Eric Gregg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eric Gregg
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Gregg in 1980
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| Born |
Eric Eugene Gregg
May 18, 1951 |
| Died | June 5, 2006 (aged 55) |
| Occupation | Baseball umpire |
| Spouse(s) | Conchita Camilo (December 31, 1974 – June 5, 2006; his death) |
| Children | Kevin, Eric, Ashley, Jamie |
Eric Eugene Gregg (born May 18, 1951 – died June 5, 2006) was an American umpire in Major League Baseball. He worked in the National League from 1975 to 1999. Eric was known for being one of the first black umpires in the big leagues. He was also known for his weight and a famous game he umpired in 1997. In that game, his calls helped the Florida Marlins win. Throughout his career, Eric wore uniform number 7.
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Eric Gregg's Umpiring Career
Eric Gregg was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He started his major league career when he was just 24 years old. This made him one of the youngest umpires ever in big league baseball.
A Pioneer Umpire
Eric was only the third black umpire in Major League Baseball. He followed Emmett Ashford and Art Williams. He worked in many important games, including the 1989 World Series. He was the third base umpire for Game 3 of that series. This game was delayed because of the Loma Prieta earthquake.
Memorable Games Eric Gregg Officiated
Eric also worked in four National League Championship Series. These were in 1981, 1987, 1991, and 1997. He also umpired in the 1995 and 1996 National League Division Series. Plus, he was part of the 1986 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in the Houston Astrodome.
He was the home plate umpire for two no-hitters. These were pitched by Terry Mulholland in 1990 and Ramón Martínez in 1995. He also worked third base for Tom Browning's perfect game in 1988. On August 8, 1988, Eric was the home plate umpire for the first night game at Wrigley Field.
The "Eric Gregg Game" Controversy
Eric Gregg was involved in a big discussion during Game 5 of the 1997 NLCS. This game became known as the "Eric Gregg Game." During this game, Marlins pitcher Livan Hernandez struck out 15 Atlanta batters. Many people thought Eric's strike zone was too large. He called strikes on pitches that seemed too far from the plate. This helped the Marlins win. Baseball America even called it one of the worst umpire performances from 1975 to 2000. After this game, Eric continued to umpire in 1998 and 1999. However, he was not chosen for any more playoff games.
Eric Gregg's Resignation
In 1999, Eric Gregg was one of 22 umpires who resigned. This happened as part of a labor action by the umpires' union. The union hoped Major League Baseball would change its mind about contract talks. Instead, MLB accepted the resignations. Later, some of the umpires were rehired. On August 7, 2001, a politician named Robert A. Brady asked baseball's Commissioner, Bud Selig, to rehire Eric. But the Commissioner said no.
Eric Gregg's Health Journey
Eric Gregg faced challenges with his weight throughout his career. His weight was often listed around 315 to 325 pounds. However, Eric himself said he often weighed closer to 400 pounds. In 1996, another umpire, John McSherry, sadly died from a heart attack. Eric and John had planned to try to lose weight together. John's death made Eric decide to take time off from umpiring. He joined a health program at Duke University.
Even after losing some weight, Eric was still a large and recognizable person. This helped him get publicity. He was an honorary commissioner for the Wing Bowl, a food eating contest in Philadelphia. He also umpired at different celebrity softball games. Sometimes, he even worked as a bartender or server at a restaurant in Philadelphia. Besides his size, Eric was known for his fun personality and big smile. This often helped calm down players who disagreed with his calls. In 1999, the National League fined him $5,000 for weighing more than 300 pounds.
Eric Gregg's Personal Life
On December 31, 1974, Eric married Conchita Camilo. They had four children together: Kevin, Eric, Ashley, and Jamie.
Eric wrote a book about his life called Working the Plate. It was published in 1990.
His son Kevin has worked in public relations for many sports teams. He is currently a Vice President for the Boston Red Sox. His son Eric Joseito was a well-known lacrosse coach. His daughter Ashley Gabrielle was named after a character from a TV show called The Young and the Restless. Eric mentioned in his book that umpires often watched TV dramas.
Eric Gregg's Death
Eric Gregg had a stroke when he was 55 years old on June 4, 2006. He passed away the next day, on June 5, 2006.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball umpires
