The Harry Wendelstedt Umpire Schoolumpires for professional baseball is an independent umpire training program recognized by the minor leagues and major leagues. It is located in Ormond Beach, Florida. It runs for five weeks each early January through early February. The school is open to both men and women; the only woman ever to work a Major League Baseball (MLB) spring training game, Pam Postema, graduated from the school, as have a number of other female professional umpires. The school was previously known as the Bill McGowan School for Umpires and the Al Somers Umpire School.
Umpire Bill McGowan founded the program as the Bill McGowan School for Umpires in 1938. The school was run by former umpire Al Somers after McGowan's death in the 1950s.[1]Harry Wendelstedt was the chief instructor for the Somers school, acquiring the school in 1977, where it has stayed in family ownership, with son Hunter Wendelstedt in control since 2012.[2]
Facilities
The Wendelstedt Umpire School leases the Harry Wendelstedt Jr. baseball fields at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex. The school's lease is good through 2027 after being renewed for a decade in 2017.[3] Students stay in a hotel offsite, and must commute to the classroom and fields for coursework.
Curriculum
While the Wendelstedt Umpire School is in session, students work six days a week, Monday through Saturday, usually starting at 9am. Students train in a classroom and on the fields. Training on most days begins in a classroom, where students learn from two instructors, one reading from the Official Baseball Rules while the other interprets the rules. Students take 25 tests, and to qualify for advancement, must score a 70% or better. All tests are mostly multiple choice and true/false, and are all based on the teachings of the rules.
Following training in the classroom, students walk to the fields. Students learn from instructors on how to apply the rules on the baseball diamond. They also learn proper umpire mechanics. Students work in batting cages, where they learn how to track pitches and effectively call balls and strikes. Students will also participate in simulated games where instructors control certain situations to help teach and evaluate the students.[4]
^Lowenstein, Lee (2007). "Dean of Umpires: Bill McGowan (review)". NINE: A Journal of Baseball History and Culture. 15 (2): 142–144. doi:10.1353/nin.2007.0013. S2CID 154645709. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
^Willson, Brad (January 4, 1977). "It was an end of an era thing, without tears". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
^"City approves 10-year lease agreement with Wendelstedt Umpire School after Selby changes his mind | Ormond Beach Observer". Ormond Beach Observer. 2017-08-02. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
^Birenbaum, Jonah. "My week at umpire school, where everyone wants a thankless job". theScore.com. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
External links
Official website
January 08, 2023
harry, wendelstedt, umpire, school, umpires, professional, baseball, independent, umpire, training, program, recognized, minor, leagues, major, leagues, located, ormond, beach, florida, runs, five, weeks, each, early, january, through, early, february, school,. The Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School umpires for professional baseball is an independent umpire training program recognized by the minor leagues and major leagues It is located in Ormond Beach Florida It runs for five weeks each early January through early February The school is open to both men and women the only woman ever to work a Major League Baseball MLB spring training game Pam Postema graduated from the school as have a number of other female professional umpires The school was previously known as the Bill McGowan School for Umpires and the Al Somers Umpire School Harry Wendelstedt Umpire SchoolLocationOrmond Beach FloridaUnited StatesCoordinates29 18 25 N 81 07 13 W 29 30694 N 81 12028 W 29 30694 81 12028 Coordinates 29 18 25 N 81 07 13 W 29 30694 N 81 12028 W 29 30694 81 12028InformationOther namesWendelstedt Umpire School Harry Wendelstedt School for UmpiresFormer namesBill McGowan School for Umpires Al Somers Umpire SchoolFounded1938Tuition 2 450 Contents 1 History 2 Facilities 3 Curriculum 4 Staff 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditUmpire Bill McGowan founded the program as the Bill McGowan School for Umpires in 1938 The school was run by former umpire Al Somers after McGowan s death in the 1950s 1 Harry Wendelstedt was the chief instructor for the Somers school acquiring the school in 1977 where it has stayed in family ownership with son Hunter Wendelstedt in control since 2012 2 Facilities EditThe Wendelstedt Umpire School leases the Harry Wendelstedt Jr baseball fields at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex The school s lease is good through 2027 after being renewed for a decade in 2017 3 Students stay in a hotel offsite and must commute to the classroom and fields for coursework Curriculum EditWhile the Wendelstedt Umpire School is in session students work six days a week Monday through Saturday usually starting at 9am Students train in a classroom and on the fields Training on most days begins in a classroom where students learn from two instructors one reading from the Official Baseball Rules while the other interprets the rules Students take 25 tests and to qualify for advancement must score a 70 or better All tests are mostly multiple choice and true false and are all based on the teachings of the rules Following training in the classroom students walk to the fields Students learn from instructors on how to apply the rules on the baseball diamond They also learn proper umpire mechanics Students work in batting cages where they learn how to track pitches and effectively call balls and strikes Students will also participate in simulated games where instructors control certain situations to help teach and evaluate the students 4 Staff EditThe Wendelstedt Umpire School has produced more MLB umpires than all other schools in history combined It has fourteen full time MLB umpires and a number of minor league umpires on its staff The current MLB umpires that have been instructors at the school include Lance Barksdale Gerry Davis Dana DeMuth Doug Eddings Bruce Froemming Greg Gibson Brian Gorman Ed Hickox John Hirschbeck Sam Holbrook Ron Kulpa Jerry Layne Randy Marsh Chuck Meriwether Paul Nauert Charlie Reliford Larry Vanover Tim Welke and Hunter Wendelstedt References Edit Lowenstein Lee 2007 Dean of Umpires Bill McGowan review NINE A Journal of Baseball History and Culture 15 2 142 144 doi 10 1353 nin 2007 0013 S2CID 154645709 Retrieved October 30 2014 Willson Brad January 4 1977 It was an end of an era thing without tears Daytona Beach Morning Journal Retrieved October 30 2014 City approves 10 year lease agreement with Wendelstedt Umpire School after Selby changes his mind Ormond Beach Observer Ormond Beach Observer 2017 08 02 Retrieved 2019 05 30 Birenbaum Jonah My week at umpire school where everyone wants a thankless job theScore com Retrieved 2019 05 30 External links EditOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School amp oldid 1130724151, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
