Kerwin Danley
Kerwin Joseph Danley (born May 25, 1961) is an umpire in Major League Baseball who has worked in the National League (NL) from 1992 to 1999 and throughout both leagues since 2000.[1] Danley has worked the American League Division Series six times (2000, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2011).[2] He also umpired in the 2007 and 2016 Major League Baseball All-Star Games. Kerwin is married to Marisa Danley.
College baseball
Danley played baseball at San Diego State University, where he was teammates with future Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, before beginning his umpiring career. He was a First Team All-American in 1983.[3]
Notable games
Danley was the first base umpire for the game between the San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres on August 4, 2007. In the top of the second inning at San Diego, Barry Bonds of the Giants hit his 755th career home run off Clay Hensley, tying Hank Aaron for first all-time.
Danley was on the field on August 6, 1999 when former San Diego State teammate Tony Gwynn collected his 3,000th career hit.[4]
Injuries
On April 26, 2008, Danley was behind home plate umpiring a game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies when he was hit in the jaw by a 96 mph Brad Penny fastball that went over the head of catcher Russell Martin. Danley was carried off the field in an ambulance, but play eventually resumed. During the sixth inning, Vin Scully reported that Danley was doing well. Danley was released from the hospital at early the next morning and returned to the field in early June.
On April 21, 2009, Danley was the home plate umpire for a game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Texas Rangers. During Rangers' designated hitter Hank Blalock's sixth-inning at-bat, Blalock's bat broke, and the barrel of the bat hit Danley in the facemask. He was carried off the field on a stretcher for the 2nd time in his career for the same injury, almost exactly a year to the date of the first injury. Second base umpire Hunter Wendelstedt assumed umpiring duties at home plate. Danley remained conscious while being transported to the hospital, and was diagnosed with a mild concussion.
On May 27, 2012, Danley was the home plate umpire for a game between the Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves. During Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper's at-bat, Braves pitcher Brandon Beachy fired a slider into the dirt in front of home plate, which skipped through catcher J. C. Boscán's legs untouched and struck Danley directly in the groin. Danley fell to the ground, was assisted by Braves medical staff and remained in the game.[5]
On June 3, 2013, Danley was the home plate umpire for a game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rockies. In the bottom half of the first inning, Danley was hit on his face mask by a pitch that bounced in the dirt and off the catcher Wilin Rosario. A trainer was called out to check on him, but he remained in the game throughout the remainder of the inning and the entire second inning before the decision was made for him to leave the game at the top of the third, replaced by Lance Barksdale. His status was reported the next day as "day to day."[6]
On May 12, 2015, Danley was again the home plate umpire, this time for a game between the Washington Nationals and the Arizona Diamondbacks. In the bottom of the second inning with one out, he was hit by a pitch that lined straight back off the bat of Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed. The ball hit Danley square between the eyes on his face mask, sending him wobbling back toward the backstop. After several minutes of evaluation by the Diamondbacks team trainer, Danley left the game and was replaced by Gabe Morales at home plate. The rest of the game was finished by a 3-man crew.
On April 6, 2016, Danley was struck in the helmet directly by a 98-mph fastball from Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez, which was missed entirely by catcher J.T. Realmuto.[7]
See also
References
- ^ Retrosheet: Kerwin Danley. Accessed July 16, 2007.
- ^ "Kerwin Danley". MLB.com. Retrieved 2007-07-09.
- ^ MLB Umpires Roster: Kerwin Danley – 44, retrieved June 24, 2012
- ^ "Tony Gwynn Gets 3,000th Hit". Associated Press. August 7, 1999. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "Umpire Odds & Ends: Danley Down, But Not Out." Close Call Sports/Umpire Ejection Fantasy League. May 27, 2012.
- ^ Warnemuende, Jeremy (June 3, 2013). "Home-plate ump Danley hit with pitch, leaves game". Retrieved June 3, 2013.
- ^ "Injury - Kerwin Danley Hit in Helmet by 98 MPH Pitch". Close Call Sports & Umpire Ejection Fantasy League. April 7, 2016.