C. B. Bucknor
Encyclopedia
C. B. Bucknor is an umpire
in Major League Baseball
who has worked in the National League
from 1996 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues since 2000. He was a member of the umpiring crew for the 2005 All-Star Game
, and also for the 2007
, 2008
and 2009 American League Division Series
.
Bucknor moved to the United States
in 1973, He attended State University of New York at Cortland
, where he played center field
, and received a B.S. in Recreation Therapy in 1984.
Bucknor has consistently been regarded as the worst umpire in major league baseball in anonymous polls of active ballplayers:
Bucknor resides in Brooklyn
, New York
; He works with the Bonnie Youth Club in Brooklyn
and was inducted into the Bonnies Hall of Fame in 2000 as well as the Cortland Athletic Hall of Fame in October 2002. Bucknor is actively involved with teaching baseball to children in Jamaica. He also collects toys and helps to organize an annual "Treat Day" - a holiday party, featuring athletic events, video games and picnics - for over 300 children in Jamaica.
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 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 1996 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues since 2000. He was a member of the umpiring crew for the 2005 All-Star Game
2005 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2005 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 76th playing of the midseason exhibition baseball game between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 12, 2005 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan,...
, and also for the 2007
2007 American League Division Series
-Cleveland Indians vs. New York Yankees:-Game 1, October 3:Fenway Park in Boston, MassachusettsIn Game 1, Boston starter Josh Beckett threw a complete-game shut out, allowing the Red Sox to win the opener...
, 2008
2008 American League Division Series
-Tampa Bay Rays vs. Chicago White Sox:-Game 1, October 1:Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CaliforniaIn a re-match of last year's ALDS, starters Jon Lester and John Lackey were sharp early on, each tossing a couple of scoreless innings. The Angels finally got on the board in the third, when...
and 2009 American League Division Series
2009 American League Division Series
The American League Division Series consisted of two concurrent best-of-five game series that determined the participating teams in the 2009 American League Championship Series. Three divisional winners and a "wild card" team played in the two series. The ALDS began on Wednesday, October 7 and...
.
Bucknor moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1973, He attended State University of New York at Cortland
State University of New York at Cortland
The State University of New York College at Cortland, also officially called SUNY Cortland or informally known as Cortland State, is a coeducational university located in Cortland, New York...
, where he played center field
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
, and received a B.S. in Recreation Therapy in 1984.
Bucknor has consistently been regarded as the worst umpire in major league baseball in anonymous polls of active ballplayers:
- In a 2003 Sports IllustratedSports IllustratedSports 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...
survey of 550 active major league players, Bucknor was voted as the worst umpire in MLB, with 20.7% of the vote. - In an updated 2006 SI survey, Bucknor was again voted MLB's worst umpire, with 21% of the players' votes.
- In a 2010 ESPN survey of 100 active players taken after Jim JoyceJim JoyceJames A. "Jim" Joyce III is a Major League Baseball umpire who has worked in the American League from 1987 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues since 2000. He wears uniform number 66...
's blown call that cost Armando GalarragaArmando GalarragaArmando Antonio Galarraga is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. Galarraga made his Major League Baseball debut with the Texas Rangers on September 15, 2007...
a perfect gamePerfect gameA perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
, Bucknor was once again named the worst umpire in baseball (while Joyce was named the best).
Bucknor resides in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
; He works with the Bonnie Youth Club in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
and was inducted into the Bonnies Hall of Fame in 2000 as well as the Cortland Athletic Hall of Fame in October 2002. Bucknor is actively involved with teaching baseball to children in Jamaica. He also collects toys and helps to organize an annual "Treat Day" - a holiday party, featuring athletic events, video games and picnics - for over 300 children in Jamaica.