It was a hot and humid July afternoon at the ballpark – 102F degrees with 82% humidity and rising.

Everyone was sweltering – including the umpire. At the top of the second inning, he stood up from behind the plate and meandered toward the mound. The crowd wondered if he might call the game off due to the scorching heat.

He got halfway toward the pitcher before he changed direction and wobbled toward first base. Then he staggered toward the home dugout where he collapsed from heat exhaustion.

Since then, everyone refers to the incident as The Fall of the Roaming Umpire.

Story Copyright © 2024 by Michael DeFrancesco

Cover illustration - non-copyright