Peter Woodfork - Sr. Vice President, Baseball Operations View bio »
Peter Woodfork was named Major League Baseball's Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations on March 8, 2011. In this capacity, one of his primary responsibilities will be oversight of umpiring.
Prior to joining Major League Baseball, Woodfork spent four years as the Assistant General Manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he also served as a Vice President in 2010.
While in Arizona, Peter primarily focused on the D-backs' 40-man roster management as well as contract negotiations, scouting and Minor League player development. He came to Arizona by way of the Boston Red Sox, where he served for three seasons (2003-05) as Director of Baseball Operations and Assistant Director of Player Development.
With Boston, Woodfork played a key role in signing players, salary arbitration, monitoring league rules and working on player development issues. Before joining the Red Sox, he spent three years in the Commissioner's Office working with Major League Baseball's Labor Relations department.
During his first stint at MLB, he worked with the baseball operations departments of all teams, assisting them with the interpretation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, salary arbitration and advising them of upcoming deadlines. Woodfork also took part in the creation of the 2003-06 Basic Agreement between MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association.
Woodfork is a 1999 graduate of Harvard University, where he earned a degree in psychology and started in the infield for the Crimson baseball team, who won three Ivy League Championships in his four seasons.
Randy Marsh begins his second season as one of Major League Baseball's Umpire Supervisors in 2011 after more than 40 years of professional umpiring, including 27 at the Major League level.
Marsh joined the Major League staff in 1982. He worked four All-Star Games (1985, 88, 96, 2006), five Division Series, eight League Championship Series and five World Series (1990, 97, 99, 2003, 06), including three as a Crew Chief in 2006. Randy was also part of the crew that umpired the Opening Series 2000 in Tokyo, Japan between the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets.
Marsh, who began umpiring Little League games when he was 15, was an instructor at Major League Baseball's inaugural Umpire Camps (MLBUC.com), held at MLB's Urban Youth Academy in Compton, California, in November 2006. He was also a part of the first Joint Committee on Training, and played a role in the collaboration of the first Major League Umpire Manual.
Marsh graduated from Covington Holmes High School in 1967, and attended the University of Kentucky and the Al Somers Umpire School before serving in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1968-74. During the off-season, Randy works as an instructor at the Wendelstedt Umpire School. In addition, he is involved in the D.A.R.E. program with local police and schools and the Kid Care ID program.
Marsh, 62, and his wife Roxanne have one daughter, Lauren.
Rich Rieker - Director Of Umpiring/MLBUC Coordinator View bio »
Rich Rieker joined Major League Baseball in 2002 as an Umpire Supervisor after spending nine seasons as a Major League umpire. In his current position, Rieker serves as a liaison between Major League Baseball and the Major League Umpires.
In 2006, Rich was responsible for the development of the inaugural Major League Baseball Umpire Camps (www.MLBUC.com), based at MLB's Urban Youth Academy in California. He continues to serve as the coordinator of the Camps, which resulted from a joint effort by MLB, the World Umpires Association, the Professional Baseball Umpire Corporation, the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring and the Wendelstedt Umpire School. In March 2009, MLB collaborated with the San Diego Padres to organize the Umpire Camp for Marines, which trained more than 100 Marines and was featured on the FOX News Channel. Rieker has served as MLB's liaison to the United States Marine Corps and Columbia College of Missouri as the organizations collectively developed the U.S. Marine Corps Officiating Certification Program, which allows Marines to take courses that culminate in an internship at the MLB Umpire Camp.
Rieker developed and managed the production of the "Virtual Umpire Camp" CD-ROM, a first-of-its-kind product that illustrates the proper mechanics for two-umpire, three-umpire and four-umpire crews with umpiring signals in 3-D. The disk, produced in conjunction with the Professional Baseball Umpire Corporation and Immersion Media, is utilized by all professional umpires and is currently in distribution worldwide. Rieker also was responsible for the coordination of the training and assignments of both Major League and international umpires for the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
Rieker worked in the Midwest (1983-85), Eastern (1985-86), American Association (1986-95) and Dominican Winter (1987-88) Leagues prior to joining the National League staff in 1996. During his tenure as a Major League umpire, Rieker worked one All-Star Game (1998) and two Division Series (1999-2000). He also was an instructor at the Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School for 16 years.
A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Rieker graduated from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 1984 with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration & Marketing. Rieker, 49, resides in Orlando, FL with his wife, Kathleen. He has two children, Jacob and Michael.
Cris Jones joined Major League Baseball as an Umpire Supervisor in 2005. In addition to evaluating games at the Major League level, he serves as the Umpiring Department's Triple-A Coordinator, assigning call-up umpires, overseeing and staffing the Arizona Fall League and assigning Spring Training Invitees. Cris also is part of the core staff for MLB's Umpire Camps as curriculum coordinator and heads the scholarship program.
The 2011 season marks the 25th year in professional baseball for Cris. He umpired in the Gulf Coast League, Midwest League, Texas League and the American Association. Upon leaving the field in 1997, Jones became an Umpire Supervisor with MLB Umpire Development Program, which reorganized in 1998 as the Professional Baseball Umpire Corporation.
Cris played college basketball for Lincoln College and Quincy College in Illinois. He resides in Colorado.
Chuck Meriwether begins his first season as an Umpire Supervisor for Major League Baseball in 2011 following 18 years of umpiring in the Major Leagues.
Meriwether, who joined the American League staff in 1993, attended the Wendelstedt Umpire School in 1979 and began umpiring professionally later that year. He has worked eight Division Series (1998-2002, 04, 07, 09), two League Championship Series (2003 and 2006), two World Series (2004 and 2007) and two All-Star Games (1996 and 2002). In addition, he was part of the crew that worked David Cone's perfect game at Yankee Stadium in 1999.
Chuck previously umpired in the Midwest League (1979), Eastern League (1980-81), Pacific Coast League (1982-85) and American Association (1986-92). A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Meriwether graduated from Athans State College in 1978 with a B.S. in Healthy and Physical Education.
Following 34 years as a Major League umpire, Ed Montague embarks on his first season as an Umpire Supervisor for Major League Baseball in 2011. Montague, a former crew chief, retired following the 2009 season after working 4,369 career games, which ranks 10th all-time.
Ed became a member of the Major League staff in 1976 and worked seven Divison Series (1981, 95, 2000, 03-05, 07), eight League Championship Series (1979, 84, 87, 92, 96, 99, 2001-02), six World Series (1986, 91, 97, 2000, 04, 07) and four All-Star Games (1982, 90, 98, 2004). He was the first base umpire when Pete Rose singled to break Ty Cobb's all-time hit record in Cincinnati in 1985, and he was the home plate umpire for Game 7 of the 1997 Fall Classic.
A San Francisco native, Montague attended San Francisco City College and previously umpired in the California League (1972), Arizona Instructional League (1972-73) and Pacific Coast League (1973-75). Ed served in the U.S. Navy from 1969-73 and worked for the Disabled American Veterans for 10 years. His father, Ed Sr., played for the Cleveland Indians from 1928-33 and was later a scout for the New York/San Francisco Giants, where he was credited with the signing of Willie Mays.
Ed, 63, resides in California with his wife Marcia. They have three children: Eddie, Brooke and Brett.
Steve Palermo joined Major League Baseball in 2000 as an Umpire Supervisor. In his current position, Palermo serves as a liaison between Major League Baseball and the Major League Umpires.
Palermo previously was hired by MLB as a Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Major League Executive Council on April 6, 1994. He handled special projects, one of which was studying the length of games. Palermo was part of the first joint committee on training and collaborated on the first Major League Umpire Manual.
During his tenure as an American League umpire from 1977-1992, Palermo worked the 1983 World Series and the 1986 All-Star Game in Houston. He also umpired four American League Championship Series (1980, 1982, 1984 and 1989). Palermo was the third base umpire for the New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox A.L. East tie-breaker game on October 2, 1978 at Fenway Park. Five years later, he was behind the plate for Dave Righetti's no-hitter on the Fourth of July at Yankee Stadium.
After attending the Umpire Development Program, Palermo worked in the American Association, New York-Penn League, Carolina League, Eastern League, Florida Instructional League, Dominican Winter League and Puerto Rican Winter League prior to joining the American League staff in 1977. Palermo's on-field umpiring career was abbreviated on July 6, 1991, when he was shot in the back while coming to the aid of a robbery victim in the parking lot of a Dallas restaurant.
In July 2005, Palermo served as honorary commissioner at The White House Tee Ball game on the South Lawn, featuring children with physical disabilities. The program was launched by President George W. Bush in 2001 to promote a spirit of teamwork and service for America's youth. Other baseball figures to have served as honorary commissioner include Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr. and Barry Larkin.
A native of Worcester, Massachusetts, Palermo studied education at Norwich University, Leicester Junior College and Worcester State College. Palermo resides in Overland Park, KS with his wife, Debbie.
Charlie Reliford - Umpire Supervisor/Chief of Instruction/Asst. MLBUC Coordinator View bio »
Following 19 years of umpiring in the Major Leagues, Charlie Reliford is now in his second season as an Umpire Supervisor for Major League Baseball in 2010.
Reliford, who joined the Major League staff in 1991, began umpiring professionally in 1982. He has worked two All-Star Games (1996, 2007), four Division Series, three League Championship Series and two World Series (2000, 04). He was the Crew Chief for the first Major League game in history to use instant replay on a home run boundary call in a game between the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on September 3, 2008.
Reliford, who attended the University of Kentucky and Ohio University, is a former chief instructor at the Wendelstedt Umpire School. He also serves as a spokesperson for King's Daughter's Hospital Hospitality House Fund in Ashland, Kentucky.
Charlie, 54, and his wife Laurie have one child, Logan Elizabeth.
A veteran of more than 23 years of Major League umpiring, Larry Young enters his fourth season as one of Major League Baseball's Umpire Supervisors, in which he serves as a liaison to MLB's active umpires.
Young joined the Major League staff in 1985. He worked two All-Star Games (1991, 2003), six Division Series, three League Championship Series and two World Series (1996, 2003). Prior to his Major League career, Young worked at the Minor League level from 1978-1982.
Young also serves as an adviser to the game's Playing Rules Committee, which is charged with voting to amend the Official Baseball Rules. He was the first umpire ever to be a part of the Committee. Larry often has helped articulate and instruct his fellow umpires on the rules changes enacted by the Playing Rules Committee. Young also has worked as an instructor at each of the first two Major League Baseball Umpire Camps held annually at MLB's Urban Youth Academy in Compton, California.
Young graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1976 with a B.A. in Education. He is President of Larry Young and Friends Charities, which raises money for various organizations like Special Olympics, Hospice and the American Heart Association. Larry has been the recipient of the JC Penny Golden Rule Award, the Special Olympics Volunteer of the Year, Florida Diamond Club Umpire of the Year, the Goodwill Abilities Center Distinguished Service Award and the 2002 Gold Whistle Award, presented by the National Association of Sports Officials.
Young, 57, and his wife Joan have two children, Jessica and Darcy.
Bruce Froemming - Special Assitant, Umpiring/MLBUC Instructor View bio »
Bruce Froemming joined Major League Baseball's Umpiring Department in 2008 as a Special Assistant. In this role, Froemming works on various umpiring projects, focusing in particular on the training and instruction of young umpires.
In 2007, Froemming completed his 37th year of Major League service, attaining the longest period of consecutive years of service by an active umpire in baseball history. He surpassed Hall of Famer Bill Klem to gain the mark for longevity. The record was celebrated on April 16, 2007 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, with Solomon and Port in attendance. Later in the 2007 season, Bruce served as the crew chief at the All-Star Game in San Francisco and then led the crew that called the Yankees-Indians American League Division Series. (Froemming's equipment from his 5,000th game is on display at the Hall of Fame. The Boston Red Sox honored Bruce before his 5,000th game on August 16, 2006.)
Froemming's 111 career postseason games worked are the most in baseball history, and his total of 5,162 Major League games worked ranks second to Klem's 5,369. Froemming and Klem are the only umpires in history to work over 5,000 Major League games. Overall, Bruce worked three All-Star Games, nine Division Series (a record), 10 League Championship Series and five World Series (1976, 1984, 1988, 1990 and 1995).
The Milwaukee native is married to Rose Marie with two sons, Kevin and Steve, and two grandsons, Nicolas and Christopher. Bruce now resides in Florida.
Tom Lepperd - Director, Umpire Administration View bio »
Tom Lepperd, currently in his 37th year in professional baseball, joined Major League Baseball in 2000 after serving the previous two seasons as the assistant to Paul Runge, the National League's Director of Umpires.
In his current position, Lepperd is responsible for administering day-to-day umpire operations and for facilitating communication between Major League Baseball's Umpire Operations, the Major League umpires and Minor League Baseball. He also assists in the schedule of umpire assignments and maintains current records of umpire information and game events.
Lepperd graduated number one in his class from the Bill Kinnamon Umpire School in February 1975 and was assigned to the Midwest League for that season. After working in the Midwest League (1975-76), Lepperd umpired in the Eastern League (1976-77) and American Association (1978-86). He was assigned to work in American League Spring Training games from 1983-86 and also served as a fill-in in AL regular season games (1984-86) before joining the Umpire Development Program as a supervisor in 1987, where he stayed until joining the National League in 1998. He was also a part of the first joint committee on training and helped to collaborate the first-ever Major League Umpire Manual.
Lepperd graduated from the University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana) with highest university honors and a B.S. in Teaching of Mathematics in 1972. Prior to attending the Kinnamon Umpire School, Lepperd taught mathematics at Evanston Township High School in Evanston, IL for three years.
A native of Rochelle, Illinois, Lepperd resides in West Des Moines, Iowa, with his wife, Susan, and two children, Kelsey and Zachary.
Mark A. Letendre - Director, Umpire Medical Services/MLBUC Medical Coordinator View bio »
Mark A. Letendre was selected by the Baseball Office of the Commissioner to develop and oversee the first comprehensive athletic health care program for the 68 Major League umpires on October 15, 1999.
Letendre served as a Major League Baseball athletic trainer for 18 years with the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees. He was named to serve as National League athletic trainer at the 1987 and 1994 MLB All-Star Games. Letendre has been a certified member of the National Athletic Trainers Association since 1979 and is an active member of the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society. In 2010, Letendre was honored as a national recipient of the National Athletic Trainers' Association's Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award. He became only the sixth person affiliated within Major League Baseball to be given the award, which recognizes outstanding dedication and service to the athletic training profession. Letendre, who lectures on health care techniques and educates audiences on the hazards of spit tobacco, also was honored in 1998 by the National Spit Tobacco Education Program (NSTEP) for his efforts to educate players on the effects of spit tobacco.
Mark is a member of the Scottsdale Charros, a civic group, and has participated on the board of governors for the Scottsdale Boys and Girls Club. Letendre also serves as a Vice President with the Baseball Assistance Team (B.A.T.), Major League Baseball's charitable organization dedicated to assisting members of the "baseball family" through financial grants, healthcare programs and rehabilitative counseling.
Letendre is a 1978 graduate from the University of Maine-Orono where he received a B.S. in Physical Education and Health. He resides in Scottsdale, AZ with his wife, Judy, and daughters, Alyssa and Shannon.
Steven M. Erickson, M.D. - Medical Consultant View bio »
Steven M. Erickson, M.D. is fellowship trained and Board Certified in Sports Medicine as well as Internal Medicine. He also serves as the Head Team Physician for Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ.
Dr. Erickson grew up in Tucson and attended the University of Arizona for his undergraduate training in Biochemistry before going on to graduate from the University of Arizona College of Medicine. He completed his Internal Medicine training at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix and went on to Ball State University where he received his sports medicine training and served as their team physician for two years.
Steve is married to Dr. Laurie Erickson of Maricopa OB/GYN Associates and they are the proud parents of triplet girls, Katherine, Lindsey and Nicole.
Cathy Davis - Specialist, Umpiring Administration View bio »
Cathy Davis came to Major League Baseball in 2000 after spending the previous 22 years with the National League, where she worked in the public relations department before moving to the umpiring department in 1987 as Senior Administrator.
In her current position, Davis is responsible for logistical and administrative day-to-day operations of the umpiring staff.
Freddie Hernandez joined Major League Baseball's Umpire Operations in 2003 after working at Betelgeuse Productions.
In his current post, Hernandez is responsible for all umpire-related video operations, including shooting game action video for umpires to review their mechanics, maintaining a database of umpire-related footage and providing umpires, supervisors and other personnel with specific video requests.
A native of Ponce, Puerto Rico, Hernandez currently resides in Manhattan.
Matt McKendry - Specialist, On-Field Operations View bio »
Matt McKendry joined Major League Baseball's On-Field Operations Department in 2002. His duties include investigating all on-field incidents and situations, assisting with disciplinary action decisions, monitoring pace of game issues, supporting the Uniform and Protective Equipment Regulations programs and administering his department's Stadium Operations projects.
McKendry also assists the Umpiring Department throughout the year with a number of administrative and research issues. Matt joined MLB in November 2000 in the Club Relations department under Phyllis Merhige after working in Media Relations for the New York Yankees during the 2000 season.
McKendry, a graduate of Fordham University, resides in Newtown, CT with his wife Jackie, their daughter Avery, and their son Thomas.
Steve Mara joined Major League Baseball's Umpire Administration staff during the 2010 season after working in Thomson Reuters' Investment Management Research Department.
He is the administrator for the Supervisor Umpire Review and Evaluation system, used to evaluate MLB umpires.
Steve also assists the Umpiring Department with various other duties, including Official Rule Book distribution and sales, maintaining schedules for Umpire Supervisors and Field Observers, and handling umpires' tickets for games.
Mara, a graduate of Boston College, currently resides in Westchester County, NY.
Kent Biggerstaff - Coordinator of MiLB Medical Services View bio »
Kent spent 36 years as an athletic trainer in professional baseball and the last 4 years as the Concussion Management Coordinator for al l minor league baseball umpires. Also, during the past 6 years he has been a Conditioning Coordinator for the PGA and Champions Golf Tours and this past year was hired as the Consultant to the Director of Umpire Medical Services for the 20 AAA Call Up Umpires.
During his major league career, Kent was the National League All Star athletic trainer on 3 occasions as well as serving as the athletic trainer for the Major League Baseball All Star Tour of Japan in 1996. Kent's athletic training staff was recognized as the Major League Baseball Athletic Training Staff of the Year in 2002. Kent served as the President of the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society for 6 years.
In 2010 Kent was recognized by the National Athletic Trainers Association in being awarded the 2010 Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award. In the history of this high honor, only 6 athletic trainers associated with professional baseball have been honored.
Dave has 11 years of experience as a professional umpire, including a three-year stint in the American Association (Triple-A) from 1992 to 1994. He currently umpires Division I college baseball and was selected to work the College World Series in 2004. He also officiates high school and college basketball. Dave is a freelance web designer and computer consultant and resides in St. Joseph, Michigan with his wife, Vicki, and daughters Hannah and Olivia. The family is very involved in the fight against Cystic Fibrosis, with which Hannah is afflicted.
Terry Christman (San Francisco/Oakland) View bio »
Terry has been a basketball official for over 30 years and has refereed NCAA basketball for over 25 years. He has also been in education for over 32 years. Currently, Terry works as a professor of Physical Education at Skyline College in San Bruno, California. He played professional baseball in the New York Mets organization for seven years, was manager and instructor for the San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals, and served as a Minor League pitching coach and pitching chart coordinator for both the Giants and Oakland A's.
Larry was a Major League pitching and bullpen coach with the Texas Rangers from 1996-2001. He was a scout for the Rangers from 1992 to 1994 and held various managing and coaching positions in the Minor Leagues from 1979 to 1991. Larry pitched professionally for nine years and set a Major League record for games by a rookie in 1974 as a member of the San Diego Padres.
Travis has 13 years of experience as a professional umpire, including 200 games at the Major League level. He began in 1990 as an umpire in the Gulf Coast League and worked his way through the Minor Leagues, including the Midwest League and the Texas League. Travis umpired for seven seasons (1996-2002) in the Pacific Coast League and spent parts of three seasons (1999-2001) umpiring games in the Major Leagues. Travis, who will begin his first year as an observer, is married with three boys.
Matt is in his second season with Major League Baseball as an umpire field observer, providing coverage from St. Louis. After graduating from the Harry Wendelstedt School for Umpiring, Matt began his career in 1986 in the Pioneer League and has also worked the Midwest League, Southern League, Dominican Republic, Pacific Coast League and finished his professional career after the 1996 season in the American Association. The 43-year-old Malone, a native of the St. Louis area, resides in O'Fallon, MO.
Mitch umpired professionally from 1985 through 1987 in the New York-Penn and Midwest leagues. He has been a NCAA baseball umpire since 1987, umpiring in the NCAA baseball championships since 1989. Mitch was selected to umpire in the 2008 College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. He is currently an account executive in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area for BioReference Laboratories, headquartered in Elmwood Park, NJ. Mitch resides in New Jersey.
Dr. Hank Nichols (Philadelphia/Baltimore) View bio »
Hank is the Chairperson in the Department of Education and Human Services at Villanova University. He holds a Doctorate in Education from Duke University. He received a Masters Degree in Counseling and a B.S. in English/Education from Villanova University. He has officiated basketball at all levels including Division I, where he has officiated the Final Four 10 times and the NCAA Championship game six times. He is the Chairperson of the Officials Committee for USA Basketball, the NCAA National Coordinator of Men's Basketball Officiating and the Secretary-Rules Editor of the NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Committee. He played professional baseball for three years in the Cincinnati Reds organization.
Kevin umpired professionally for 10 years, including in the International League (1992). Currently, Kevin is an operations manager for Alpine Industrial Inc. and is a licensed Real Estate Salesperson for ERA Realty Services, Inc. Kevin is a graduate of Joe Brinkman Umpire School. He also coaches youth soccer and baseball and officiates high school and college basketball.
Rick Reed, who has 28 years of Major League umpiring experience, will observe games in Detroit this season. Rick worked two All-Star Games, three Division Series, three League Championship Series and the 1991 World Series in his career. Rick, who is married with two children, played the home plate umpire in the 1999 Kevin Costner movie "For Love of the Game." Rick also serves as a basketball referee observer for the Summit League Conference, an NCAA Division I Athletics Conference. The Michigan native is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University.
Now in his second year as an observer in 2009, Steve was a Major League umpire from 1984 through 2003. The former National League umpire worked the 1990 All-Star Game, four Division Series, three League Championship Series and three World Series (1996, 1999 and 2001). Rippley, who also served as a crew chief, counts his experiences working the Fall Classic as the proudest moments of his career. Steve worked at various levels of the minor leagues from 1974 through 1982 before joining the National League staff.
Bill has nearly four decades of professional baseball experience, as a player, coach, and manager. He appeared in more games than any other Los Angeles Dodger (2,181) in his 18-year Major League career. He played in three All-Star Games and four World Series. Bill was a coach in the Dodgers organization for 10 years and managed Los Angeles from June 1996 to June 1998. He has also coached in the Tampa Bay organization and managed Shreveport, the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, in 2001.
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