Bruce Froemming, former MLB umpire who played the third-most games in league history and had a record 11 no-hitters, died Wednesday in Milwaukee, his son Steven confirmed to the Associated Press.
He was 86.
Froemming hit his head during a fall at his home in Mequon, Wisconsin, on Tuesday evening, and doctors were unable to stop the bleeding in his brain because of blood thinners he was taking, his son said.
Known for his loud, distinctive strike call, Froemming umpired for 37 consecutive seasons in the majors from 1971-2007, playing a total of 5,163 games, trailing only Bill Klem (5,373) and Joe West (5,460).
Froemming briefly pursued a semi-professional playing career, but eventually began umpiring at age 18, sometimes working his way through the minor leagues. Earn $250 a monthbefore reaching the National League in 1971.
‘Every match is important to me’ Froemming told NPR after officiating his 5,000th career game in 2006. “You know, and I learned early on that it’s not about the level of the game that you referee or referee, it’s how you as a referee attack the sport. And every game is important. It’s important to someone. It’s important to the people who play, no matter what level.”
“You might think you have a B game or a game that’s not important. For those kids or people playing it, it’s important. So every game you play has to work at a high level.”
During his nearly four-decade career, Froemming often found himself at the forefront of some of the most memorable moments and skirmishes in MLB history.
On September 2, 1972, Froemming was behind the plate for an afternoon Cubs-Padres game at Wrigley Field as three-time All-Star pitcher Milt Pappas completed a perfect game. With pinch-hitter Larry Stahl representing the final out, Froemming called a close 3-2 pitchball four, ending Pappas’ attempt at perfection.
While Pappas retired the next batter to complete a no-hitter, the right-handed pitcher was upset by Froemming’s call, which remained a source of controversy.
“The word ‘close’ came in,” Froemming told MLB.com in 2016 about the phone call, shortly after Pappas’ death. “The pitches were ‘close’. I said, ‘For me, this is my perception about umpires. It’s a ball or a strike; it’s not ‘close’. I have a ball or a strike.”
“When that came up the next day – ‘You could have given it to him, it was close’ – I said, ‘I’m a referee, not a fan. I called what I saw.'”
Froemming worked another ten no-hitters during his career, three of them behind home plate: Ed Halicki (1975), Nolan Ryan (1981) and José Jiménez (1999).
The Milwaukee native was involved in a slew of melees during his career, including working as an umpire at second base during Game 3 of the 1973 National League Championship series at Shea Stadium when Bud Harrelson and Pete Rose fought at the bag.
More than three decades later, Froemming was working at Fenway Park on July 24, 2004, when Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek shoved his glove into the face of Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, sparking a brawl.
Not shy about giving anyone a chance, Froemming also recorded 125 career ejections, good for 13th all-time. Perhaps none was as memorable as ejecting Yankees manager Billy Martin in Game 4 of the 1976 World Series.
The Yankees skipper threw a baseball toward home plate in the ninth inning with Froemming on first base in the first of five Fall Classics he would work in during his career.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Froemming asked Martin, according to a 1985 Los Angeles Times story.
“None of your business!” Martin reportedly returned fire before being ejected.
During his final season in 2007, Froemming drew the ire of then-Yankees owner George Steinbrenner for not postponing Game 2 of the ALDS between the Yankees and Indians after mosquitoes roamed Jacobs Field.
“The referee was full of it [expletive]Steinbrenner said of Froemming, who served as crew chief. “He will no longer officiate our races.”
MLB backed Froemming, who said Steinbrenner was “entitled” to his opinion as the Yankees dropped the series to Cleveland in four games.
“He loved that baseball was like a brotherhood,” says his son Steven told The Athletic. “You argued on the field, and after the game was over, you left it at the stadium, and tomorrow was a new day.”
After his retirement, Froemming worked as a special assistant to the MLB vice president in umpiring matters.
Froemming is survived by his wife Rosemarie, whom he married in 1957; two sons, Steven and Kevin; sister Cathy Seizer; half-brother Johnny Froemming; and two grandchildren, Nicolas and Christopher.
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