Angel Hernandez (umpire)
Encyclopedia
Ángel Hernández is an umpire
in Major League Baseball
. He has worked in the National League
from 1991 to 1999, and throughout both major leagues since 2000. He has umpired in the World Series
in 2002
and 2005
, as well as the 1999 All-Star Game
. He has officiated in four League Championship Series
– two in each league (2000
, 2001
, 2003
, 2004
), and in five National League Division Series
(1997
, 1998
, 2002
, 2005
, and 2011
). Hernandez also worked Game 7 of the 2008 ALCS as an injury fill-in. Hernández wears the uniform number 55 (He wore number 5 while in the National League, but the number was taken by Dale Scott
when the umpires were consolidated under MLB in 2000).
Hernández has been involved in a number of high-profile incidents with players and even fans. On August 7, 2001, he ejected a guest singer of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game
" at Wrigley Field
. The ejectee was former Chicago Bears
player Steve McMichael
, who had taken a shot at Hernandez's umpiring after being introduced as the guest singer.
On July 17, 2006, Hernández ejected Dodgers' first base coach Mariano Duncan
while umpiring third base. When Duncan came out of the dugout to argue the ejection, he tossed his cap onto the ground in anger. Immediately after his peers brought Duncan back into the dugout, Hernández picked up the cap and tossed it to a fan in the stands. The next day Duncan taped his cap onto his head right before delivering the Dodgers' lineup to the umpires.
Hernández has had multiple confrontations with Atlanta Braves
infielder Julio Lugo
. In April 2007, Lugo attempted to call timeout and stepped out of the batter's box just as the pitcher went into his windup, and Hernández called the resulting pitch a strike. This began an argument between Lugo and Hernández, but did not result in any ejection. On May 27, 2008, Lugo was among multiple Red Sox who asked for a check swing ruling from Hernández, umpiring at third base. Hernández stared at Lugo, Lugo asked why he was looking at him, and Hernández abruptly ejected Lugo from the game. When Boston manager Terry Francona
asked why Lugo was thrown out, Hernández ejected him as well.
In a 1999 survey conducted by the Major League Baseball Players Association, Hernández was ranked 31st out of 36 National League umpires. However, later that year Hernández was asked to return for the 2000 season while 13 of his NL colleagues were let go. Given his low ranking, the Philadelphia Inquirer termed the retention of Hernández one of the "surprises" of the 1999 purge.
A 2006 Sports Illustrated
poll of Major League players listed Hernandez as the third worst umpire in MLB.
Hernández was behind the plate for the final game at the old Yankee Stadium on September 21, 2008.
In a June 2, 2010 game between the Tampa Bay Rays
and the Toronto Blue Jays
, Hernández made a controversial call after the Blue Jays appealed that Sean Rodriguez
did not tag third base when rounding for home, resulting in the Rays losing a run. Replays clearly showed third base was in fact tagged. The night before he ejected Joe Maddon
after he came out to argue when Carlos Pena
asked for time, but it wasn't granted to him, resulting in a strikeout in the top of the 9th in a close ballgame. Besides this call, Maddon argued that Hernández had been calling a very wide strike zone against the Rays, but not against the Blue Jays throughout the game. Following the June 2 game Hernández said "I have no comment, The guy missed the bag."
For the second half of the 2011 baseball season Hernández was moved from Joe West's umpiring crew to Gerry Davis's crew.
Umpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. He has worked in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
from 1991 to 1999, and throughout both major leagues since 2000. He has umpired in the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
in 2002
2002 World Series
The 2002 World Series was a best-of-seven playoff series to determine the champion of Major League Baseball for the 2002 season. It was the 98th such contest between the champions of the American League and National League , and featured the AL champion Anaheim Angels against the NL champion San...
and 2005
2005 World Series
The 2005 World Series, the 101st Major League Baseball championship series, saw the American League champion Chicago White Sox sweep the National League champion Houston Astros four games to none in the best-of-seven-games series, winning their third championship and first since 1917.Home-field...
, as well as the 1999 All-Star Game
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
. He has officiated in four League Championship Series
League Championship Series
The League Championship Series is the official name for a round of postseason play in Major League Baseball which has been conducted since 1969...
– two in each league (2000
2000 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 10, 2000 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkGame 1 at Yankee Stadium started as a pitchers' duel between Mariners' Freddy García and Yankees' Denny Neagle. Neither team would score until the top of the fifth when Mark McLemore hit a two-out ground rule double off Neagle...
, 2001
2001 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 16, 2001 at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, ArizonaThe 2001 NLCS began with an excellent pitching matchup of multiple-Cy Young Award winners Randy Johnson and Greg Maddux. Reggie Sanders plated a run in the first with a single to give Arizona a 1–0 lead. Meanwhile, Johnson...
, 2003
2003 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 8, 2003 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkBacked by three home runs, Tim Wakefield shut the Bombers down in Game 1.-Game 2:Thursday, October 9, 2003 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York...
, 2004
2004 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 13, 2004 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MissouriThe series opener at St. Louis' Busch Stadium was a slugfest involving four homers, 17 runs, and 22 hits, eventually won by St. Louis, 10–7. Houston struck the first blow of the series when Carlos Beltrán hit a two-run home...
), and in five National League Division Series
National League Division Series
In Major League Baseball, the National League Division Series determine which two teams from the National League will advance to the National League Championship Series...
(1997
1997 National League Division Series
-Houston Astros vs. Atlanta Braves:-San Francisco vs. Florida:The San Francisco Giants made it back to the postseason for the first time since the 1989 World Series. The Florida Marlins were in the postseason for the first time ever.-Game 1, September 30:...
, 1998
1998 National League Division Series
-Houston Astros vs. San Diego Padres:-Game 1, September 30:Turner Field in Atlanta, GeorgiaThe Braves faced the Chicago Cubs, who made it into the playoffs by beating the San Francisco Giants in a tiebreaker for the Wild Card spot. The Braves had sixteen more regular season wins and it showed in...
, 2002
2002 National League Division Series
-Arizona Diamondbacks vs. St. Louis Cardinals:-Atlanta vs. San Francisco:The Atlanta Braves had won their eleventh straight division title. The San Francisco Giants were making their third appearance in the postseason since 1997...
, 2005
2005 National League Division Series
-Atlanta Braves vs. Houston Astros:-Game 1, October 4:Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MissouriIt was a matchup between Jake Peavy and eventual 2005 Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter. In the bottom of the first, Jim Edmonds's one-out solo homer put the Cardinals up 1–0...
, and 2011
2011 National League Division Series
The 2011 National League Division Series were two best-of-five playoffs comprising the opening round of the Major League Baseball postseason, played to determine the participating teams in the 2011 National League Championship Series. Three divisional winners and a fourth team—a wild card—played...
). Hernandez also worked Game 7 of the 2008 ALCS as an injury fill-in. Hernández wears the uniform number 55 (He wore number 5 while in the National League, but the number was taken by Dale Scott
Dale Scott
Dale Allan Scott is an umpire in Major League Baseball. He worked in the American League from 1986 to 1999, and has officiated in both leagues since 2000, becoming a crew chief in 2001...
when the umpires were consolidated under MLB in 2000).
Hernández has been involved in a number of high-profile incidents with players and even fans. On August 7, 2001, he ejected a guest singer of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
"Take Me Out to the Ball Game" is a 1908 Tin Pan Alley song by Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer which has become the unofficial anthem of baseball, although neither of its authors had attended a game prior to writing the song. The song is traditionally sung during the seventh-inning stretch of...
" at Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
. The ejectee was former Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
player Steve McMichael
Steve McMichael
-World Wrestling Federation :After the end of his NFL career, he appeared at ringside in the WWF for Lawrence Taylor at WrestleMania XI on April 2, 1995 in Hartford, Connecticut. Taylor was wrestling Bam Bam Bigelow and there were several football players at ringside to keep wrestlers from...
, who had taken a shot at Hernandez's umpiring after being introduced as the guest singer.
On July 17, 2006, Hernández ejected Dodgers' first base coach Mariano Duncan
Mariano Duncan
Mariano Duncan Nalasco is a retired second baseman and shortstop who played for several Major League Baseball teams during his 12 year career. He was the infield coach and 1st base coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers under Managers Grady Little and Joe Torre...
while umpiring third base. When Duncan came out of the dugout to argue the ejection, he tossed his cap onto the ground in anger. Immediately after his peers brought Duncan back into the dugout, Hernández picked up the cap and tossed it to a fan in the stands. The next day Duncan taped his cap onto his head right before delivering the Dodgers' lineup to the umpires.
Hernández has had multiple confrontations with Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
infielder Julio Lugo
Julio Lugo
Julio Cesar Lugo is a Dominican professional baseball infielder but is currently a free agent. He bats and throws right-handed. Lugo is the older brother of baseball pitcher Ruddy Lugo....
. In April 2007, Lugo attempted to call timeout and stepped out of the batter's box just as the pitcher went into his windup, and Hernández called the resulting pitch a strike. This began an argument between Lugo and Hernández, but did not result in any ejection. On May 27, 2008, Lugo was among multiple Red Sox who asked for a check swing ruling from Hernández, umpiring at third base. Hernández stared at Lugo, Lugo asked why he was looking at him, and Hernández abruptly ejected Lugo from the game. When Boston manager Terry Francona
Terry Francona
Terry Jon Francona , nicknamed "Tito," is a former Major League Baseball manager and a former player. He was a first baseman and outfielder in the majors from 1981 to 1990. After retiring as a player, he managed several minor league teams in the 1990s before managing the Philadelphia Phillies for...
asked why Lugo was thrown out, Hernández ejected him as well.
In a 1999 survey conducted by the Major League Baseball Players Association, Hernández was ranked 31st out of 36 National League umpires. However, later that year Hernández was asked to return for the 2000 season while 13 of his NL colleagues were let go. Given his low ranking, the Philadelphia Inquirer termed the retention of Hernández one of the "surprises" of the 1999 purge.
A 2006 Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
poll of Major League players listed Hernandez as the third worst umpire in MLB.
Hernández was behind the plate for the final game at the old Yankee Stadium on September 21, 2008.
In a June 2, 2010 game between the Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
and the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
, Hernández made a controversial call after the Blue Jays appealed that Sean Rodriguez
Sean Rodriguez
Sean John Rodriguez is a Cuban American Major League Baseball short stop for the Tampa Bay Rays.-High school career:...
did not tag third base when rounding for home, resulting in the Rays losing a run. Replays clearly showed third base was in fact tagged. The night before he ejected Joe Maddon
Joe Maddon
Joseph John Maddon is the Major League Baseball manager for the Tampa Bay Rays.He previously served as interim manager of the Anaheim Angels in both 1996 and 1999. He was also a long-time bench coach for the team.-Early life and career:Maddon attended Lafayette College, where he played baseball...
after he came out to argue when Carlos Pena
Carlos Peña
Carlos Felipe Peña is a Dominican professional baseball left-handed first baseman. He played previously with the Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics, Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago Cubs.Although he was born in Santo Domingo and his family is from San Francisco de Macorís,...
asked for time, but it wasn't granted to him, resulting in a strikeout in the top of the 9th in a close ballgame. Besides this call, Maddon argued that Hernández had been calling a very wide strike zone against the Rays, but not against the Blue Jays throughout the game. Following the June 2 game Hernández said "I have no comment, The guy missed the bag."
For the second half of the 2011 baseball season Hernández was moved from Joe West's umpiring crew to Gerry Davis's crew.