AP Photo 6 months ago

Home plate umpire John Hirschbeck, right, puts a wet towel over his head to cool off during a baseball game between the New York Mets and the Cincinnati Reds, Thursday, July 28, 2011, in Cincinnati. New York won 10-9.

Getty Images 7 months ago

DETROIT - JULY 19: Home plate umpire John Hirschbeck #17 signals a home run for Carlos Guillen #9 of the Detroit Tigers in the fifth inning during the game against the Oakland Athletics at Comerica Park on July 19, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Athletics 8-3.

Getty Images 7 months ago

PITTSBURGH - JULY 10: Home plate umpire John Hirschbeck sits in the ground while being looked at by head athletic trainer for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Brad Henderson, after being hit by a pitch in the groin during the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Cubs on July 10,...

AP Photo 9 months ago

Florida Marlins batter Mike Stanton (27) argues a third strike call by home plate umpire John Hirschbeck, left, during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Miami, Friday, May 20, 2011. The Marlins won 5-3.

Reuters Pictures 9 months ago

Chicago Cubs' manager Mike Quade argues with home plate umpire John Hirschbeck (R) and third base umpire Sam Holbrook over a ruling during the fourth inning of play against the Cincinnati Reds in their National League MLB baseball game at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, May...

Getty Images 10 months ago

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - APRIL 01: Home plate umpire John Hirschbeck #17, catcher Matt Wieters #32 of the Baltimore Orioles and infielder Evan Longoria #3 of the Tampa Bay Rays walk on the infield during the Opening Day game at Tropicana Field on April 1, 2011 in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Getty Images 5 months ago

ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 31: Josh Hamilton #32 of the Texas Rangers appeals a third strike call by home plate umpire John Hirschbeck #17during the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on August 31, 2011 in Arlington, Texas.

Getty Images 6 months ago

CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 20: Marlon Byrd #24 (L) of the Chicago Cubs slides safely into second base with an RBI double scoring teammate Carlos Pena #22 as second baseman Skip Schumaker #55 of the St. Louis Cardinals puts on a late tag and second base umpire John Hirschbeck signals safe during...

Getty Images 6 months ago

CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 20: Jon Jay #19 (C) of the St. Louis Cardinals slides safely into second base with a double as second baseman Darwin Barney #15 of the Chicago Cubs applies a late tag and second base umpire John Hirschbeck watches the play during the first inning at Wrigley Field on...

Getty Images 6 months ago

CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 16: Manager Manny Acta #11 of the Cleveland Indians argues with home plate umpire Laz Diaz (L-R), second base umpire John Hirschbeck and and first base umpire Wally Bell during the fourth inning against the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field on August 16, 2011...

AP Photo 6 months ago

Cleveland Indians manager Manny Acta appeals to umpire John Hirschbeck during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2011 in Chicago.

Getty Images 6 months ago

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 08: Ryan Howard #6 of the Philadelphia Phillies fields a bunt off the bat of Hiroki Kuroda #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers resulting in a single in front of umpire John Hirschbeck during the fifth inning at Dodger Stadium on August 8, 2011 in Los Angeles, California...

Getty Images 6 months ago

CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 31: Manager Ned Yost #3 of the Kansas City Royals argues a call with first base umpire John Hirschbeck #17 during the first inning at Progressive Field on July 31, 2011 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Reuters Pictures 7 months ago

Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland (R) talks to umpire John Hirschbeck after Oakland Athletics batter Scott Sizemore was hit by a pitch by Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello during the fourth inning of their MLB American League baseball game in Detroit, Michigan July 19, 2011.

Getty Images 7 months ago

DETROIT - JULY 19: Oakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin #6 talks with home plate umpire John Hirschbeck #17 during the fifth inning of the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on July 19, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Athletics 8-3.

Getty Images 7 months ago

DETROIT - JULY 19: Kurt Suzuki #8 of the Oakland Athletics reacts after the home plate umpire John Hirschbeck #17 calls Victor Martinez #41 of the Detroit Tigers safe in the fifth inning during the game at Comerica Park on July 19, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the...

AP Photo 7 months ago

The Detroit Tigers' Victor Martinez reaches around Oakland Athletics catcher Kurt Suzuki (8) to score a run as home plate umpire John Hirschbeck looks on in the fourth inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Tuesday, July 19, 2011.

AP Photo 7 months ago

Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland, right, points to first base while talking with home plate umpire John Hirschbeck (17), after the Oakland Athletics' Scott Sizemore (29) was hit by a pitch delivered by Detroit Tigers' Rick Porcello in the fourth inning of a baseball game in Detroit,...

AP Photo 8 months ago

San Diego Padres' Anthony Rizzo (27) slides into third with a triple as Washington Nationals third baseman Alex Cora takes in the late throw and umpire John Hirschbeck watches the play in the fifth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, June 9, 2011 in San Diego. It was Rizzo's first hit...

Reuters Pictures 9 months ago

Chicago Cubs' manager Mike Quade argues with home plate umpire John Hirschbeck over a ruling as catcher Welington Castillo (53) and pitcher Matt Garza (17) look on during the fourth inning of play against the Cincinnati Reds in their MLB National League baseball game at Great American Ball...

AP Photo 9 months ago

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Kyle Davies gestures toward first base umpire John Hirschbeck, questioning whether Cleveland Indians' Jack Hannahan's two-run double down the first base line was really fair in the fourth inning of a baseball game in Cleveland on Thursday, April 28, 2011...

AP Photo 10 months ago

Cincinnati Reds' Miguel Cairo laughs after inquiring about a called strike with home plate umpire John Hirschbeck in the second inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, April 24, 2011 in St. Louis.

Reuters Pictures 10 months ago

The Tampa Bay Rays' manager Joe Maddon (R) argues a call with umpire John Hirschbeck after the Rays' B.J. Upton was run down during the eighth inning of their MLB American League baseball game in St. Petersburg, Florida, April 1, 2011.

Getty Images 10 months ago

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - APRIL 01: Manager Joe Maddon #70 of the Tampa Bay Rays talks with home plate umpire John Hirschbeck during the Opening Day game against the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field on April 1, 2011 in St. Petersburg, Florida.

AP Photo 11 months ago

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Raheem Morris, center, jokes with the umpiring crew while bringing out the Tampa Bay Rays line-up prior to facing the Toronto Blue Jays in a spring training baseball game in Port Charlotte, Fla. , Tuesday, March 8, 2011. Umpires with Morris are Bill...