Joe Brinkman

Joseph Norbert Brinkman (born April 9, 1944 in Little Falls, Minnesota) is a former umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the American League from 1973 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues from 2000 until his retirement during the 2006 season.

Career

His 34 years of umpiring AL games surpassed the record set by Larry Barnett (1968-1999). He is fifth all time in number of games worked in the Major Leagues. Three of the four ahead of him are in the Hall of Fame. Brinkman umpired in three World Series: 1978, 1986, 1995. He also officiated in three American League Championship Series (1976, 1980, 1987, 1992, 1997), and in three All-Star games (1977, 1991, 1996), calling balls and strikes in 1991. He worked the Division Series in 1981, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2004 and 2005. He served as the crew chief for the ALCS in 1976, 1987 and 1997, becoming the fourth AL umpire to do so three times, and also for the 2005 NLDS. His retirement was announced on August 22, 2006 . Former umpire Bob Davidson returned to replace Brinkman on the major league roster.

Pine Tar Game

Brinkman was also the crew chief for the Pine Tar Game between the Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees on July...
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