ince July 1999, I had umpired two innings of baseball - both at a scrimmage near Houston, TX while visiting friends in late January 2000.

In 1999 I had one of the best years of my migrant (five states in seven years) umpiring life: 34 regular season Varsity games, high school playoffs, and select summer ball, culminating in the Connie Mack state championship game.

Little did I know, when moving from Washington State to Massachusetts in August 1999, that my next game would be in March 2001, back in Washington State.

But, there I was, working as the first base umpire in a three-man crew for a Varsity game with some friends who couldn't let me end my visit back home without working some baseball. The next morning, I worked game number two in the 2001 season as the third base umpire in a three-man crew for another Varsity game.

It was about this time that I came upon the idea for this series. Seems we talk a lot about baseball and the rules around these parts, but we never talk about actual umpiring and how we can apply those lessons to improving our games. This series is going to do just that.

Continued...