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List of Major League Baseball umpiring leaders

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The following include various records set by major league baseball umpires. Leagues are abbreviated as follows:

Regular season

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In the regular season charts, umpires who are active entering the 2025 season are indicated in boldface; members of the Baseball Hall of Fame are indicated in italics.

Total games

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The following umpires have officiated in at least 3,000 major league games through the 2023 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.

  1. Joe West – 5,460[2] (NL, 1976–1999; ML, 2002–2021)
  2. Bill Klem – 5,373 (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 – 4,769 (NL, 1898–1900; AL, 1901–1932)
  6. Doug Harvey – 4,674 (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. Dana DeMuth – 4,283 (NL, 1983–1999; ML, 2000–2019)
  16. Tim McClelland – 4,236 (AL, 1981–1999; ML, 2000–2013)
  17. Al Barlick – 4,231 (NL, 1940–1943, 1946–1955, 1958–1971)
  18. Bob Emslie – 4,228 (AA, 1890; NL, 1891–1924)
  19. Bill Dinneen – 4,218 (AL, 1909–1937)
  20. Tim Welke – 4,216 (AL, 1983–1999; ML, 2000–2015)
  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 – 3,908 (NL, 1982–1999; ML, 2005–2016)
  27. Jim Evans – 3,897 (AL, 1971–1999)
  28. Dale Scott – 3,897 (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. Angel Hernandez – 3,812 (NL, 1991–1999, ML, 2000–2024)[3]
  34. Mike Winters – 3,810 (NL, 1988–1999, ML 2000–2019)
  35. Tom Gorman – 3,803 (NL, 1951–1977)
  36. Augie Donatelli – 3,775 (NL, 1950–1973)
  37. Frank Pulli – 3,774 (NL, 1972–1999)
  38. Terry Tata – 3,743 (NL, 1973–1999)
  39. Randy Marsh – 3,707 (NL, 1981–1999; ML, 2000–2009)
  40. Tom Hallion – 3,645 (NL, 1985–1999; ML 2005–2022)
  41. Jerry Layne – 3,639 (NL, 1989–1999; ML 2000–present)
  42. Bob Engel – 3,630 (NL, 1965–1990)
  43. John Kibler – 3,630 (NL, 1963–1989)
  44. Jocko Conlan – 3,618 (NL, 1941–1965)
  45. Larry Napp – 3,608 (AL, 1951–1974)
  46. Hank Soar – 3,595 (AL, 1950–1975, 1977–1978)
  47. John Hirschbeck – 3,589 (AL, 1983–1999; ML, 2000–2007, 2009–2011, 2013–2016)
  48. Gary Cederstrom – 3,579 (AL, 1989–1999; ML 2000–2019)
  49. Ed Vargo – 3,555 (NL, 1960–1983)
  50. Beans Reardon – 3,522 (NL, 1926–1949)
  51. Jim McKean – 3,514 (AL, 1974–1999; ML, 2000–2001)
  52. Billy Williams – 3,432 (NL, 1963–1987)
  53. Brian Gorman – 3,430 (NL, 1991–1999; ML 2000–2021)
  54. Ted Barrett - 3,400 (AL, 1994–1999; ML 2000–2022)
  55. Rich Garcia – 3,398 (AL, 1975–1999)
  56. Babe Pinelli – 3,398 (NL, 1935–1956)
  57. John McSherry – 3,396 (NL, 1971–1995)
  58. Rick Reed – 3,391 (AL, 1979–1999; ML, 2000–2009)
  59. Al Clark – 3,390 (AL, 1976–1999; ML, 2000–2001)
  60. Eddie Rommel – 3,364 (AL, 1938–1959)
  61. Larry Vanover – 3,359 (NL, 1991, 1993–1999; ML, 2002–2024)
  62. Tim Tschida – 3,358 (AL, 1985–1999; ML, 2000–2012)
  63. Brian O’Nora – 3,353 (AL, 1992–1999; ML, 2000–2019, 2021–present)
  64. Ernie Quigley – 3,350 (NL, 1913–1938)
  65. Johnny Stevens – 3,345 (AL, 1948–1971, 1973, 1975)
  66. George Hildebrand – 3,331 (AL, 1913–1934)
  67. Brick Owens – 3,325 (NL, 1908, 1912–1913; AL, 1916–1937)
  68. Billy Evans – 3,323 (AL, 1906–1927)
  69. Jerry Meals – 3,303 (NL, 1992–1999; ML, 2000–2022)
  70. Jeff Kellogg – 3,276 (NL, 1991–1999; ML, 2000–2019)
  71. Gary Darling – 3,270 (NL, 1986–1999; ML, 2002–2013)
  72. Jim Joyce – 3,268 (AL, 1987–1999; ML 2000–2016)
  73. Greg Kosc – 3,256 (AL, 1976–1999)
  74. Ed Sudol – 3,247 (NL, 1957–1977)
  75. Larry Goetz – 3,223 (NL, 1936–1956)
  76. Lee Ballanfant – 3,208 (NL, 1936–1957)
  77. Red Flaherty – 3,207 (AL, 1953–1973)
  78. Bill Stewart – 3,199 (NL, 1933–1954)
  79. Paul Runge – 3,196 (NL, 1973–1997)
  80. Charley Moran – 3,184 (NL, 1918–1939)
  81. Bill Miller – 3,179 (AL, 1997–1999; ML, 2000–present)
  82. C.B. Bucknor – 3,161 (NL, 1996–1999; ML, 2000–present)
  83. Frank Umont – 3,147 (AL, 1954–1973)
  84. Joe Paparella – 3,143 (AL, 1946–1965)
  85. Jeff Nelson – 3,142 (NL, 1997–1999; ML, 2000–2023)
  86. Fieldin Culbreth – 3,140 (AL, 1993–1999; ML, 2000–2019, 2021)
  87. Dale Ford – 3,137 (AL, 1975–1999)
  88. Shag Crawford – 3,121 (NL, 1956–1975)
  89. Durwood Merrill – 3,121 (AL, 1976–1999)
  90. Laz Díaz – 3,101 (AL, 1995, 1997–1999; ML, 2000–present)
  91. Paul Pryor – 3,094 (NL, 1961–1981)
  92. Charlie Berry – 3,080 (AL, 1942–1962)
  93. Doug Eddings – 3,071 (AL, 1998–1999; ML, 2000–present)
  94. Bill Haller – 3,068 (AL, 1961, 1963–1982)
  95. Marvin Hudson – 3,053 (NL, 1998–1999; ML, 2000–present)
  96. John Shulock – 3,050 (AL, 1979–1999; ML, 2000–2002)
  97. George Moriarty – 3,047 (AL, 1917–1926, 1929–1940)
  98. Jerry Neudecker – 3,025 (AL, 1966–1985)
  99. Chris Guccione – 3,021 (ML, 2000–present)
  100. Marty Springstead – 3,010 (AL, 1966–1985)
  101. Phil Cuzzi – 3,001 (NL, 1991–1993, 1999; ML, 2000–2019, 2021–present)

Home plate

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The following umpires have acted as home plate umpire, or umpire-in-chief, for at least 1,000 major league games through the 2024 season.[1]

  1. Bill Klem – 3,546 (NL, 1905–1941)
  2. Hank O'Day – 2,710 (NL, 1895–1911, 1913, 1915–1927)
  3. Cy Rigler – 2,473 (NL, 1906–1922, 1924–1935)
  4. Bob Emslie – 2,357 (AA, 1890; NL, 1891–1924)
  5. Tommy Connolly – 2,318 (NL, 1898–1900; AL, 1901–1932)
  6. Bill Dinneen – 1,930 (AL, 1909–1937)
  7. Silk O'Loughlin – 1,816 (AL, 1902–1918)
  8. Billy Evans – 1,757 (AL, 1906–1927)
  9. Bill McGowan – 1,646 (AL, 1925–1954)
  10. Ernie Quigley – 1,514 (NL, 1913–1938)
  11. Brick Owens – 1,446 (NL, 1908, 1912–1913; AL, 1916–1937)
  12. Jack Sheridan – 1,439 (PL, 1890; NL, 1892–1893, 1896–1897; AL, 1901–1914)
  13. Joe West – 1,391 (NL, 1976–1999; ML, 2002–2021)
  14. Bill Summers – 1,367 (AL, 1933–1959)
  15. Tom Lynch – 1,309 (NL, 1888–1899, 1902)
  16. Charley Moran – 1,306 (NL, 1918–1939)
  17. George Hildebrand – 1,305 (AL, 1913–1934)
  18. Bruce Froemming – 1,303 (NL, 1971–1999; ML, 2000–2007)
  19. Tim Hurst – 1,285 (NL, 1891–1898, 1900, 1903–1904; AL, 1905–1909)
  20. Beans Reardon – 1,260 (NL, 1926–1949)
  21. Jim Johnstone – 1,245 (AL, 1902; NL, 1903–1912; FL, 1915)
  22. George Moriarty – 1,242 (AL, 1917–1926, 1929–1940)
  23. Gerry Davis – 1,211 (NL, 1982–1999; ML, 2000–2019, 2021)
  24. Al Barlick – 1,201 (NL, 1940–1943, 1946–1955, 1958–1971)
  25. Doug Harvey – 1,189 (NL, 1962–1992)
  26. Dick Nallin – 1,159 (AL, 1915–1932)
  27. Derryl Cousins – 1,137 (AL, 1979–1999; ML, 2000–2012)
  28. Joe Brinkman – 1,135 (AL, 1972–1999; ML, 2000–2006)
  29. Mike Reilly – 1,127 (AL, 1977–1999; ML, 2000–2010)
  30. Harry Wendelstedt – 1,125 (NL, 1966–1998)
  31. Ed Montague – 1,099 (NL, 1974, 1976–1999; ML, 2000–2009)
  32. Larry Barnett – 1,090 (AL, 1969–1999)
  33. Babe Pinelli – 1,087 (NL, 1935–1956)
  34. Jerry Crawford – 1,086 (NL, 1976–1999; ML, 2000–2010)
  35. Dana DeMuth – 1,082 (NL, 1983–1999; ML, 2000–2017, 2019)
  36. Jocko Conlan – 1,075 (NL, 1941–1965)
  37. Tim McClelland – 1,076 (AL, 1981–1999; ML, 2000–2013)
  38. Tim Welke – 1,070 (AL, 1983–1999; ML, 2000–2015)
  39. Bill Stewart – 1,050 (NL, 1933–1954)
  40. John Gaffney – 1,038 (NL, 1884–1887, 1891–1894, 1898–1900; AA, 1888–1889; PL, 1890)
  41. Eddie Rommel – 1,029 (AL, 1938–1959)
  42. Larry McCoy – 1,016 (AL, 1970–1999)
  43. Bob Davidson – 1,008 (NL, 1982–1999; ML, 2005–2016)
  44. Larry Goetz – 1,006 (NL, 1936–1956)

Ejections

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The following umpires have ejected at least 75 individuals (players/managers/coaches) in their careers up through the 2023 season.[1]

  1. Bill Klem – 358 (NL, 1905–1941)
  2. Cy Rigler – 286 (NL, 1906–1935)
  3. Hank O'Day – 237 (NL, 1895–1911, 1913, 1915–1927)
  4. Tommy Connolly – 203 (NL, 1898–1900; AL, 1901–1932)
  5. Joe West – 196 (NL, 1976–1999; ML, 2002–2021)
  6. Lord Byron – 196 (NL, 1913–1919)
  7. Jim Johnstone – 195 (AL, 1902; NL, 1903–1912; FL, 1915)
  8. Ernie Quigley – 192 (NL, 1913–1938)
  9. Silk O'Loughlin – 190 (AL, 1902–1918)
  10. Bob Davidson – 173 (NL, 1982–1999; ML, 2005–2016)
  11. Bob Emslie – 152 (NL, 1891–1924)
  12. Jocko Conlan – 135 (NL, 1941–1965)
  13. Bruce Froemming – 125 (NL, 1971–1999; ML, 2000–2007)
  14. Augie Donatelli – 124 (NL, 1950–1973)
  15. Derryl Cousins – 122 (AL, 1979–1999; ML, 2000–2012)
  16. Billy Evans – 121 (AL, 1906–1927)
  17. Frank Dascoli – 119 (NL, 1948–1961)
  18. Bill Stewart – 117 (NL, 1933–1954)
  19. Jack Sheridan – 114 (PL, 1890; NL 1892–1914)
  20. George Barr – 112 (NL, 1931–1949)
  21. Gary Darling – 112 (NL, 1986–1999; ML, 2002–2013)
  22. Eddie Hurley – 110 (AL, 1947–1965)
  23. Marty Foster – 110 (AL, 1996–1999; ML, 2000–2022)
  24. Rich Garcia – 109 (AL, 1975–1999)
  25. Mal Eason – 108 (NL, 1910–1917)
  26. Brick Owens – 108 (NL, 1908, 1912–1913; AL, 1916–1937)
  27. Harry Wendelstedt – 108 (NL, 1966–1998)
  28. Mike Winters – 107 (NL, 1990–1999; ML, 2000–2019)
  29. Joe Brinkman – 105 (AL, 1973–1999; ML, 2000–2006)
  30. Frank Secory – 104 (NL, 1952–1970)
  31. Durwood Merrill – 103 (AL, 1977–1999)
  32. Jerry Layne – 103 (NL, 1989–1999; ML, 2000–present)
  33. Charley Moran – 102 (NL, 1918–1939)
  34. Lou Jorda – 102 (NL, 1927–1931, 1940–1952)
  35. Larry Goetz – 102 (NL, 1936–1956)
  36. Tom Hallion – 102 (NL, 1985–1999; ML, 2005–2022)
  37. Bill Welke – 102 (AL, 1999; ML, 2000–2022)
  38. Doug Eddings – 102 (AL, 1998–1999; ML, 2000–present)
  39. George Magerkurth – 101 (NL, 1929–1947)
  40. Larry Barnett – 101 (AL, 1969–1999)
  41. Bill McGowan – 99 (AL, 1925–1954)
  42. Cy Pfirman – 98 (NL, 1922–1936)
  43. John Hirschbeck – 98 (AL, 1983–1999; ML, 2000–2016)
  44. Angel Hernandez – 98 (NL, 1991–1999; ML, 2000–2024)
  45. Hunter Wendelstedt – 98 (NL, 1998–1999; ML, 2000–present)
  46. Shag Crawford – 97 (NL, 1954–1975)
  47. Phil Cuzzi – 97 (NL, 1991–1993, 1999; ML, 2000–2019, 2021–present)
  48. Al Barlick – 96 (NL, 1940–1943, 1946–1955, 1958–1971)
  49. Greg Kosc – 96 (AL, 1976–1999)
  50. Jerry Crawford – 96 (NL, 1976–1999; ML, 2000–2010)
  51. Dale Scott – 92 (AL, 1986–1999; ML, 2000–2017)
  52. Greg Gibson – 92 (NL, 1997–1999; ML, 2000–2019, 2021–2022)
  53. Dick Nallin – 91 (AL, 1915–1932)
  54. Dale Ford – 90 (AL, 1975–1999)
  55. Gerry Davis – 90 (NL, 1982–1999; ML, 2000–2019, 2021)
  56. Tim Timmons – 90 (NL, 1999; ML, 2000–2021)
  57. Bill Hohn – 89 (NL, 1989–1999; ML, 2000–2011)
  58. Dave Phillips – 88 (AL, 1971–1999; ML, 2000–2002)
  59. George Hildebrand – 86 (AL, 1913–1934)
  60. Tim Tschida – 86 (AL, 1985–1999; ML, 2000–2012)
  61. Dan Iassogna – 86 (AL, 1999; NL, 1999; ML, 2000–present)
  62. Larry Napp – 85 (AL, 1951–1974)
  63. Bill Dinneen – 83 (AL, 1907, 1909–1937)
  64. Stan Landes – 83 (NL, 1955–1972)
  65. John Kibler – 83 (NL, 1963–1989)
  66. Larry Vanover – 82 (NL, 1991, 1993–1999; ML, 2002–2024)
  67. Eric Gregg – 81 (NL, 1976–1991, 1993–1999)
  68. Ken Kaiser – 81 (AL, 1977–1999)
  69. Tim McClelland – 81 (AL, 1981–1999; ML, 2000–2013)
  70. Mike Everitt – 81 (AL, 1996–1999; ML, 2000–2019)
  71. Bill Summers – 80 (AL, 1933–1959)
  72. Artie Gore – 79 (NL, 1947–1956)
  73. Terry Tata – 79 (NL, 1973–1999)
  74. John Shulock – 79 (AL, 1979–1999; ML, 2000–2002)
  75. Lee Ballanfant – 78 (NL, 1936–1957)
  76. Jim Quick – 78 (NL, 1974, 1976–1998)
  77. Sam Holbrook – 78 (AL, 1996; NL, 1997–1999; ML, 2002–2013, 2015–2019, 2021)
  78. Ed Vargo – 77 (NL, 1960–1983)
  79. Jeff Nelson – 77 (NL, 1997–1999; ML, 2000–2023)
  80. Mark Wegner – 77 (NL, 1998–1999; ML, 2000–present)
  81. Al Clark – 76 (AL, 1976–1999; ML, 2000–2001)
  82. Ziggy Sears – 75 (NL, 1934–1945)
  83. Drew Coble – 75 (AL, 1982–1999)

Postseason

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The current Major League Baseball postseason consists of the Wild Card Series, the Division Series, the League Championship Series, and the World Series. 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. Umpires who are active entering the 2025 season are indicated in bold face; members of the Baseball Hall of Fame are indicated in italics.[1]

World Series

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The World Series is the culminating best-of-seven championship series of major league baseball, and has been played since 1903, with the exception of 1904 and 1994. It is played between the National League and American League champions. Throughout World Series history, the position of crew chief usually alternated between umpires of the American League and National League until the two leagues umpire staffs merged in 2000.[1]

Most World Series

Most World Series games

League Championship Series

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A League Championship Series has been played in each league from 1969 to the present, excluding 1994, and ultimately determines the participants of the World Series. Originally a best-of-five series, it was expanded to best-of-seven in 1985. Below are umpires who have participated in at least seven League Championship Series:[1]

Most League Championship Series games (umpires with at least 35 games are listed)

Division Series

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Since 1995 (with one preliminary instance in 1981), the teams participating in the League Championship Series have been determined through four Division Series, with two series per league. All have been best-of-five series. Listed below are umpires who have participated in at least nine Division Series: [1]

Most Division Series games (umpires with at least 35 games are listed)

Wild Card Series

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In 2012, the Wild Card Game was introduced as a single playoff game that would determine which wild card teams from each league would participate in the Division Series. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, a best-of-three series was instituted. A similar format was made permanent for the 2022 postseason. Listed below are umpires who have participated in at least five Wild Card events:[1]

Most Wild Card games

Total postseason

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Most games (umpires with 90 or more postseason games are listed)

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.[1]

  • 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†

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Totals of overall regular season games, games as a home plate umpire, ejections, postseason games/series and All Star Games are taken from Project Retrosheet's Directory of Umpires. Accessed 2024-11-15.
  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.