Fake Umpires Provide Entertainment
June 20, 2009
[ Photoset ] While the win last night was great, the game provided little in the way of excitement until the suspenseful end. However, from my perch, I had a view of the famous Toronto Fake Umpires. After every called strike, called swing/no-swing, etc. they motioned from directly behind the plate dressed in full MLB umpire garb (complete with helmets/masks). They even had a little brush and would occasionally brush off the wall in front of them in a mimic of home plate getting brushed. After every foul, one would pull a ball out of his pocket and hand it to a fan (presumably not with them) who then motioned throwing back to the pitcher. This carried on for the full 11 inning marathon!
Posted in Baseball - General, Gameday, MLB, Photography, Washington Nationals
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June 20th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
Thanks for the link!….I hope we can send some readers your way as well. I wrote a similar story for our blog http://www.smokingwithhank.wordpress.com
Great Pictures!
-Brenden
June 20th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Cute as a novelty for one game as I really enjoyed it. The novelty for me wore off watching them for a 2nd game as it was the same thing. Maybe some will agree and some will disagree.
I like the fact that they are original as there are so many copycats on other freelance entertainers in the stands such as Chicken Man, Sign Man, Kissing Bandit, streakers, shake-shake lemonade man, and then team copycats like KissCam, racing advertisements, etc. etc.
To each their own.
June 21st, 2009 at 3:52 pm
These guys were awesome. I was sad to see them absent for the third game of the Toronto at Washington series. Still, they got their 15 minutes, even got to participate in the President’s Race!
June 21st, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Ms. Chatter, I loved those guys! For a team that promotes the opposition (Get your Red Sox Tickets, etc. ) over themselves they should have been embracing such alternate entertainment. Carpenter and Dibble couldn’t ignore them but pretty much poo pooed them. I just laughed my ass off. Those guys weren’t half assed they stuck with it and were consistent. I loved watching them start to jump up thinking the pitch as a strike then have to sit back quickly as the umpire didn’t agree. Classic!
Take Me Out To The Ball Game!
Sam
June 22nd, 2009 at 9:55 am
That’s really quite fantastic. Yeah, Carpenter and Dibble were very dismissive, but I thought it was hysterical. Such dedication!
June 22nd, 2009 at 10:40 am
So funny. What a fun and original way to take advantage of the TV time those seats get. They weren’t being jerks or goofballs or anything, just quietly and stoicly going through the umpire motions. It was great and cracked me up the whole game.
Reminds me of a little kid when my brother was in little league who was obsessed with the umps. He was maybe 3 years old and would stand behind the chain link fence following the umps motions. He had a ninja turtle shell backback on his front as a chest protector. He wore his baseball cap backwards and held a little rock in his hand for his ball/strike counter. Cutest thing ever. I wonder if one of those guys was that kid? LOL!
June 22nd, 2009 at 11:22 am
NatsNut – that is so adorable about the little kid!
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:44 am
I (Heart) Fake Umpires!
July 4th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
Just got back from new york with farrell and tim. What a great time. We really had a blast at the game watching them and then to Stan’s for a few “Pops”. Cheers