Rocky Roe
Encyclopedia
John Andrew "Rocky" Roe is a former umpire
in Major League Baseball
who worked in the American League
from 1979 to 1999 and in both leagues in 2000 and 2001. He officiated in the 1990
and 1999 World Series
, as well as the 1984 and 1994 All-Star Games
. He also worked three American League Championship Series
(1986
, 1991
, 1996
) and four Division Series
(1995
, 1997
, 1999
, 2000
); he was a crew chief for the 1999 ALDS. Roe wore uniform number 27 throughout his career.
Roe grew up in Southfield, Michigan
, and acquired his nickname because he was a fan of major leaguer Rocky Colavito
. Roe played baseball at Eastern Michigan University
, where he received his degree in business administration, and was a member of the team that won the 1970 NAIA national championship
http://baseball.officiating.com/x/article/2479. He was promoted to the American League staff on June 7, 1982, hours after Lou DiMuro
was struck and killed by a passing motorist on a busy street in Arlington, Texas
following a game between the Texas Rangers
and Chicago White Sox
. Roe's first crew included Larry Barnett
, Mike Reilly and Durwood Merrill
.
In 1996 he took a leave of absence to enter a weight loss program following the death of fellow umpire John McSherry
; he took part in another health program in 2002 http://www.worldumpires.com/news/101602Mackie.htm. Roe submitted his resignation as part of a union strategy in 1999, but quickly reconsidered and withdrew his resignation, saying it was like "drinking Kool-Aid
at a Jim Jones picnic"; his decision proved fortunate, as all submitted resignations were eventually accepted by Major League Baseball. He retired in 2002.
Roe was the home plate umpire on June 27, 1987 when Mark McGwire
had the first three-home run
game of his career, and was the second base umpire on September 14 of the same year when Cal Ripken, Jr.
ended his record streak of 8,243 consecutive innings played.
Roe was inducted into Eastern Michigan University's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001.
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 1979 to 1999 and in both leagues in 2000 and 2001. He officiated in the 1990
1990 World Series
- Game 1 :Tuesday, October 16, 1990 at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, OhioUntil , this was the last World Series to be scheduled to begin play on a Tuesday, and the first since . The schedule called for the seven-game series to be held Tue–Wed, Fri–Sat–Sun, Tue–Wed. Games 5, 6, and 7, however...
and 1999 World Series
1999 World Series
The 1999 World Series, the 95th edition of Major League Baseball's championship series, featured a rematch between the defending champions New York Yankees against the Atlanta Braves during the month of October, with the Yankees sweeping the Series in four games for their second title in a row,...
, as well as the 1984 and 1994 All-Star Games
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
. He also worked three American League Championship Series
American League Championship Series
In Major League Baseball, the American League Championship Series , played in October, is a round in the postseason that determines the winner of the American League pennant...
(1986
1986 American League Championship Series
The 1986 American League Championship Series was a back-and-forth battle between the Boston Red Sox and the California Angels for the right to advance to the 1986 World Series to face the winner of the 1986 National League Championship Series...
, 1991
1991 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 8, 1991 at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, MinnesotaGame 1 saw a surprise starter for Toronto as Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston chose knuckleballer Tom Candiotti to face the Twins over his new young gun Juan Guzmán and his left-handed ace Jimmy Key. Twins...
, 1996
1996 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 9, 1996 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkThe first game of the series is most notable for the infamous "Jeffrey Maier Incident." With the Yankees trailing 4–3 in the bottom of the eighth, rookie Derek Jeter hit a fly ball to deep right field off Orioles reliever...
) and four Division Series
Division Series
In baseball, the Division Series is the official name for the first round of the Major League Baseball playoffs. Currently, a total of four series are played in this opening round, two each for both the American League and the National League.-1981 season:...
(1995
1995 American League Division Series
-Seattle Mariners vs. New York Yankees:-Game 1, Tuesday, October 3:Jacobs Field in Cleveland, OhioAfter a 39-minute rain delay, Game 1 got underway with two veterans, Roger Clemens and Dennis Martínez, starting the opener. The Red Sox jumped in front first in the third on John Valentin's two run...
, 1997
1997 American League Division Series
-Cleveland Indians vs. New York Yankees:-Game 1, October 1:Kingdome in Seattle, WashingtonThe Orioles had gone wire-to-wire and the Mariners had won the AL West for the second time in the decade. In Game 1, both teams had their best on the mound: Mike Mussina for the Orioles and Randy Johnson for...
, 1999
1999 American League Division Series
-Cleveland Indians vs. Boston Red Sox:-Game 1, October 5:Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkThe Yankees once again swept the Rangers and held them to one run through three games. In Game 1, Aaron Sele went against Orlando Hernández...
, 2000
2000 National League Division Series
-St. Louis Cardinals vs. Atlanta Braves:-Game 1, October 4:Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco, CaliforniaGiants Pitcher Liván Hernández allowed one run and five hits over a inning effort, backed by a three-run home run by Ellis Burks as the Giants cruised to an easy 5–1 victory.-Game 2, October...
); he was a crew chief for the 1999 ALDS. Roe wore uniform number 27 throughout his career.
Roe grew up in Southfield, Michigan
Southfield, Michigan
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which 0.04% is water. The main branch of the River Rouge runs through Southfield. The city is bounded to the south by Eight Mile Road, its western border is Inkster Road, and to the east it is bounded by Greenfield Road...
, and acquired his nickname because he was a fan of major leaguer Rocky Colavito
Rocky Colavito
Rocco Domenico "Rocky" Colavito, Jr. is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball best known for his years with the Cleveland Indians. He wore a #6, #7 or #21 jersey during his MLB career...
. Roe played baseball at Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is west of Detroit and eight miles east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School...
, where he received his degree in business administration, and was a member of the team that won the 1970 NAIA national championship
NAIA Baseball World Series
The NAIA Baseball World Series is a double-elimination tournament held annually in Lewiston, Idaho, to determine the baseball champion of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics .-Results:...
http://baseball.officiating.com/x/article/2479. He was promoted to the American League staff on June 7, 1982, hours after Lou DiMuro
Lou DiMuro
Louis John DiMuro was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the American League from 1963 until his death.-Career:...
was struck and killed by a passing motorist on a busy street in Arlington, Texas
Arlington, Texas
Arlington is a city in Tarrant County, Texas within the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. According to the 2010 census results, the city had a population of 365,438, making it the third largest municipality in the Metroplex...
following a game between the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
and Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
. Roe's first crew included Larry Barnett
Larry Barnett
Lawrence Robert Barnett is a former umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the American League from 1969 to 1999 before becoming the major leagues' supervisor of umpires in 2000-2001.-Career:...
, Mike Reilly and Durwood Merrill
Durwood Merrill
Edwin Durwood Merrill was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the American League for 23 seasons ....
.
In 1996 he took a leave of absence to enter a weight loss program following the death of fellow umpire John McSherry
John McSherry
John Patrick McSherry was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the National League from 1971 to 1996. Although McSherry originally wore uniform #9 when he entered the National League, he switched to #10 in 1979 when the league reorganized the umpires' numbers and he wore that...
; he took part in another health program in 2002 http://www.worldumpires.com/news/101602Mackie.htm. Roe submitted his resignation as part of a union strategy in 1999, but quickly reconsidered and withdrew his resignation, saying it was like "drinking Kool-Aid
Jonestown
Jonestown was the informal name for the Peoples Temple Agricultural Project, an intentional community in northwestern Guyana formed by the Peoples Temple led by Jim Jones. It became internationally notorious when, on November 18, 1978, 918 people died in the settlement as well as in a nearby...
at a Jim Jones picnic"; his decision proved fortunate, as all submitted resignations were eventually accepted by Major League Baseball. He retired in 2002.
Roe was the home plate umpire on June 27, 1987 when Mark McGwire
Mark McGwire
Mark David McGwire , nicknamed "Big Mac", is an American former professional baseball player who played his major league career with the Oakland Athletics and the St. Louis Cardinals. He is currently the hitting coach for the St...
had the first three-home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
game of his career, and was the second base umpire on September 14 of the same year when Cal Ripken, Jr.
Cal Ripken, Jr.
Calvin Edwin "Cal" Ripken, Jr. , nicknamed "Iron Man", is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and third baseman. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Baltimore Orioles ....
ended his record streak of 8,243 consecutive innings played.
Roe was inducted into Eastern Michigan University's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001.