Tom Hallion
| Tom Hallion | |
|---|---|
 Hallion in 2011 | |
| Born |
September 5, 1956 Saugerties, New York |
| Occupation | MLB umpire |
| Height | 5' 10" |
| Weight | 185 lbs |
Thomas Francis "Tom" Hallion (born September 5, 1956) is an American umpire in Major League Baseball (MLB) who has worked in the National League from 1985 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues since 2005. He is currently a crew chief. Hallion is known for his exciting and demonstrative strikeout signal in which he twists his body 180 degrees. He was among the umpires who lost their jobs after resigning as part of a failed union bargaining strategy in 1999, but his rehiring was agreed to in December 2004 in a settlement with Major League Baseball.[1] Hallion wore uniform number 20 during his National League career and retained the number when he rejoined the MLB umpire staff in 2005.
Early and personal life
Hallion was born on September 5, 1956, to Alice and Francis Hallion in Saugerties, New York. He has two sisters, Kathy Cotich and Maribeth, and a brother, Francis.[2]
Hallion attended the University of Buffalo, degree in Engineering. He married Elizabeth "Betsy" Carnright on September 11, 1983. They have three children, Corey, Kyle and Jacob, and reside in Louisville, Kentucky.[3][4]
Umpiring career
While he was at the University of Buffalo, Hallion began umpiring as a summer job for the Saugerties Athletic Association softball league, a job got through his friend Jack Keeley. In 1979, he attended Bill Kinnamon Umpiring School.
He began his professional umpiring career in the New York - Penn League (1979), which was followed by stints in the Carolina League (1980–1981), Eastern League (1982) and American Association (1983–1985) before joining the NL staff.
He has officiated in the World Series in 2008, the League Championship Series in 1998, 2007, 2009, 2010, and 2011, and in the Division Series in 1996, 1997, 2008, 2012, and 2013. He has also worked the All-Star Game in 1992 and 2008, being at second base for the latter contest at Yankee Stadium which went a record 15 innings.
In 2013, Hallion was fined by MLB for swearing at pitcher David Price.[5]
Notable games
Hallion was the home plate umpire on July 12, 1997 when Francisco Córdova and Ricardo Rincón of the Pittsburgh Pirates combined on a 3-0, 10-inning no-hitter against the Houston Astros.[6]
Hallion also umpired in the 2006 World Baseball Classic, and was behind the plate for the championship game between Japan and Cuba.
In 2009, he was the home plate umpire for the first game ever at the New Yankee Stadium.[7]
Hallion was the first base umpire when San Francisco Giants pitcher Jonathan Sánchez no-hit the San Diego Padres on July 10, 2009.[8]
On June 8, 2010, he was behind the plate when Stephen Strasburg struck out 14 batters in his Major League debut.[9]
Hallion's crew was also selected to umpire the 2012 MLB Japan Series between the Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics. Hallion was the home-plate umpire for the first of the two games.
Hallion was the second base umpire for Henderson Alvarez's no-hitter on September 29, 2013.[10]
See also
References
- ↑ "Six more will split $2.3M in severance pay". Associated Press via ESPN. 2004-12-24. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
- ↑ Saugerties Sports Hall of Fame Club saugertieshof.com (accessed August 1, 2010)
- ↑ National League Green Book 1999, p. 49.
- ↑ Berkow, Ira New York Times, April 4, 2005(accessed August 1, 2010)
- ↑ Crasnick, Jerry. "David Price, Tom Hallion fined". espn.go.com. May 2, 2013. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
- ↑ "Boxscore of July 12, 1997 game at Three Rivers Stadium". Retrosheet. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
- ↑ Yankees open new stadium with blowout loss to Indians ESPN.com. Retrieved 26 July 2012
- ↑ Sanchez makes most of opportunity, throws no-hitter in front of father ESPN.com. Retrieved 26 July 2012
- ↑ Strasburg lives up to hype by reaching 100 mph with fastball to fan Pirates ESPN.com. Retrieved 2 July 2012
- ↑ ESPN.com Retrieved 29 September 2013
External links
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