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Post by FredFan7 on Feb 18, 2011 21:38:20 GMT -5
Mike Reilly is interviewed after a decision to retire after 34-years as a MLB umpire. bit.ly/gK6XyH |
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Post by zcr57 on Feb 18, 2011 22:22:14 GMT -5
That was a really good read. Reilly is a class act who other umpires should emulate. He was always quiet and never made himself bigger than the game. A big loss for MLB.
Glad he retired on his own terms too. Some guys hang on for too long (i.e. Bruce Froemming) and regress over the last few years of their career, but this isn't true for Reilly.
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Post by JAYJAYSTRIPES on Feb 19, 2011 8:27:46 GMT -5
Cornflakes always aquitted himself well, was never a red arse, called a consistent and fair game. We have Kellogg, and the Welkes from this area, who I'm sure somewhere along the way got some tutaledge along the way from Mike...he'll leave a hole in the staff, and some mighty big shoes to fill.
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Post by jc on Feb 19, 2011 14:45:39 GMT -5
Link dead already...
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Post by FredFan7 on Feb 19, 2011 16:24:06 GMT -5
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Post by jc on Feb 19, 2011 17:00:43 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2011 17:38:29 GMT -5
Same with me, not found
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Post by FredFan7 on Feb 19, 2011 18:05:51 GMT -5
Text of article:
As an umpire, Mike Reilly has made a lot of tough calls on the diamond - but this might have been his toughest. Trying to make the call to step away from the game he loves.
Battle Creek's Mike Reilly, the longtime Major League Baseball umpire, has retired from the game.
Reilly filled out his retirement papers with Major League Baseball recently, effectively ending his 34-year career as he finishes as one of the longest-tenured umpires of all-time - ending sixth overall in most games worked at over 4,500.
Reilly, 61, said he has thought about this moment for the past several years and decided it was the right time.
"This decision has been coming for a couple of years, but it is a very difficult decision for me - a very emotional decision to make," Reilly said. "Walking away from baseball is the toughest decision I have ever had to make. I've had to make a lot of tough decisions on the field, but not one this tough off the field."
Reilly started as an American League umpire in 1977 and worked at the World Series four different seasons and was an umpire for four All-Star Games, most recently in 2010. He also worked in the League Championship Series nine different seasons and in the division round of the playoffs six times.
"I felt like it was a good time. There's not much more I can accomplish," Reilly said. "I really feel good. I'm in great shape and my body has held up well. So I know if I wanted to I could umpire a few more years.
"It's not like that for a lot of guys. I'm fortunate I can walk away on my own terms. I don't have an injury pushing me out, baseball isn't pushing me out. I can sit back and enjoy retirement and take care of the next stage of my life."
Working with Reilly for the last eight seasons, fellow umpire Eric Cooper says he knows how hard it was for him to walk away.
"I know the decision wore on him toward the end of the season. You have something you are good at, something you have known your whole life, it's tough to walk away," Cooper said. "His work ethic made him a very good umpire. Over 34 years you can count on one hand how many games he missed due to illness or injury. He always went out and did his job."
Reilly was named as the senior umpire in baseball last year due to having worked the most games on the entire MLB staff.
He says, after all these years, there's a lot of things he will miss about the games and some things he won't.
"I'll miss being around the guys. You have so many close relationships with the guys you work with over the years, they are really part of your family. I'll also miss the game of baseball, the challenge of going out every day and trying to get everything right. You want to be perfect every day, and of course that's impossible, but the challenge to compete against the game of baseball is something I'll miss," Reilly said. "The traveling, the early-morning wake-up calls to go the next city - I probably won't miss that much."
Reilly, a graduate of St. Philip High School and Kellogg Community College, still makes his home in Battle Creek. Reilly, who also enjoys the nickname 'Cornflakes' Reilly due to being from the Cereal City, says he's looking forward to enjoying his retirement.
"We'll enjoy some time in Florida, which gets me out of shoveling the driveway," said Reilly from his home in Florida. "And we love spending time in Battle Creek. We have so many dear friends in Battle Creek and that's our home and we look forward to spending more time there also."
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Post by howard63 on Feb 19, 2011 18:57:08 GMT -5
I hope Mike has a great retirement. I don' t ever recall him losing his temper or jumping down someone's throat on the field. A truly great umpire.
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Post by impz45 on Feb 20, 2011 9:48:45 GMT -5
Great Career, Non-Controversial Umpire, an Umpires, Umpire......Congratulations, we all appreciated your hard work and dedication to your profession.....It is always nice to go out on your own terms in good standing....does not always happen in pro officiating....
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2011 16:17:17 GMT -5
Mike Reilly had a great career. He went about his business with the most tremendous amount of respect from everyone. The game was never bigger than him. Have a enjoyable retirement !!!
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