The Responsibilities for a Major League Umpire

Major league baseball is full of complex rules requiring a strong attention to detail. Umpires must know the rule book cover to cover and be ready for a variety of situations that could arise during a game. Umpires work in groups of four and rotate positions over the course of a 3- or 4-game series. Each umpire has personal responsibilities to ensure that a baseball game runs as smoothly as possible.

  1. Plate Umpire

    • Home plate umpires sometimes must eject coaches who argue balls and strikes.

      The most prominent umpire in a major league game is the one working behind the plate. While his main duty is to determine strikes and balls, his duties extend well beyond calling pitches. The plate umpire is also responsible for recording and reporting any lineup changes to the official scorer. The home plate umpire also determines whether a ball is fair or foul before it reaches first or third base. On plays at the plate, the home plate umpire is responsible for signaling out or safe.

    First Base Umpire

    • First base umpires determine whether a ball is fair or foul once it passes the base.

      The first base umpire generally receives the most work of all the base umpires. This is because many outs occur at first base, leaving the umpire to make multiple calls per game. The first base umpire is also responsible for making fair or foul calls down the right field line. The home plate umpire may ask the first base umpire for help if a right-handed batter performs a check swing and a strike call is in question.

    Second Base Umpire

    • A second base umpire frequently has to make a safe or out call on a stolen base attempt.

      The second base umpire typically makes the fewest calls during a game. His main responsibility is making safe or out calls at second base. During double play attempts, the second base umpire will have to determine whether the baserunner interferes with the fielder turning the double play.

    Third Base Umpire

    • Third base umpires handle close plays at the bag.

      The third base umpire's job is similar to that of the first base umpire; the only difference being that fewer plays tend to occur at third base. In addition to safe and out calls, the third base umpire makes fair and foul calls on balls hit down the left field line. He is also called upon on occasion by the home plate umpire to make a strike call on a left-handed batter's check swing.

    Umpire Crew

    • In the playoffs, umpiring crews are expanded to six members to include left and right field foul lines.

      While there is a crew chief in every umpire team who serves as the authority figure, all members of a baseball umpiring crew are allowed to make certain calls. Crew members frequently gather together to make sure the proper call is made. Any umpire can eject a player or coach who acts in an unsportsmanlike manner when arguing a call. All umpires also have the jurisdiction to make interference calls on baserunners or balk calls on pitchers. Base umpires are also responsible for drifting into the outfield to make calls on fly balls. This can include determining whether the ball was caught or trapped and also distinguishing between home runs and ground rule doubles.