Al Forman

Allen Sanford Forman (July 7, 1928 – November 23, 2013) was a professional baseball umpire. Forman worked in the National League from 1961 to 1965. He also served as a replacement umpire in the American League in 1978 and 1979 for a total of four games. Forman umpired 778 major league games in his seven-year career. He also umpired in the 1962 MLB All-Star Game.[1]

Al Forman
Born
Allen Sanford Forman

(1928-07-07)July 7, 1928
Morristown, New Jersey
DiedNovember 23, 2013(2013-11-23) (aged 85)
Norfolk, Virginia
OccupationUmpire
Years active1961–1965 (NL), 1978–1979 (AL)
EmployerNational League, American League

Early life

Forman served as a parachute rigger in the Navy and was stationed in Norfolk. While in the military, Forman umpired his first baseball game. Upon his discharge in 1954, he attended Fairleigh Dickinson University for two years and then completed the Al Somers Umpire School in 1956.[2][3]

Umpiring career

Forman umpired in the Florida State League, Northwest League, Texas League and International League before his major league promotion.[4] He worked in the National League from 1961 through 1965. League officials elected not to renew Forman's contract for the 1966 season, saying simply that "we thought someone else could do a better job."[5]

For brief work stoppages in 1978 and 1979, Forman was a fill-in umpire. In his only game in 1978, he ejected Oakland's Dave Revering after Revering threw a helmet while disputing a call. Forman umpired three games in 1979.[1] By this time, Forman's umpiring work was in the Eastern College Athletic Conference and he worked full-time in sales for a distillery.[6][7]

Notable games

Forman was the second base umpire for the Los Angeles-San Francisco game on August 22, 1965, when Juan Marichal struck Johnny Roseboro with a baseball bat.[8] Forman had been behind the plate two days prior, when Marichal said that he was threatened by Roseboro. Marichal claimed that Forman had overheard the threatening statements.[9]

Later life

As of 2010, Forman was still involved with baseball, evaluating umpires in the Coastal Plain League.[3] He died in 2013.[10]

References
  1. Retrosheet
  2. Kaplan, Ron (2006). "Former Major League ump from Morristown still calling 'em as he sees 'em". NJ Jewish News. Archived from the original on September 16, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  3. Tabb, Kip (Summer 2010). "Umpiring the Game of Life". North Beach Sun. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  4. "Two TL Umps Are Given Promotion". The Bonham Daily Favorite. December 14, 1960. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  5. "Warren Giles Will Not Renew Forman's Pact". The Altus Times-Democrat. January 23, 1966. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  6. Nelson, John (August 25, 1978). "Baseball Umps Ordered to Return to Playing Fields". The Prescott Courier. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  7. "Fans Side With Umps For Once". The Evening Independent. April 6, 1979. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  8. "Boxscore: August 22, 1965 - San Francisco Giants 4, Los Angeles Dodgers 3". Retrosheet. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  9. "Marichal Says Roseboro Provoked Bat Incident". The Victoria Advocate. August 29, 1965. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  10. Allen Sanford Forman obituary
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