Tom Swoboda

Umpire

2000-2004

When did you decide to be an umpire?

I decided to become an umpire while I was still in high school.  I had worked a few summers as a kid in little league.  I think I got paid around seven dollars a game in the late eighties.  I started working junior legion games at 18 years old.  I knew I was never going to make it as a player at the professional level but I wanted to remain in the game.  Coaching did not really appeal to me at the time so I began to umpire.

How did come to umpire in the Frontier League?

I started working in the Frontier League in the 2000 season.  I had been progressing through the college ranks in the spring and the Frontier League is the best thing going in the summer time for umpires.

Are FL umpires exclusive to that league, or do they also call other games?

Umpires are not exclusive to the Frontier League.  A lot of guys work various collegiate and high school leagues in the summer time.

Do all the umpires travel, or only some of you? How is it determined who travels and where?

There are probably about 10-12 umpires who travel around in the summer time.  Not all guys go to every city.  Some stay within a 4-5 hour radius of their home.  The League office determines the travel umpires schedules then the local assigners fill in the rest.

What is the travel like for an umpire? I assume you’re by yourself most of the time?

Umpires are not always by themselves on the road.  The league does pair up travel umpires from time to time.  All the other umpires I have traveled with have been great guys and are a lot of fun.

Off the field do players and umps frequent the same places?

In the Frontier League players and umps who may wind up in the same establishment after a ballgame is not an issue.  My personal general rule of thumb is if I am out somewhere and there are players from both teams present I will hang out and talk with them if they like.  There have been a few times at places where players don't approach me so I leave them alone.  Generally everyone at least says hello.  I have never seen a problem arise because of umpires and players being in the same place at once.

What’s the best city in the league for unwinding after the game?

Every city in the league has at least one great place for unwinding after game.  Some cities have several.  RC, Gateway, Evansville, Windy City, probably have the most options, whereas Richmond has the Wheel and Chillicothe has the Dock.  Smaller places but just as much fun.

Do most parks have an umpire’s dressing room?

All parks have dressing rooms for the umpires.  Some are actual umpire locker rooms. Others are whatever space the club has available.  Most have toilets and showers.  There are a few who do not.

Do you prefer to work behind the plate or on the bases?

Some days I prefer to work the plate, while other days I'd rather be on the bases.  I'm always happy when my plate jobs arise when I have pitchers that throw strikes, and I have catchers that know how to catch and call a game.

How do you keep your cool when you’re being verbally abused on the field?

I can usually keep my cool on the field as long as I am not personally attacked.  When that happens you automatically start to defend yourself.  Normally most arguments are questions about what I saw or a clarification on how I am enforcing a rule.

What is guaranteed to get a player or coach kicked out of a game?

A guaranteed ejection varies from ump to ump.  All umps will most likely eject you if you make nasty comment preceded by the word "you".

Have you ever ejected a fan? How about ballpark staff?

I have never ejected a fan from a Frontier League game.  I have ejected a public address announcer for announcing over the system that "We really got hosed on that call.".

Is most of the abuse as bad as it seems from the stands?

 I probably don't hear a majority of what comes out of the stands.  Occasionally though I will hear a good insult and I laugh.  Original insults are hard to come by.

What’s the most difficult play for you to call?

There are a lot of tough calls in the two man umpiring system.  Close pickoffs at first are tough because it’s hard to get a decent angle to look in and view the play. Fair and/or foul balls are tough from behind the plate when the coach is in your line of site also.

What’s the wildest game you’ve ever worked?

One of the wilder games I worked was in 2001 at River City vs. Evansville.  The benches emptied two or three times though no actual punches were thrown I believe about four or five people ended up being ejected.

Who are the best umps in the Frontier League?

There are a lot of great umps all over the league.  Jim Schaly has a great strike zone.  There are several guys here in St. Louis that are very good, Dan O'Connell, Don Novak, Scott Wilkerson.  The list really goes on and on. 

What’s the strangest thing someone has ever said to you during a game?

One of the stranger arguments I had on the field was with Ron LeFlore when he was with Cook County.  I had a close play at first base, he came out to argue, but instead of arguing about the call he wanted to talk about where I was positioned when I made the call and that my out call mechanic "needed less flair."

How about the funniest?

One of the more funny things I have heard from the crowd was "Bend over and look with your good eye.”  Some other funny things that have happened are: Ruffy (River City mascot) fanning Schaly with a "mom is that you" sign. (Note: The story behind this one is in “Everything Happens In Chillicothe” by Mike Shannon.) Dan O'Connell had a pizza delivered to him while working second base at the 2000 all star game.  O'Connell and Novak have turned all of my uniforms inside out, removed the straps from my shin guards, and removed my shoe laces.  O'Connell has put Icy Hot inside Novak's hat.  I have put a giant padlock on Novaks mask and Todd Leathers' glove.  I have received a take out box filled with dirt that said "Bottom Of The Strike Zone" courtesy of Leathers the day after I rang him up on a questionable pitch.

What’s your best comeback?

I have various comebacks for different situations.  One of my favorites to use is "Hey it’s your world I'm just visiting". When my eyesight is questioned I like to say. "On a clear day I can see the sun and that thing is 90 million miles away.