LoungeMachine
06-05-2006, 10:05 PM
Monday, June 05, 2006
Former major league umpire Eric Gregg dies
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Former major league umpire Eric Gregg died Monday after suffering a stroke at his home on Sunday. He was 55 years old.
A spokesman at Lankenau Hospital said Gregg passed away Monday evening.
Gregg was a big league umpire for 23 years until losing his job as part of a mass resignation ploy by former umpires union chief Richie Phillips, who tried to jump-start labor negotiations in 1999.
The tactic failed and Gregg was one of 22 umpires whose resignations were accepted by Major League Baseball. A different union was formed and Gregg was unable to regain his job.
Gregg, known for his weight problems, umpired the 1989 World Series that was interrupted by the San Francisco earthquake. He also worked one All-Star Game and four championship series, including the 1997 NLCS when Gregg was criticized for an expanded strike zone that helped Florida's Livan Hernandez strike out 15 Atlanta Braves.
Former major league umpire Eric Gregg dies
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Former major league umpire Eric Gregg died Monday after suffering a stroke at his home on Sunday. He was 55 years old.
A spokesman at Lankenau Hospital said Gregg passed away Monday evening.
Gregg was a big league umpire for 23 years until losing his job as part of a mass resignation ploy by former umpires union chief Richie Phillips, who tried to jump-start labor negotiations in 1999.
The tactic failed and Gregg was one of 22 umpires whose resignations were accepted by Major League Baseball. A different union was formed and Gregg was unable to regain his job.
Gregg, known for his weight problems, umpired the 1989 World Series that was interrupted by the San Francisco earthquake. He also worked one All-Star Game and four championship series, including the 1997 NLCS when Gregg was criticized for an expanded strike zone that helped Florida's Livan Hernandez strike out 15 Atlanta Braves.