for the National League, he worked an additional 11 games as a fill-in during the 1941 season.
Last Aug. 16 at Boston's Fenway Park, Froemming joined Klem as the only major-league umpires to work 5,000 games. Klem is the all-time leader with 5,368 games. Froemming has worked 5,040 big-league contests.
How could Froemming surpass Klem in service time yet still be more than 300 games behind him, you ask? Vacation time is the answer.
During Klem's day, an umpire worked the entire schedule without a day off. In 1979, the umpire's union bargained to get four weeks of vacation time each season, allowing umps to stay somewhat fresh while breaking in a new group of fill-ins.
Known as "The Old Arbitrator," Klem spent his first 16 seasons behind the plate because of his skill in calling balls and strikes. In the modern era, four-man crews rotate every day, with each ump working the plate once every four games.
"They didn't have a 162-game schedule in Klem's days," said Froemming. "It's nice to have that vacation time when you spend the whole season away from home."
This is also Froemming's 50th year as a professional umpire. He began as a teenager in the old Nebraska State League before moving on to the Midwest League, Northern League, Northwest League, Texas League, Pacific Coast League, and finally, the National League.
So, does Froemming have any shot at Klem's record of big-league games umpired?
"That would be tough," said Froemming, who turns 68 in September. "I don't know if I want to do that. I would have to go two more years."
Froemming said he'll wait until later in the season to make his decision but indicated this could be his final year in blue.
"This could be the end," he said. "I don't know which way I'll turn. I'll know more as the summer goes on."
Froemming will mark his personal achievement with wife Rose Marie, and sons Kevin and Steve and their families on hand in New York.
From the April 15, 2007 editions of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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