Mark Stephen Johnson (November 18, 1950 – October 26, 2016)[1] was a professional baseball umpire who worked in the American League from 1979 to 1999, wearing uniform number 25 when the AL adopted them in 1980. Johnson was an umpire in the 1993 World Series and the 1990 and 1999 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. In his career, he umpired 1,979 Major League games.[2]
Johnson left a 1982 Oakland-Toronto game with a broken hand after a pitch from Matt Keough hit Willie Upshaw after which the ball then struck Johnson, who was working home plate. Third base umpire Rich Garcia replaced Johnson behind the plate.[4]
He left a 1985 Yankees-Indians game by stretcher after being struck on the left side of the groin by a fastball from Brian Fisher. Although the ball glanced off the catcher's mitt of Ron Hassey, it still hit Johnson with enough force to injure him.[5]
In 1994, Johnson and his crew received a police escort following a spring training game. In that game, Johnson had a heated confrontation with Gary DiSarcina. DiSarcina was ejected from the game, but claimed Johnson instigated the dispute by insulting DiSarcina's hitting ability. Two players alleged Johnson told DiSarcina, "You're a .220 hitter and I'm going to (get) you all year." The ejection was DiSarcina's first as a professional baseball player.[6]
Resignationedit
Johnson was one of 22 umpires who lost their jobs amid the 1999 Major League Umpires Association mass resignation. The resignations, which were intended as a bargaining strategy, backfired when Major League Baseball simply accepted them and hired replacements from the minor leagues.[7]
^"TSN Umpire Card". The Sporting News. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
^"Sports People; Umpire a Casualty". New York Times. June 20, 1982. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
^"Umpire Mark Johnson Hit in Groin". Associated Press. August 9, 1985. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
^Nightengale, Bob (March 13, 1994). "DiSarcina, Umpire in Grudge Match?". LA Times. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
^Gargano, Anthony (September 2, 1999). "The Umpires Strike Out; Dispute Ends as 22 Lose Their Jobs". Daily News. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
External linksedit
Umpire Card
January 01, 1970
mark, johnson, umpire, mark, stephen, johnson, november, 1950, october, 2016, professional, baseball, umpire, worked, american, league, from, 1979, 1999, wearing, uniform, number, when, adopted, them, 1980, johnson, umpire, 1993, world, series, 1990, 1999, maj. Mark Stephen Johnson November 18 1950 October 26 2016 1 was a professional baseball umpire who worked in the American League from 1979 to 1999 wearing uniform number 25 when the AL adopted them in 1980 Johnson was an umpire in the 1993 World Series and the 1990 and 1999 Major League Baseball All Star Game In his career he umpired 1 979 Major League games 2 Mark JohnsonBornMark Stephen Johnson 1950 11 18 November 18 1950Louisville Kentucky USDiedOctober 26 2016 2016 10 26 aged 65 Honolulu Hawaii USYears active1979 1999Known forUmpire Contents 1 Early career 2 Notable games 3 Resignation 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksEarly career editJohnson spent several years as a minor league umpire in the Gulf Coast League Florida State League Southern League and Pacific Coast League 3 Notable games editJohnson left a 1982 Oakland Toronto game with a broken hand after a pitch from Matt Keough hit Willie Upshaw after which the ball then struck Johnson who was working home plate Third base umpire Rich Garcia replaced Johnson behind the plate 4 He left a 1985 Yankees Indians game by stretcher after being struck on the left side of the groin by a fastball from Brian Fisher Although the ball glanced off the catcher s mitt of Ron Hassey it still hit Johnson with enough force to injure him 5 In 1994 Johnson and his crew received a police escort following a spring training game In that game Johnson had a heated confrontation with Gary DiSarcina DiSarcina was ejected from the game but claimed Johnson instigated the dispute by insulting DiSarcina s hitting ability Two players alleged Johnson told DiSarcina You re a 220 hitter and I m going to get you all year The ejection was DiSarcina s first as a professional baseball player 6 Resignation editJohnson was one of 22 umpires who lost their jobs amid the 1999 Major League Umpires Association mass resignation The resignations which were intended as a bargaining strategy backfired when Major League Baseball simply accepted them and hired replacements from the minor leagues 7 See also edit nbsp Baseball portal List of Major League Baseball umpiresReferences edit MARK S JOHNSON Honolulu Hawaii Obituaries Hawaii Newspaper Obituaries Honolulu Star Advertiser November 10 2016 Retrosheet TSN Umpire Card The Sporting News Retrieved June 24 2012 Sports People Umpire a Casualty New York Times June 20 1982 Retrieved June 24 2012 Umpire Mark Johnson Hit in Groin Associated Press August 9 1985 Retrieved June 24 2012 Nightengale Bob March 13 1994 DiSarcina Umpire in Grudge Match LA Times Retrieved June 24 2012 Gargano Anthony September 2 1999 The Umpires Strike Out Dispute Ends as 22 Lose Their Jobs Daily News Retrieved June 24 2012 External links editUmpire Card Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mark Johnson umpire amp oldid 1179143529, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
