Joe West (umpire) - Umpiring Career

Umpiring Career

While umpiring locally as a college student, West met Carolina League umpire supervisor Malcolm Sykes, who recommended that West attend an umpire training school. West went to umpire school and graduated at the top of his class. He worked in several minor league circuits (the Western Carolinas League, Puerto Rican League, Florida Instructional League, Southern League and American Association) before his promotion to the major leagues. West made his first NL appearance in 1976 and joined the full-time NL staff in 1978. In 1999, West was among 22 umpires who were terminated when they engaged in a failed mass resignation strategy during a labor dispute. After arbitration and appeals, he was rehired by the MLB in 2002.

West worked his 4000th game on July 30, 2009 at Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; he ejected Washington Nationals manager Jim Riggleman from the contest. West's career has spanned the tenure of baseball commissioners Bowie Kuhn, Peter Ueberroth, Bart Giamatti, Fay Vincent, and Bud Selig. He has worn number 22 throughout his career. He has umpired in the World Series in 1992, 1997, 2005, 2009, and 2012, serving as crew chief in 2005. He has also umpired in the MLB All-Star Game in 1987 and 2005, calling balls and strikes the second time. He has officiated in an LCS seven times (NL: 1981, 1986, 1988, 1993, 1996; AL: 2003, 2004) and has worked in six League Division Series (NL: 1995, 2011, 2012; AL: 2002, 2005, 2009).

As of the 2012 season, West is the MLB's most senior umpire. He was elected president of the WUA in 2009. West and the union's governing board negotiated the largest umpiring contract in the history of the MLB. The contract runs from 2010 through the 2014 season. West also designed and patented the chest protector sold commercially as the West Vest, now marketed by Wilson Sporting Goods. He designed Wilson's high-end umpiring gear, the only umpiring equipment endorsed by the MLB.