Blind, but durable

Umpire Bruce Froemming is nearing game number 5,000 as a major league umpire. He upped his total to 4,972 last night at PNC Park as the Pirates beat the Rockies 3-1.

Hall-of-Famer Bill Klem is the only ump in major league history to call over 5,000 games, ending his career in 1940 with 5,374.

So the indomitable Froemming seems Hall-bound for sure, if not for his game-total, at least for the glory of having thrown Billy Martin out of Game 4 of the 1976 World Series, or for having gracefully stepped aside and let Varitek make A-Rod his bitch. Then again, he did make a miserable call at first against the Phils in Game 3 of the 1977 NLCS, a call which this Phillie fan, seven years old at the time, remembers like it was yesterday. Hall of Fame or not, Bruce Froemming, Davey Lopes was out and you ruined my year. I hope you still carry the shame.

Umpire's total nears 5,000 games (Philly Inquirer)
Ump's fingerprints were on Phils' "Black Friday" playoff mess (Philly Inquirer)