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List of Major League Baseball umpiring leaders

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The following include various records set by umpires in Major League Baseball. Leagues are abbreviated as follows:

Regular season

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Total games

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The following are those umpires who have officiated in at least 3,000 major league games through the 2019 season.[1] Although the totals reflect all games umpired, the years indicate only those seasons in which each individual was employed as a league umpire, omitting seasons in which they may have acted as an emergency substitute during their playing career. Umpires who were active in 2024 are indicated in bold face; members of the Baseball Hall of Fame are indicated in italics:

  1. Joe West – 5,460[2] (NL, 1976–1999; ML, 2002–2021)
  2. Bill Klem – 5,369 (NL, 1905–1941)
  3. Bruce Froemming – 5,163 (NL, 1971–1999; ML, 2000–2007)
  4. Gerry Davis – 4,849 (NL, 1982–1999; ML, 2000–2021)
  5. Tommy Connolly – 4,768 (NL, 1898–1900; AL, 1901–1932)
  6. Doug Harvey – 4,673 (NL, 1962–1992)
  7. Joe Brinkman – 4,505 (AL, 1972–1999; ML, 2000–2006)
  8. Harry Wendelstedt – 4,500 (NL, 1966–1998)
  9. Derryl Cousins – 4,496 (AL, 1979–1999; ML, 2000–2012)
  10. Bill McGowan – 4,424 (AL, 1925–1954)
  11. Mike Reilly – 4,491 (AL, 1977–1999; ML, 2000–2010)
  12. Jerry Crawford – 4,371 (NL, 1976–1999; ML, 2000–2010)
  13. Ed Montague – 4,369 (NL, 1974, 1976–1999; ML, 2000–2009)
  14. Larry Barnett – 4,290 (AL, 1969–1999)
  15. Tim McClelland – 4,236 (AL, 1981–1999; ML, 2000–2013)
  16. Al Barlick – 4,231 (NL, 1940–1943, 1946–1955, 1958–1971)
  17. Bob Emslie – 4,228 (AA, 1890; NL, 1891–1924)
  18. Bill Dinneen – 4,218 (AL, 1909–1937)
  19. Tim Welke – 4,216 (AL, 1983–1999; ML, 2000–2015)
  20. Dana DeMuth – 4,213 (NL, 1983–1999; ML, 2000–2019)
  21. Cy Rigler – 4,144 (NL, 1906–1922, 1924–1935)
  22. Bill Summers – 4,121 (AL, 1933–1959)
  23. Larry McCoy – 4,024 (AL, 1970–1999)
  24. Hank O'Day – 3,986 (NL, 1895–1911, 1913, 1915–1927)
  25. Dave Phillips – 3,934 (AL, 1971–1999; ML, 2001–2002)
  26. Bob Davidson – 3,911 (NL, 1982–1999; ML, 2005–2016)
  27. Jim Evans – 3,897 (AL, 1971–1999)
  28. Dale Scott – 3,892 (AL, 1985–1999; ML, 2000–2017)
  29. Nestor Chylak – 3,857 (AL, 1954–1978)
  30. Lee Weyer – 3,827 (NL, 1961–1988)
  31. Don Denkinger – 3,824 (AL, 1969–1998)
  32. Jim Honochick – 3,815 (AL, 1949–1973)
  33. Tom Gorman – 3,803 (NL, 1951–1977)
  34. Augie Donatelli – 3,775 (NL, 1950–1973)
  35. Frank Pulli – 3,774 (NL, 1972–1999)
  36. Terry Tata – 3,743 (NL, 1973–1999)
  37. Mike Winters – 3,741 (NL, 1988–1999, ML 2000–2019)
  38. Randy Marsh – 3,707 (NL, 1981–1999; ML, 2000–2009)
  39. Bob Engel – 3,630 (NL, 1965–1990)
  40. John Kibler – 3,630 (NL, 1963–1989)
  41. Jocko Conlan – 3,618 (NL, 1941–1965)
  42. Larry Napp – 3,608 (AL, 1951–1974)
  43. Hank Soar – 3,595 (AL, 1950–1975, 1977–1978)
  44. John Hirschbeck – 3,589 (AL, 1983–1999; ML, 2000–2007, 2009–2011, 2013–2016)
  45. Ed Vargo – 3,555 (NL, 1960–1983)
  46. Beans Reardon – 3,522 (NL, 1926–1949)
  47. Jim McKean – 3,514 (AL, 1974–1999; ML, 2000–2001)
  48. Jerry Layne – 3,501 (NL, 1989–1999; ML 2000–present)
  49. Gary Cederstrom – 3,461 (AL, 1989–1999; ML 2000–2019)
  50. Billy Williams – 3,432 (NL, 1963–1987)
  51. Rich Garcia – 3,398 (AL, 1975–1999)
  52. Babe Pinelli – 3,398 (NL, 1935–1956)
  53. John McSherry – 3,396 (NL, 1971–1995)
  54. Tom Hallion – 3,594 (NL, 1985–1999; ML 2005–2022)
  55. Rick Reed – 3,391 (AL, 1979–1999; ML, 2000–2009)
  56. Al Clark – 3,390 (AL, 1976–1999; ML, 2000–2001)
  57. Ángel Hernández – 3,655 (NL 1991–1999, ML 2000–2024)[3]
  58. Eddie Rommel – 3,364 (AL, 1938–1959)
  59. Tim Tschida – 3,358 (AL, 1985–1999; ML, 2000–2012)
  60. Ernie Quigley – 3,350 (NL, 1913–1938)
  61. Johnny Stevens – 3,345 (AL, 1948–1971, 1973, 1975)
  62. George Hildebrand – 3,331 (AL, 1913–1934)
  63. Brick Owens – 3,325 (NL, 1908, 1912–1913; AL, 1916–1937)
  64. Billy Evans – 3,319 (AL, 1906–1927)
  65. Brian Gorman – 3,430 (NL, 1991–1999; ML 2000–2021)
  66. Gary Darling – 3,270 (NL, 1986–1999; ML, 2002–2013)
  67. Jim Joyce – 3,268 (AL, 1987–1999; ML 2000–2016)
  68. Greg Kosc – 3,256 (AL, 1976–1999)
  69. Ed Sudol – 3,247 (NL, 1957–1977)
  70. Larry Goetz – 3,223 (NL, 1936–1956)
  71. Lee Ballanfant – 3,208 (NL, 1936–1957)
  72. Red Flaherty – 3,207 (AL, 1953–1973)
  73. Bill Stewart – 3,199 (NL, 1933–1954)
  74. Paul Runge – 3,196 (NL, 1973–1997)
  75. Charley Moran – 3,184 (NL, 1918–1939)
  76. Frank Umont – 3,147 (AL, 1954–1973)
  77. Joe Paparella – 3,143 (AL, 1946–1965)
  78. Dale Ford – 3,137 (AL, 1975–1999)
  79. Shag Crawford – 3,121 (NL, 1956–1975)
  80. Durwood Merrill – 3,121 (AL, 1976–1999)
  81. Ted Barrett - 3,281 (AL, 1994–1999; ML 2000–2022)
  82. Paul Pryor – 3,094 (NL, 1961–1981)
  83. Charlie Berry – 3,080 (AL, 1942–1962)
  84. Bill Haller – 3,068 (AL, 1961, 1963–1982)
  85. John Shulock – 3,050 (AL, 1979–1999; ML, 2000–2002)
  86. George Moriarty – 3,047 (AL, 1917–1926, 1929–1940)
  87. Jerry Neudecker – 3,025 (AL, 1966–1985)
  88. Marty Springstead – 3,010 (AL, 1966–1985)

Home plate

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The following are those umpires who have acted as home plate umpire, or umpire-in-chief, for at least 1,000 major league games through the 2015 season.[1] Umpires who were active in 2015 are indicated in bold face; members of the Baseball Hall of Fame are indicated in italics:

  1. Bill Klem – 3,544 (NL, 1905–1941)
  2. Hank O'Day – 2,710 (NL, 1895–1911, 1913, 1915–1927)
  3. Cy Rigler – 2,468 (NL, 1906–1922, 1924–1935)
  4. Bob Emslie – 2,358 (AA, 1890; NL, 1891–1924)
  5. Tommy Connolly – 2,316 (NL, 1898–1900; AL, 1901–1932)
  6. Bill Dinneen – 1,926 (AL, 1909–1937)
  7. Silk O'Loughlin – 1,812 (AL, 1902–1918)
  8. Billy Evans – 1,757 (AL, 1906–1927)
  9. Bill McGowan – 1,644 (AL, 1925–1954)
  10. Ernie Quigley – 1,509 (NL, 1913–1938)
  11. Brick Owens – 1,447 (NL, 1908, 1912–1913; AL, 1916–1937)
  12. Jack Sheridan – 1,436 (PL, 1890; NL, 1892–1893, 1896–1897; AL, 1901–1914)
  13. Bill Summers – 1,364 (AL, 1933–1959)
  14. Tom Lynch – 1,309 (NL, 1888–1899, 1902)
  15. Charley Moran – 1,307 (NL, 1918–1939)
  16. George Hildebrand – 1,301 (AL, 1913–1934)
  17. Bruce Froemming – 1,300 (NL, 1971–1999; ML, 2000–2007)
  18. Tim Hurst – 1,286 (NL, 1891–1898, 1900, 1903–1904; AL, 1905–1909)
  19. Beans Reardon – 1,258 (NL, 1926–1949)
  20. Jim Johnstone – 1,244 (AL, 1902; NL, 1903–1912; FL, 1915)
  21. George Moriarty – 1,242 (AL, 1917–1926, 1929–1940)
  22. Joe West – 1,390 (NL, 1976–1999; ML, 2002–2021)
  23. Al Barlick – 1,202 (NL, 1940–1943, 1946–1955, 1958–1971)
  24. Doug Harvey – 1,186 (NL, 1962–1992)
  25. Dick Nallin – 1,161 (AL, 1915–1932)
  26. Derryl Cousins – 1,137 (AL, 1979–1999; ML, 2000–2012)
  27. Joe Brinkman – 1,131 (AL, 1972–1999; ML, 2000–2006)
  28. Mike Reilly – 1,127 (AL, 1977–1999; ML, 2000–2010)
  29. Harry Wendelstedt – 1,124 (NL, 1966–1998)
  30. Ed Montague – 1,097 (NL, 1974, 1976–1999; ML, 2000–2009)
  31. Larry Barnett – 1,090 (AL, 1969–1999)
  32. Jerry Crawford – 1,086 (NL, 1976–1999; ML, 2000–2010)
  33. Babe Pinelli – 1,081 (NL, 1935–1956)
  34. Tim McClelland – 1,075 (AL, 1981–1999; ML, 2000–2013)
  35. Jocko Conlan – 1,069 (NL, 1941–1965)
  36. Bill Stewart – 1,046 (NL, 1933–1954)
  37. John Gaffney – 1,036 (NL, 1884–1887, 1891–1894, 1898–1900; AA, 1888–1889; PL, 1890)
  38. Eddie Rommel – 1,029 (AL, 1938–1959)
  39. Larry McCoy – 1,015 (AL, 1970–1999)
  40. Bob Davidson – 1,009 (NL, 1982–1999; ML, 2005–2016)
  41. Larry Goetz – 1,007 (NL, 1936–1956)

Ejections

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The following are those umpires who have ejected more than 75 individuals (players/managers) in their career up through the 2013 season.[1] Umpires who are active in 2017 are indicated in bold face; members of the Baseball Hall of Fame are indicated in italics:

  1. Bill Klem – 251 (NL, 1905–1941)
  2. Cy Rigler – 192 (NL, 1906–1935)
  3. Hank O'Day – 185 (NL, 1895–1911, 1913, 1915–1927)
  4. Bob Davidson – 156 (NL, 1982–1999, ML 2005–2016)
  5. Joe West – 151 (NL, 1976–1999, ML 2002–2021)
  6. Silk O'Loughlin – 145 (AL, 1902–1918)
  7. Ernie Quigley – 141 (NL, 1913–1938)
  8. Bob Emslie – 127 (NL, 1891–1924)
  9. Derryl Cousins – 118 (AL 1979–1999, ML 2000–2012)
  10. Jocko Conlan – 116 (NL, 1941–1965)
  11. Lord Byron – 115 (NL, 1913–1919)
  12. Gary Darling – 111 (NL 1986–1999, ML 2002–2013)
  13. Eddie Hurley – 110 (AL, 1947–1965)
  14. Frank Dascoli – 106 (NL, 1948–1961)
  15. Augie Donatelli – 103 (NL, 1950–1973)
  16. Rich Garcia – 103 (AL, 1975–1999)
  17. Durwood Merrill – 99 (AL, 1977–1999)
  18. Jack Sheridan – 98 (PL, 1890, NL 1892–1914)
  19. Bill Stewart – 95 (NL, 1933–1954)
  20. Joe Brinkman – 95 (AL 1973–1999, ML 2000–2006)
  21. Larry Goetz – 94 (NL, 1936–1956)
  22. Bruce Froemming – 93 (NL 1971–1999, ML 2000–2007)
  23. George Magerkurth – 91 (NL, 1929–1947)
  24. Greg Kosc – 90 (AL, 1976–1999)
  25. Larry Barnett – 89 (AL 1969–1999)
  26. Bill Hohn – 89 (NL, 1989–1999, ML 2000–2011)
  27. Mike Winters – 89 (NL, 1990–1999, ML 2000–2019)
  28. John Hirschbeck – 87 (AL, 1983–1999, ML 2000–2016)
  29. Dale Ford – 86 (AL, 1975–1999)
  30. Mal Eason – 85 (NL, 1910–1917)
  31. Tim Tschida – 85 (AL, 1985–1999, ML 2000–2012)
  32. Jerry Layne – 84 (NL, 1989–1999, ML 2000–present)
  33. Jerry Crawford – 83 (NL 1976–1999, ML 2000–2010)
  34. Marty Foster – 82 (AL, 1996–1999, ML 2000–present)
  35. Dave Phillips – 82 (AL, 1971–1999, ML 2000–2002)
  36. Harry Wendelstedt – 80 (NL, 1966–1998)
  37. Shag Crawford – 79 (NL 1954–1975)
  38. John Shulock – 79 (AL, 1979–1999, ML 2000–2002)
  39. Tom Hallion – 79 (NL 1985–1999, ML 2005–present)
  40. Dale Scott – 77 (AL, 1986–1999, ML 2000–2017)
  41. Ken Kaiser – 75 (AL, 1977–1999)
  42. Lou Jorda – 75 (NL, 1927–1952)
  43. Tim McClelland – 75 (AL, 1981–1999, ML 2000–2013)
  44. Al Barlick – 75 (NL, 1940–1943, 1946–1955, 1958–1971)

Postseason

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In the postseason charts, crew chiefs are denoted by a † following the year. The position of crew chief was not as clearly established in the early years of the 20th century; for the purpose of this list, the crew chief for early World Series is defined as the home plate umpire for Game 1.

World Series

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The World Series has been played from 1903–present, except 1904 and 1994. The position of crew chief usually alternated between umpires of the American League and National League, with NL umpires serving as crew chief in odd-numbered years from 1903 through 1933 except for 1905, 1917 and 1923, and again from 1995 through 1999, and in even-numbered years in 1906, 1912, 1918 through 1922, and 1936 through 1992. After the AL and NL staffs were merged in 2000, the position of crew chief was awarded to a former NL umpire every year through 2007.
Most Series

Most Series games

League Championship Series

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A League Championship Series has been played in each league from 1969 to the present, excepting 1994. Originally a best-of-five series, it was expanded to best-of-seven in 1985.

Most Series games

Division Series

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Two Division Series have been played in each league in 1981 and from 1995 to the present; they have been best-of-five series in all years. Listed below are umpires with at least 9 Division Series. Bold indicates that the umpire is active entering the 2020 season.
Most Series

Most Division Series games (umpires with more than 35 DS games are listed)

Total postseason

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Most games
151 – Gerry Davis
132– Joe West
132– Ted Barrett
111 – Bruce Froemming
111 – Jerry Crawford
103 – Gary Cederstrom
103 – Mike Winters
103 – Bill Klem
101 – Dana DeMuth
99 – Jeff Kellogg
99 – Ed Montague
98 – Tim Welke
96 – Brian Gorman
103 – Jeff Nelson
94 – Tim McClelland
94 – John Hirschbeck
101 – Angel Hernandez
91 – Dale Scott
89 – Jerry Layne
103 – Alfonso Marquez
104 – Bill Miller
88 – Mike Everitt
87 – Fieldin Culbreth

All-Star Games

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The home plate umpire for each All-Star Game is denoted by a † following the year. There were two All-Star Games each year from 1959 to 1962; different umpiring crews were used for the games in each year except 1960 (for this list, the 1960 umpires are each counted once). For all games through the first 1961 contest and again in 1966, the umpires changed positions halfway through the game; both plate umpires are noted in the applicable years.

  • 7 – Al Barlick: 1942, 1949†, 1952†, 1955†, 1959† (first game), 1966†, 1970†
  • 7 – Doug Harvey: 1963, 1964, 1971, 1977, 1982†, 1987, 1992†
  • 7 – Bill Summers: 1936†, 1941†, 1946†, 1949†, 1952†, 1955†, 1959† (second game)
  • 6 – Jocko Conlan: 1943, 1947†, 1950, 1953†, 1958†, 1962† (second game)
  • 6 – Eddie Rommel: 1939, 1943†, 1946, 1950, 1954†, 1958†
  • 6 – Frank Secory: 1955, 1958, 1961 (second game), 1964, 1967, 1970
  • 5 – Charlie Berry: 1944, 1948†, 1952, 1956†, 1959 (second game)
  • 5 – Nestor Chylak: 1957, 1960 (†second game), 1964, 1973†, 1978
  • 5 – Johnny Stevens: 1950, 1953, 1957†, 1960, 1965†

References

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  1. ^ a b c All regular-season totals of overall games and games as a home plate umpire are taken from Project Retrosheet's Directory of Umpires. Accessed 2019-11-01.
  2. ^ "West retires, umped MLB-record 5,460 games". 4 February 2022.
  3. ^ DeRosa, Theo (May 27, 2024). "Angel Hernandez retiring after 3-decade umpiring career". MLB.com.