Gerry Davis (umpire)

Gerald Sidney Davis (born February 22, 1953) is an umpire in Major League Baseball. Having worked in the National League from 1982 to 1999, he became a member of the unified umpiring staff for Major League Baseball in 2000. He has been a crew chief since 1999. He has umpired five World Series, nine League Championship Series and eleven League Division Series. He has also worked in the All-Star Game four times. Davis has worn uniform number 12 throughout his career.

Gerry Davis
Davis in 2011
Born: (1953-02-22) February 22, 1953
St. Louis, Missouri
debut
June 9, 1982
Crew Information
Umpiring crew1
Crew members
Career highlights and awards
Special Assignments

As of the start of the 2019 season, Davis is MLB's second-most senior umpire (after Joe West), although Davis has the longest uninterrupted tenure due to West being forced to sit out two seasons (2000-01) after the failed mass resignation strategy of former Major League Umpires Association executive director Richie Phillips in July 1999. Davis, along with all National League umpires at the time, tendered his resignation, but rescinded it, and was not chosen as one of the 22 MLB umpires to lose their jobs by commissioner Bud Selig and MLB executive vice president Sandy Alderson.

Davis' 2019 crew consists of Greg Gibson, Brian Knight and Pat Hoberg.

Umpiring career
Davis in 2014

Davis began umpiring in the minor leagues in 1976. He worked in the Midwest League, Eastern League and American Association before being promoted to the majors in 1982.[1]

He has officiated in 22 postseasons, including the World Series in 1996, 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2012; the League Championship Series in 1990, 1992, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2018; the Division Series in 1996, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2015; and the Wild Card Game in 2013, 2014 and 2018. He also umpired the All-Star Game in 1989, 1997, 2002 and 2012; he called balls and strikes on the last two occasions.[2][3]

In the 2014 season, Davis's crew was Phil Cuzzi, Brian Knight, and a AAA fill-in umpire, until Quinn Wolcott was officially hired as a full-time umpire in July 2014 due to the retirement of Gary Darling.[4] In 2016, his crew includes Sam Holbrook, Rob Drake and a AAA Call-Up Umpire.

Davis was reprimanded by Major League Baseball on September 1, 2014, for making 'crybaby' faces at Oakland A's players. The league statement said, "We expect our umpires to remain professional on the field at all times."[5]

Notable games

Davis was the second base umpire for the perfect game pitched by Randy Johnson on May 18, 2004.

On September 19 at Tropicana Field, instant replay overturned a call on the field for the first time ever in the major leagues. A fly ball hit by Tampa Bay Rays' first baseman Carlos Peña, the umpires ruled, was interfered with by a fan sitting in the front row of the stands, when the ball hit the hands of the fan and fell back onto the field of play. After Joe Maddon requested the umpires hold a conference to discuss the play, the umpires, headed by Gerry Davis, decided to look at instant replay. Just over four minutes later, Davis returned to the field and signaled that the ball was a home run.

Davis was the home plate umpire for the last game played at Shea Stadium on September 28, 2008.

With his assignment to the 2012 World Series, Davis set an officiating record for most postseason games umpired in major league history with 115 and since then this mark has moved forward to 128 games.[6]

On April 23, 2014, Davis ejected New York Yankees starting pitcher Michael Pineda for having pine tar on his neck.[7]

On July 26, 2017, Davis asked Texas Rangers third baseman Adrián Beltré to move closer to the on-deck circle. After Beltré jokingly moved the on-deck batting circle, Davis ejected him.[8]

Business

Davis owns a company, Gerry Davis Sports, which specializes in umpiring equipment and clothing. Gerry Davis Sports sells specially designed leg guards which give a small area at the top for the hands to rest, consistent with Davis's unique umpiring stance. (When umpiring behind the plate, Davis bends down only about three-quarters as far as the conventional stance. He leans his back forward slightly and grabs the top of his leg guards with his extended arms.) These leg guards also eschew the normal straps with metal hooks, in favor of straps with plugs that hook into little notches.

See also

List of Major League Baseball umpires

References
  1. "TSN Umpire Card: Gerald Davis". Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  2. Gerry Davis Retrosheet.org. Retrieved 3 July 2012
  3. Gerry Davis named home plate ump ESPN.com. Retrieved 3 July 2012
  4. "Umpire Gary Darling retires after 28 years". ESPN.com. Associated Press. July 4, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  5. http://www.mercurynews.com/athletics/ci_26451829/mlb-wont-discuss-incident-between-and-umpire-gerry
  6. "MLB Roster: 2012 World Series Umpires". Close Call Sports. October 23, 2012.
  7. "Michael Pineda ejected from Yankees-Red Sox game after foreign substance discovered". Fox News. Associated Press. April 23, 2014. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  8. "Rangers' Adrian Beltre ejected for moving on-deck circle - Sportsnet.ca". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 2017-07-27.
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