Marty Springstead
The recipient of the National Sports award, Marty Springstead is no stranger to either sports or awards. His colorful officiating performances behind the plate and on the field have been displayed in Major League Baseball for 20 years. He now serves as Supervisor of Umpires for the American League.
He played baseball as a youngster in high school, American Legion, Semi-Pro and in the military service. He combined his sports talents and competitive abilities in baseball and other sports as well while attending Farleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey.
Following college he traveled to Daytona Beach, Florida where he enrolled in the Al Sommers Umpire School. A year later, in 1960, Marty Springstead began his professional career as an umpire. He became a member of the American League umpiring staff in 1966 and was the league's senior umpire for many years.
Highlights of his career include service in the Class “C” Northern League, Class “AA” Southern League and US Army baseball in Fort Hood, Texas. He has worked in three Major League All-Star Games, 1969, 1975, 1982. He has also officiated in five American League Championship Playoffs in 1970, 1974, 1977, 1981 and 1984, and in the World Series in 1973 (Mets-A’s), 1978 (Yankees-Dodgers), and 1983 (Phillies-Orioles).
In addition, he has had the distinction of working two no-hitters behind the plate -- a rarity in professional baseball. Marty wore the number “4” and was a Crew Chief in the American League for 11 years.
Marty is very much in demand as a guest speaker, and has taught and lectured throughout the world. He has held clinics in Japan where he instructed the Japanese Professional Umpires of the Pacific League, and has also taught in various Canadian Provinces and for the United States Air Force in the countries of Spain, Holland and Germany.
At the end of the 1985 season, Marty was taken off the field as an active umpire and on January 1, 1986 was promoted to the job of Supervisor of Umpires for the American League.
The recipient of the National Sports award, Marty Springstead is no stranger to either sports or awards. His colorful officiating performances behind the plate and on the field have been displayed in Major League Baseball for 20 years. He now serves as Supervisor of Umpires for the American League.
He played baseball as a youngster in high school, American Legion, Semi-Pro and in the military service. He combined his sports talents and competitive abilities in baseball and other sports as well while attending Farleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey.
Following college he traveled to Daytona Beach, Florida where he enrolled in the Al Sommers Umpire School. A year later, in 1960, Marty Springstead began his professional career as an umpire. He became a member of the American League umpiring staff in 1966 and was the league's senior umpire for many years.
Highlights of his career include service in the Class “C” Northern League, Class “AA” Southern League and US Army baseball in Fort Hood, Texas. He has worked in three Major League All-Star Games, 1969, 1975, 1982. He has also officiated in five American League Championship Playoffs in 1970, 1974, 1977, 1981 and 1984, and in the World Series in 1973 (Mets-A’s), 1978 (Yankees-Dodgers), and 1983 (Phillies-Orioles).
In addition, he has had the distinction of working two no-hitters behind the plate -- a rarity in professional baseball. Marty wore the number “4” and was a Crew Chief in the American League for 11 years.
Marty is very much in demand as a guest speaker, and has taught and lectured throughout the world. He has held clinics in Japan where he instructed the Japanese Professional Umpires of the Pacific League, and has also taught in various Canadian Provinces and for the United States Air Force in the countries of Spain, Holland and Germany.
At the end of the 1985 season, Marty was taken off the field as an active umpire and on January 1, 1986 was promoted to the job of Supervisor of Umpires for the American League.
