Ump Gets Even - and Quits

[NetShrine]

I seem to be using the THUMBS DOWN icon too much lately.

08/25/2001 - Updated 12:44 AM ET

Ump resigns after intentionally blowing call

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A minor league umpire who told a manager he intentionally made a wrong call to get back at a player has resigned, it was announced Friday.

Erik Stahlbusch told the Professional Baseball Umpire Corp. that he was leaving his position with the Class A Midwest League immediately, according to a news release from Minor League Baseball.

Midwest League president George Spelius had been investigating an incident involving Stahlbusch at a game in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Tuesday night.

Cedar Rapids manager Tyrone Boykin said that during an argument, Stahlbusch had admitted calling a runner out at first when he knew the runner was safe. Stahlbusch had a confrontation with the player earlier in the game and said he made the wrong call to get back at him, Boykin said.

Boykin had been wearing a microphone for a story a Cedar Rapids television station was working on and the exchange was caught on tape.

Boykin: "So you call him out and he's safe?"

Stahlbusch: "Yeah."

Boykin: "And that makes it even?"

Stahlbusch: "Yeah, that does make it even."

Later during the exchange Boykin said, "So you're saying right there that he was safe, but you called him out for the hell of it?"

Stahlbusch: "Yeah, I did."

Spelius said he had finished his investigation of the exchange and that Stahlbusch had been scheduled to meet with Michael Fitzpatrick, director of the umpire development program.

"Mr. Fitzpatrick wanted to review it with him and go from there," Spelius said. "Erik came to the conclusion that the best thing was to resign and that's what he did."

Stahlbusch had continued working during Spelius' investigation. Spelius said Stahlbusch had not been asked to resign.

"I think due process came into play," Spelius said. "There had to be decisions made and Erik made his decision that he would resign."

Spelius said amateur umpires will fill in at the games Stahlbusch was scheduled to work. The regular season ends Sept. 3. Stahlbusch had not been scheduled to work the playoffs.

[BuzzBuzzard]

At least the guy resigned. You have to figure he would have gotten away with it and still be umpiring if not for the microphone.

[NetShrine]

With the listening technology out there, you would think baseball would start to consider "monitoring" all that is said on a field. It would help when it comes to time to make rulings (if required) rather than depend on reports.

[Bere NY I]

Should the manager have informed the umpire that he was being taped? You cannot tape someone on the phone without telling them first. This any different?

[nyy26wc]

There is a big difference.

In some states, it is illegal to take phone conversations without telling the party. In those states, it's illegal because there is a statute that applies to that specific situation.

I know of no state where there is a statute that specifically applies to a baseball field.

Meanwhile, due to First Amendment issues, there can not be a valid state statute that applies to tape recorders, for all situations.