Rich Garcia - Umpiring Career

Umpiring Career

After graduating from his hometown's Key West High School in 1960, Garcia served in the United States Marine Corps as a combat engineer until 1964. Stationed in Okinawa and North Carolina during his tour of duty, he also played on the Marine Corps baseball team for three years.

He completed his training from MLB's Umpire Specialization Course in 1970. He progressed up the minor leagues, starting with the Florida State League in 1970 and 1971, followed by the Southern League in 1972 and the International League in 1973 and 1974. During those five years he worked during the offseason in the Florida Instructional League (1970–1971, 1973–1974) and the Dominican Winter Baseball League (1972–1973).

Garcia was hired by the American League in 1975, working at third base in his major league debut in the Minnesota Twins' season-opening 11–4 victory over the Texas Rangers at Arlington Stadium on April 8. His first assignment behind the plate was the Rangers' 7–5 loss to the defending World Series Champion Oakland Athletics in the same ballpark three nights later on April 11.

Garcia worked two All-Star Games (1980, 1992), three American League Division Series (1995, 1997, 1998), five American League Championship Series (1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1996) and four World Series (1981, 1984, 1989, 1998). He was crew chief for the 1989 and 1998 World Series, as well as the 1990 ALCS.

Garcia is one of seven major leagues umpires who have officiated in two perfect games. He was behind the plate when Len Barker did it in the Cleveland Indians' 3–0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on May 15, 1981. Garcia was umpiring at third base for the one David Wells pitched in the New York Yankees' 4–0 win over the Minnesota Twins on May 17, 1998.