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Ed Hickox (umpire)
Encyclopedia
Edwin William Hickox is an umpire
in Major League Baseball
who worked in the American League
from 1990 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues beginning in 2005. He wears uniform number 15. Hickox officiated in the 2007 National League Division Series
and the 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
.
Hickox became an Eagle Scout
in 1979. He graduated from Deland High School and St. Johns River Community College
, where he played baseball
. After graduating from the Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School
in 1983, he went on to umpire for several of baseball's minor leagues
, and worked regularly as a substitute in the AL before his formal promotion to the league's staff in 1999. He resigned his position following the 1999 season as part of a failed union bargaining strategy, and continued working in the minor leagues before resuming major leagues games in 2005 following the adoption of a new union contract; he again became a full member of the major league staff in 2007. Hickox worked the inaugural World Baseball Classic
in 2006.
Ed is known for wearing his plate coat over his chest protector when he works the plate, forgoing the pullover shirt or pullover jacket. He also wears the new hockey-style mask, and is reputed to be the only MLB umpire to wear a hat underneath it.
On April 18, 2009, Ed was struck in the helmet by a foul ball in the 6th inning
of the Cleveland Indians
vs NY Yankees
game. He remained in the game until the 8th inning, and then apparently went to the hospital. Following the incident, he was reported to be out for a week of recuperation. Because this was the second serious concussion of Ed's career, he has been placed on the DL for the remainder of the 2009 season and returned in 2010.
In the off-season, Hickox, a sworn police officer
who received a 2004 degree in Criminal Justice
from Seminole Community College
, lives and works in Florida as a detective with the Daytona Beach Shores
Police Department. He is also a licensed pilot
.
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...
who worked in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
from 1990 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues beginning in 2005. He wears uniform number 15. Hickox officiated in the 2007 National League Division Series
2007 National League Division Series
-Philadelphia Phillies vs. Colorado Rockies:-Game 1, October 3:Chase Field in Phoenix, ArizonaEighteen-game winners Carlos Zambrano and Brandon Webb matched each other pitch for pitch in the opening game of the series. Stephen Drew's fourth-inning home run stood as the game's only run until Ryan...
and the 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 82nd in-season exhibition game between the All-Stars of the National League and the American League ; the leagues composing Major League Baseball. The event was held on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, home of the...
.
Hickox became an Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
in 1979. He graduated from Deland High School and St. Johns River Community College
St. Johns River Community College
St. Johns River State College is a state college with campuses in Palatka, St. Augustine, and Orange Park, Florida. It is a member institution of the Florida College System, and is one of several colleges in the system designated a "state college", meaning they can offer more four-year bachelor's...
, where he played baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. After graduating from the Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School
Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School
The Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School is one of two schools training umpires for professional baseball. It is located in Ormond Beach, Florida. It runs for five weeks each early January through early February...
in 1983, he went on to umpire for several of baseball's minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
, and worked regularly as a substitute in the AL before his formal promotion to the league's staff in 1999. He resigned his position following the 1999 season as part of a failed union bargaining strategy, and continued working in the minor leagues before resuming major leagues games in 2005 following the adoption of a new union contract; he again became a full member of the major league staff in 2007. Hickox worked the inaugural World Baseball Classic
World Baseball Classic
The World Baseball Classic is an international baseball tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation and created by Major League Baseball , the Major League Baseball Players Association , and other professional baseball leagues and their players associations around the world...
in 2006.
Ed is known for wearing his plate coat over his chest protector when he works the plate, forgoing the pullover shirt or pullover jacket. He also wears the new hockey-style mask, and is reputed to be the only MLB umpire to wear a hat underneath it.
On April 18, 2009, Ed was struck in the helmet by a foul ball in the 6th inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
of the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
vs NY Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
game. He remained in the game until the 8th inning, and then apparently went to the hospital. Following the incident, he was reported to be out for a week of recuperation. Because this was the second serious concussion of Ed's career, he has been placed on the DL for the remainder of the 2009 season and returned in 2010.
In the off-season, Hickox, a sworn police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
who received a 2004 degree in Criminal Justice
Criminal justice
Criminal Justice is the system of practices and institutions of governments directed at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts...
from Seminole Community College
Seminole Community College
Seminole State College of Florida is a public state college located in Sanford, Florida, United States...
, lives and works in Florida as a detective with the Daytona Beach Shores
Daytona Beach Shores, Florida
Daytona Beach Shores is a city in Volusia County, Florida, United States. The population was 4,299 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 4,586.-History:...
Police Department. He is also a licensed pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
.
Minor league umpiring career
- Gulf Coast LeagueGulf Coast LeagueThe Gulf Coast League is a minor league baseball league which operates in Florida. It is a Rookie League, with a season running from mid-June to late August. The season is 60 games long and teams in the league are divided into three divisions, East, North and South...
(1983) - Florida State LeagueFlorida State LeagueThe Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
(1983–85, 2004) - Southern LeagueSouthern League (baseball)The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
(1986–87) - Dominican Winter League (1988)
- International LeagueInternational LeagueThe International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
(1988–1997) - Puerto Rican Winter League (1989)
- Pacific Coast LeaguePacific Coast LeagueThe Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
(1998) - New York - Penn LeagueNew York - Penn LeagueThe New York – Penn League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the northeastern United States. It is classified as a "Short-Season A" league; its season starts in June, after major-league teams have signed their amateur draft picks to professional contracts, and ends in early...
(2002) - South Atlantic LeagueSouth Atlantic LeagueThe South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
(2003)