National League umpire John McSherry, who died Monday at 51 while working the plate in Cincinnati, enjoyed telling of the first time his mother saw him work a big-league game. It was at Shea Stadium during the summer of 1971, McSherry’s rookie season.
“When I was a kid,” McSherry recalled, “I told her for putting up with all this baloney, if I ever make it to the big leagues, I want to be sure she was at my first game in New York. I promised she would have the best seat in the house, right behind home plate.
“There was a big crowd. It was a long game, and included a rain delay. The Mets won in the 11th inning. Bud Harrelson scored the winning run on a close play at the plate. Willie Mays didn’t hit the cutoff man.
“After the game my mother was outside our dressing room. I introduced her to my partners and said, `Well, mom, what do you think?’
“She was a great Met fan, and she said, `I never thought we’d get that run.’
“What about me?
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“And she said, `You did fine too, son.’
“That sums up the career of an umpire,” McSherry said. “They never talk about you unless you make a controversial call.”
McSherry made his share of disputed calls during his 24 years in the big leagues, but was among the most liked and respected umpires in the National League. He may have been the most beloved.
“I loved the guy,” said Tony Muser, the Cubs’ third base coach, who knew McSherry when they were toiling in the minors. “He was a fan. He’d applaud good plays. When a player had a good game, the next day he’d tell him about it. All the players loved John McSherry.”
Like many umpires, McSherry was a failed player. When he was 16, his high school coach advised him that if he loved baseball so much he should find employment as an umpire. An honors student, McSherry matriculated to St. John’s University on a scholastic scholarship.
Two years later he enrolled in a school for umpires in Florida. McSherry was the valedictorian of his class and served his apprenticeship in the Florida Instructional League, the Carolina League and the International League.
Umpire Jim Quick, who had the plate Monday at Wrigley Field, was distraught when he heard of McSherry’s death.
“The baseball field was the place for him to go,” Quick said. “He was a very dedicated umpire. John was such a terrific person. My heart is very heavy right now. Baseball is going to miss him.”
Umpires generally are anonymous, but McSherry, because of his size, was always visible. He was 6 feet 2 inches tall. His weight was listed at 328 pounds.
“He was a sweet man, always pleasant,” said Mark Grace. “Even though we’d argue with him, umpires are part of our fraternity. He’d hear you out. He was always very slow to throw anybody out. We’ll miss him.”
In the course of the 162-game season, McSherry’s ejection ratio usually was among the lowest in the league. This upset him.
“I tried to be more aggressive. I’d get mad at myself,” McSherry said. “I’d say to myself, `I have to get tougher and not take any more junk.’ “
The late Tom Gorman was McSherry’s principal tutor
“Tommy and I came from the same neighborhood in the Bronx,” McSherry said. “He was a very funny guy and a very good umpire. There was always less tension when you worked with him. He always said, `If you have to unload a guy, unload him. But don’t have a quick hook. Take your time. Give them some rope.’ “
Once in Los Angeles, McSherry ejected Cincinnati manager Sparky Anderson in the first inning.
“I ran him early,” McSherry recalled. “I was still new in the league. And just as I threw him out, they flashed on the scoreboard, `Happy Birthday, John McSherry!’ It was in ’75, my 31st birthday.
“And Vin Scully (the Dodgers’ broadcaster) said, `Oh, that’s where Sparky went. He went to get him a birthday card.’ “
I was among the fortunate. I knew McSherry well. Often, in spring training, when we were based in St. Petersburg, Fla., we would have dinner. He loved Chinese food. I’ll miss him too.