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Field of His Dreams

By Laura C. Girardi

Fans boo him. Players call him names. Managers question his calls. But when Major League Baseball resumed last week, umpire Larry Young was ready to get back to work. Young loves his job—even if it means getting beaned. Last April, he needed 14 stitches after being hit by a ball. It could have been worse. "I consider myself lucky," says Young.

And how! Young is one of only 68 umpires working in the major leagues. During his 16 years in the majors, he has umpired many big games, including an All-Star Game and a World Series.

Young's journey to the big leagues began when he was 13. That's when the baseball fan first began umpiring games in his hometown of Oregon, Illinois. After college, Young became a gym teacher but continued to ump games.

In 1978, Young graduated from the Bill Kinnamon Umpire School in Florida. Every year hundreds attend the nation's two umpire schools, but most graduates never even land a job in the minor leagues. Young scored with a job in the Midwest League. He toiled for six years in the minors before getting called up to the majors.

Young attributes his success to the lessons he learned at home: "My parents instilled in me the [belief] that you work hard." During baseball season, working hard means traveling every three days to one of 28 cities. Other challenges include spending long hours standing in the hot sun, and, of course, patiently dealing with criticism.

Still, Young encourages baseball fans to follow his path. He says the payoff has been huge: "The best part is fulfilling a childhood dream, and being able to provide for my family while doing something I enjoy."

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