“Non-Blind Unhappy Umpire”
On Wednesday, August 1, 2012, the home plate umpire for a minor league game between Daytona and Fort Myers in Florida ejected the guy in charge of music from the ballpark. Not only did he eject him from the ballpark but he demanded no more music or public address system announcements be made for the remainder of the game.
The cause of this heinous infraction? The music being played over the PA system was “Three Blind Mice”, after what some, and obviously the DJ, considered to be a questionable call. And even though the umpire’s actions might seem a little drastic, there is a precedent for this and “Three Blind Mice” does have a definite history in Major League Baseball.
Consider this. Back in 1941 the Brooklyn Dodgers had a somewhat volunteer band made up of fans that paraded around the stadium during the games playing fight songs, charge songs, and doing the regular things that pep bands do to inspire the crowds. Not that the Dodger fans needed inspiring. And when, in the minds of the fans and the band, an umpire would make a questionable call the band would break out into “Three blind Mice” much to 
the thrill of the wild and rowdy crowd. Ebbets Field probably only had an average 5,000 fans at the park back in those days, but it sounded like twice that many as the noise from the stadium was loud and intense. Rumor has it that the practice continued until the National League added a fourth umpire to the previous crew of three, rendering the three mouse ditty passe’. But in reality, the league office ordered the team to stop the practice, likely in response to umpire antagonism and threats of a walk out related to the unruly crowds inspired by the song.
This probably wasn’t the case last Wednesday in Daytona Beach, Florida, but you never know. There is such a thing as respect you know? Just saying …..a one – a two – a three
Related articles
- Umpire ejects music guy for playing ‘Three Blind Mice’ [Video] (myfox8.com)
- Minor League Umpire Doesn’t Like ‘Three Blind Mice’ Being Played, Ejects PA Announcer From Game (Video) (nesn.com)
- Umpire Ejects Music Guy For “Three Blind Mice” Selection (thehollywoodgossip.com)
- Umpire Ejects Ball Park’s ‘Music Guy’ For Playing “Three Blind Mice” (987ampradio.cbslocal.com)
Ichiro’s been on my mind today. I don’t even have to use his last name. Everyone knows who he is. It’s not really a surprise he’s leaving. He’s been with the Mariners for a long time and we knew he was destined for other things in the near future. But I never thought in a million years he’d end up a Yankee. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but there’s just something so unsacred about the idea of it all.
When the day arrived for my meeting with the GM I was really excited, not only about the interview but also of maneuvering my way through Multnomah Stadium to the Administration Offices by myself, with my very own written proposal in hand. The manager was very cordial and listened with intent to my proposal and thanked me for my interest. When the interview was over, it lasted about an hour, he gave me complimentary game tickets and invited me to keep in touch. It was a wonderful day. I got an “A” in Marketing that year.
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