Tom Hallion
Encyclopedia
Thomas Francis "Tom" Hallion (born September 5, 1956) is an American
umpire
in Major League Baseball
who has worked in the National League
from 1985 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues since 2005. He is currently a crew chief. Hallion is well known for his exciting and demonstrative strikeout
signal in which he twists his body 180 degrees. He was among the umpires who lost their jobs after resigning as part of a failed union bargaining strategy in 1999, but his rehiring was agreed to in December 2004 in a settlement with Major League Baseball. Hallion wore uniform number 20 during his National League career and retained the number when he rejoined the MLB umpire staff in 2005.
. He has two sisters, Kathy Cotich and Maribeth, and brother, Francis.
Hallion attended the University of Buffalo
, degree in Engineering. He married Elizabeth "Betsy" Carnright on September 11, 1983. They have three children, Corey, Kyle and Jacob, and reside in Louisville, Kentucky
.
.
He began his professional umpiring career in the New York - Penn League
(1979), which was followed by stints in the Carolina League
(1980-1981), Eastern League (1982) and American Association
(1983-1985) before joining the NL staff.
Hallion was the home plate umpire on July 12, 1997 when Francisco Córdova
and Ricardo Rincón
of the Pittsburgh Pirates
combined on a 3-0, 10-inning no-hitter
against the Houston Astros
.
Hallion also umpired in the 2006 World Baseball Classic
, and was behind the plate for the championship game between Japan
and Cuba
.
In 2009, Hallion was the home plate umpire for the first game ever at the new Yankee Stadium.
He has officiated in the World Series
in 2008
, the League Championship Series
in 1998
, 2007
, 2009
, 2010
, and 2011
, and in the Division Series
in 1996
, 1997
, and 2008
. He has also worked the All-Star Game
in 1992
and 2008
, being at second base for the latter contest at Yankee Stadium which went a record 15 innings.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
umpire
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 1985 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues since 2005. He is currently a crew chief. Hallion is well known for his exciting and demonstrative strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
signal in which he twists his body 180 degrees. He was among the umpires who lost their jobs after resigning as part of a failed union bargaining strategy in 1999, but his rehiring was agreed to in December 2004 in a settlement with Major League Baseball. Hallion wore uniform number 20 during his National League career and retained the number when he rejoined the MLB umpire staff in 2005.
Early and personal life
Hallion was born on September 5, 1956, to Alice and Francis Hallion in Saugerties, New YorkSaugerties (town), New York
Saugerties is a town in Ulster County, New York, USA. The population was 19,482 at the 2000 census. The Town of Saugerties contains the Village of Saugerties. The town is in the northeast corner of Ulster County....
. He has two sisters, Kathy Cotich and Maribeth, and brother, Francis.
Hallion attended the University of Buffalo
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, also commonly known as the University at Buffalo or UB, is a public research university and a "University Center" in the State University of New York system. The university was founded by Millard Fillmore in 1846. UB has multiple campuses...
, degree in Engineering. He married Elizabeth "Betsy" Carnright on September 11, 1983. They have three children, Corey, Kyle and Jacob, and reside in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
.
Umpiring career
While he was at the University of Buffalo, Hallion began umpiring as a summer job for the Saugerties Athletic Association softball league, a job got through his friend Jack Keeley. In 1979, he attended Bill Kinnamon Umpiring SchoolBill Kinnamon
William Ervin Kinnamon was an umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the American League from 1960 to 1969....
.
He began his professional umpiring career in the New York - Penn League
New York - Penn League
The New York – Penn League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the northeastern United States. It is classified as a "Short-Season A" league; its season starts in June, after major-league teams have signed their amateur draft picks to professional contracts, and ends in early...
(1979), which was followed by stints in the Carolina League
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
(1980-1981), Eastern League (1982) and American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
(1983-1985) before joining the NL staff.
Hallion was the home plate umpire on July 12, 1997 when Francisco Córdova
Francisco Cordova
Francisco Córdova is a former Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates from - and who is currently playing in the Mexican Triple-A League for the Petroleros de Minatitlán.-Career:On January 18, 1996, Córdova was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as...
and Ricardo Rincón
Ricardo Rincón
Ricardo Rincón Espinoza was a Major League Baseball relief pitcher.Rincón was a left-handed specialist who spent nearly his entire career as a middle reliever and setup pitcher. In his 10-year career, Rincón never started a game and only accumulated 21 saves...
of the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
combined on a 3-0, 10-inning no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
against the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
.
Hallion also umpired in the 2006 World Baseball Classic
2006 World Baseball Classic
---------Pool B:-------------Pool C:-------------Pool D:-------------Pool 1:-----------------Pool 2:-------------Finals:-Semifinals:-Final:-Final standings:...
, and was behind the plate for the championship game between Japan
Japan national baseball team
The Japan national baseball team is the national baseball team representing Japan in international competitions. They are one of the more successful baseball teams in the world, having won the World Baseball Classic in 2006 and 2009...
and Cuba
Cuba national baseball team
The Cuba national baseball team is the national team of Cuba. The team is made up of amateur players from the Cuban national baseball system, as there are no professional sports leagues in Cuba...
.
In 2009, Hallion was the home plate umpire for the first game ever at the new Yankee Stadium.
He has officiated in the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
in 2008
2008 World Series
The 2008 World Series was the 104th World Series between the American and National Leagues for the championship of Major League Baseball. The Philadelphia Phillies as champions of the National League and the Tampa Bay Rays, as American League champions, competed to win four games out of a possible...
, the League Championship Series
League Championship Series
The League Championship Series is the official name for a round of postseason play in Major League Baseball which has been conducted since 1969...
in 1998
1998 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 7, 1998 at Turner Field in Atlanta, GeorgiaWith John Smoltz on the mound, the Braves were staked out to a 1–0 lead when Andruw Jones hit a solo home run to lead off the third inning off Andy Ashby. The Padres tied the game in the fifth when Tony Gwynn, appearing in his...
, 2007
2007 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Thursday, October 11, 2007 at Chase Field in Phoenix, ArizonaThe Rockies took a 1–0 series lead behind a strong innings from starter Jeff Francis. Arizona scored first on a first-inning RBI double by Eric Byrnes, but lost the lead two innings later when Colorado right fielder Brad Hawpe...
, 2009
2009 National League Championship Series
The National League Championship Series was a best-of-seven baseball game series pitting the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Philadelphia Phillies for the National League Championship and the right to represent the National League in the 2009 World Series. The Phillies defeated the Dodgers four...
, 2010
2010 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 16, 2010 — 7:30 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaIn one of the most touted postseason pitching matchups in recent history, two former Cy Young Award winners faced off: Roy Halladay for the Phillies and Tim Lincecum for the Giants...
, and 2011
2011 American League Championship Series
The 2011 American League Championship Series was a best-of-seven playoff pitting the winners of the 2011 American League Division Series, the Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers, against each other for the American League championship and the right to be the league's representative in the 2011 World...
, and in the 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:...
in 1996
1996 National League Division Series
-Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers:-Game 1, October 1:Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MissouriThe Cardinals and Padres began their rivalry in this series. The Cardinals' first of three postseason victories against the Padres took place here. Their dominance is overwhelming to the tune of only one...
, 1997
1997 National League Division Series
-Houston Astros vs. Atlanta Braves:-San Francisco vs. Florida:The San Francisco Giants made it back to the postseason for the first time since the 1989 World Series. The Florida Marlins were in the postseason for the first time ever.-Game 1, September 30:...
, and 2008
2008 National League Division Series
-Philadelphia Phillies vs. Milwaukee Brewers:-Game 1, October 1:Wrigley Field in Chicago, IllinoisThe Dodgers swiped Game 1 from the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mark DeRosa gave the Cubs an early lead in the second inning with an opposite-field home run. James Loney's fifth inning grand slam proved to...
. He has also worked the All-Star Game
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...
in 1992
1992 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1992 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 63rd playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 14, 1992 at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, California, the...
and 2008
2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 79th midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, New York, home of the New York Yankees, on...
, being at second base for the latter contest at Yankee Stadium which went a record 15 innings.
