When Joe West first put on a MLB umpire uniform Walter Alston was managing the Dodgers and Dusty Baker was in the Dodgers’ outfield. From that day in 1976, until the final day of the 2021 season, Joe called more games (5,460) than any umpire in history. That doesn’t include the 4 All Star Games, 10 League Championship Series (LCS), 8 League Division Series (LDS), 4 Wild Card Games, and 6 World Series, which Joe called.
Joe was also behind the plate for Nolan Ryan’s 5th no-hitter and Felix Hernandez’s 2012 perfect game.
During his 46-year career, Joe called games for 64 players and 9 managers who were voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. And that number will only increase in the future with the addition to the Hall of Fame with names like: Pujols, Beltre, Kershaw, Trout, Ichiro, Cabrera, and so many more who are still playing or not yet eligible for induction.
And, of all of them, no one is more worthy than the colorful Cowboy Joe West.
Joe finds out if he got the call to the Hall on December 3rd. He joins us on Dec 13, so you won’t want to miss it.
###