Friday, November 7, 2008

The 10 Commandments of Umpiring


by Commissioner of
Major League Baseball
Ford C. Frick (1949)

Commandment 1 -
Keep your eye on the ball.

Commandment 2 -
Keep all your personalities out of your work. Forget and forgive.

Commandment 3 -
Avoid sarcasm. Don't insist on the last word.

Commandment 4 -
Never charge a player and, above all, no pointing your finger or yelling.

Commandment 5 - Hear only the things you should hear - be deaf to others.

Commandment 6 - Keep your temper. A decision made in anger is never sound.

Commandment 7 - Watch your language.

Commandment 8 - Take pride in your work at all times. Remember, respect for an umpire is created off the field as well as on.

Commandment 9 - Review your work. You will find, if you are honest, that 90% of the trouble is traceable to loafing.

Commandment 10 - No matter what your opinion of another umpire, never make an adverse comment regarding him. To do so is despicable and ungentlemanly.

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