Duties of Umpire U1

Major League Baseball uses four umpires: one behind home plate (or umpire-in-chief), and one field umpire for each of the three bases on the diamond. The umpire's prime objective is to be in position to make calls in all the areas of his jurisdiction. Umpire 1 (U1) is responsible for calling the game as it occurs anywhere along the first base line.

  1. Position

    • MLB Rule 9.01 (b): "A field umpire may take any position on the playing field he thinks best suited to make impending decisions on the bases." No matter what the play, the first-base umpire must have the best sight line to make the most accurate call he can. Players and managers most complain about calls when they feel the umpire was out of position to see the play clearly.

    "What Did You See?"

    • MLB rules are clear and concise, at least on paper.

      MLB Rule 9.04 (b) 2: "Take concurrent jurisdiction with the umpire-in-chief in calling 'time,' balks, illegal pitches, or defacement or discoloration of the ball by any player." The first-base ump can offer his input, if asked, to the chief umpire on whether a pitch was illegal, if a player has "doctored" (illegally manipulated) the ball, or if that pitcher committed a "balk" (a throwing foul.) In these situations, the U1 can assist the home-plate umpire in making a final decision.

    Making the Call

    • An U1 could decide that a player's bat went all the way around for a strike.

      MLB Rule 9.04 (c): "...the umpire-in-chief shall call all the umpires into consultation, with no manager or player present. After consultation, the umpire-in-chief...shall determine which decision shall prevail, based on which umpire was in best position...." If U1, the first-base ump, was poised to see and make the best call, that is the call. In many cases, this could happen if U1 judges that a fly ball did leave the park before bouncing back on to the field (home run). Or, the U1 could determine that a fly ball landed less than an inch into "foul" territory along the first base line. If a runner beats a throw to the first base bag by milliseconds, the chief ump may go along with U1's call because he is closest to the play.

    Authority

    • MLB Rule 9.01 (b): "Each umpire has authority to order a player, coach, manager or club officer...to refrain from doing anything which affects the administering of these rules...". In other words, the first-base umpire (U1) has full authority to turn around and say, "Zip it," to a manager (or player) who is protesting a call too much from the dugout.

    "Enough Already!"

    • MLB Rule 9.01 (d): "Each umpire has authority to disqualify any player, coach, manager or substitute for objecting to decisions or for unsportsmanlike conduct or language, and to eject such disqualified person from the playing field." The U1 can, and often does, deal directly with manager protests if the play in question occurs on the first base side. In fact, the U1 can make a binding decision to toss any player or manager for misconduct relating to that first base call.

    Mandate: Appropriate, Respectful Calls

    • Major League Baseball's comment to its umpires: "Keep your eye everlastingly on the ball while it is in play. It is more vital to know just where a fly ball fell, or a thrown ball finished up, than whether or not a runner missed a base...be courteous, impartial and firm, and so compel respect from all." In the end, a U1, as with all umpires, is responsible for applying the rules that allow baseball teams to settle their own scores without undue interference.

      On Tuesday, June 1, 2010, first base umpire Jim Joyce missed a call that cost Detroit Tigers' pitcher Armando Galarraga a perfect game. When asked for his thoughts on the blown call, Washington Nationals infielder Adam Dunn later said, "He's [Joyce] the best in the game. He cares about the game. He cares about the people involved. It's a shame it happened to him."