Remembering John McSherry

[FredFan7]

On April 1, 1996, John McSherry collapsed while working the plate Opening Day in Cincinnati.

He dropped dead in front of a full house. They worked on him on the field, in the ambulance and at the hospital, but there was no hope.

McSherry died of cardiac arrest.

There is plenty of footage of that terrible day, but I won't post that here.

McSherry was a student of umpiring, taught at umpire school for several years and enjoyed watching many of "his" students making it to the majors.

I'm remembering McSherry in his element today.

[laxref95]

A few years before that, he had to leave a playoff game in Atlanta.

I was working Little League games at the time - and sent a fax (remember those?) to the hospital the next morning with some well wishes.

A few weeks later, I actually got a handwritten thank you card from John for my message. Never would have expected that in a million years.

Opening day has never been entirely the same for me since he passed.

[howard63]

John had to leave Game 7 of the the 1992 NLCS in Atlanta. Randy Marsh took over behind the plate and made the call on Sid Bream's slide into home plate to win the pennant for the Braves. John was a great umpire and it's hard to believe it's been 25 years since his passing.

[FredFan7]

Great footage of McSherry teaching at umpire school.