Ed Montague (umpire)

Mlbumpire
number = 11
name = Ed Montague


width = 250
caption =
debutyear = 1976
Umpirecrew = 1
crewchief = Ed Montague
crew2 = Jerry Layne
crew3 = Phil Cuzzi
crew4 = Jim Wolf
highlights = All-Star Game (1982, 90, 98, 2004)
Division Series (1981, 95, 2000, 03-05)
League Championship Series (1979, 84, 87, 92, 96, 99, 2001, 02)
World Series (1986, 1991, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2007)
Was the first base umpire when Pete Rose singled to break Ty Cobb's all-time hit record in Cincinnati (1985)

Edward Michael Montague (born November 3 1948 in San Francisco, California) is an umpire in Major League Baseball. He worked in the National League in 1974 and from 1976 to 1999, and has officiated throughout both leagues since 2000. The most senior active umpire in the major leagues, he has worn uniform number 11 throughout his career. His father, also named Ed Montague, was a major league player and scout.

He has officiated in the World Series in 1986, 1991, 1997, 2000, 2004 and 2007, serving as crew chief on the last four occasions; only Bill Klem (9 times) and Bill Summers (4 times) held the position of World Series crew chief as often. Montague also umpired in the All-Star Game in 1982, 1990, 1998 and 2004, calling balls and strikes for the last three contests. He is only the fourth umpire in history - joining Bill McGowan, Summers and Al Barlick - to serve as crew chief for three World Series and as home plate umpire for three All-Star Games. In 2004 he became the first umpire to work behind the plate for the entire All-Star Game and serve as crew chief in the World Series in the same season.

Montague has also umpired in seven League Championship Series (1979, 1987, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2002), and in seven Division Series (1981, 1995, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007). He was the first base umpire for the single-game playoff to decide the NL's 2007 wild card team. He became an NL crew chief in 1996 after the death of longtime umpire John McSherry on Opening Day at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati.

On May 28, 2006, Montague was umpiring second base when Barry Bonds hit his 715th home run to pass Babe Ruth for second place on the all-time list.

He is known for his quick flick of the wrist on a called strike, and his quick punchout on called third strikes to left-handed hitters.

His son, also named Ed, plays for the Fort Worth Cats.

External links

* [http://www.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/official_info/umpires/bio.jsp?id=2662 Major league profile]
* [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/M/Pmonte901.htm Retrosheet]