Jeff Nelson (umpire)
| 45 – Jeff Nelson | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| Nelson in 2011. | ||
| Born: June 1, 1965 St. Paul, Minnesota | ||
| MLB debut | ||
| 1999 | ||
| Umpiring crew | ||
| I | ||
| Crew members | ||
| Jim Joyce (crew chief) | ||
| Jeff Nelson | ||
| Jim Wolf | ||
| Ed Hickox | ||
| Career highlights and awards | ||
Special Assignments
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Jeffrey Brian Nelson (born on June 1, 1965) is an umpire in Major League Baseball who was named to the National League staff prior to the 1999 season, and has worked throughout both major leagues since 2000. Nelson, a graduate of Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota, wears uniform number 45.
Umpiring career
Nelson was named Top Prospect at the Joe Brinkman Umpiring School in 1989. He was promoted to the National League prior to the 1999 season along with Paul Nauert to fill vacancies left by the retirements of Jim Quick and Harry Wendelstedt.
While in the minor leagues, Nelson was the chief rules instructor at the former Brinkman-Froemming umpire school in Cocoa, Florida from 1997 until the school's closing in 1998. He continues to teach at umpire clinics in the off-season. Additionally, Nelson is currently the secretary/treasurer of the major league umpires' union, the World Umpires Association.
During his career, Nelson has received several postseason assignments, including the 2005 World Series and 2009 World Series. He also worked the League Championship Series in 2002, 2004, 2010, 2011 and 2012; and the Division Series in 2000, 2001, 2005, 2008 and 2009. He umpired in the 2006 All-Star Game.
In 2010 he was assigned to Crew G with crew chief Jeff Kellogg, Larry Vanover and Mark Carlson.
Controversy
During Game 2 of the 2012 American League Championship Series, Nelson ejected New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi for arguing a missed call at second base after Nelson incorrectly ruled that Detroit Tiger Omar Infante was safe. Nelson later acknowledged his safe call was wrong.[1]
Notable games
Nelson was behind home plate when Mark McGwire hit his 500th home run, and worked the game in which Rickey Henderson made his 3000th hit.
He served as the second base umpire when Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano threw a no-hitter against the Houston Astros at Miller Park on September 14, 2008.[2]
Nelson was the plate umpire for a Detroit Tigers–Kansas City Royals game on September 27, 2012 when Tigers pitcher Doug Fister set an American League record by striking out nine consecutive batters.[3]
He was chosen as one of the umpires for the one-game Wild Card playoff between the Atlanta Braves and the St. Louis Cardinals on October 5, 2012.[4]
See also
References
- ↑ Anibal Sanchez silences Yanks as Tigers take 2-0 lead. ESPN.com. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
- ↑ Zambrano masters Astros en route to first no-hitter for Cubs in 36 years ESPN.com. Retrieved 24 July 2012
- ↑ Doug Fister gets AL-record 9 straight K's; Tigers keep Central lead. ESPN.com. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
- ↑ Umpires for Wild Card Games, Division Series announced Darling, Kellogg Will Serve As Crew Chiefs for Wild Card Games; Davis, DeMuth, Gorman and West Assigned to Lead Division Series Crews. MLB.com. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
