Bruce Froemming
Bruce Neal Froemming (born September 28, 1939 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is an umpire in Major League Baseball. He first umpired in the National League in 1971, and since 2000 has worked throughout both major leagues. His 34 years of service place him in a tie with Tommy Connolly for the 3rd-longest umpiring career in major league history, trailing only Bob Emslie (35 years) and Bill Klem (37).
After a brief semi-pro playing career, Froemming became the youngest umpire in professional baseball in 1958 at age 18, working his way up through the minor leagues to the Pacific Coast League before joining the NL staff in April 1971. He became one of the NL's six crew chiefs in 1988.
He has worked in 5 World Series: 1976, 1984, 1988, 1990 (Games 3-4) and 1995. He has umpired in a record 10 League Championship Series (1973, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1997, 2000), all in the NL, and also in a record 8 Division Series: 1981 (East Division), 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2003 (also all in the NL). He was the home plate umpire for the playoff games to determine the NL wild-card team in both 1998 and 1999. He also umpired in the All-Star Game in 1975 and 1986, calling balls and strikes for the second contest.
Through the 2003 season, he has umpired a record 107 career postseason games, surpassing the mark of Klem, who worked in 104 games (all in the World Series). He has officiated in 22 World Series games, 52 NLCS games and 33 NLDS games.
On September 26, 1981, he was behind the plate for Nolan Ryan's record 5th no-hitter. He was also calling balls and strikes on September 2, 1972, when Cubs pitcher Milt Pappas had a perfect game with two out in the ninth inning before walking the 27th batter; Pappas then completed the no-hitter, but later criticized Froemming for wasting his chance at immortality. In April 2001, Froemming was the home plate umpire for the first game at Miller Park in his hometown of Milwaukee.
