Andy Fletcher: 25 Year MLB Umpire Veteran

Three Strikes, You’re Out of Here – My Guest, Mr. Andy Fletcher is a 25 Year MLB umpire veteran.

“Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it, time will pass anyway.”

~ E. Nightingale

 

It is probably fair to say that most kids grow up dreaming of being the player that scores the game winning touchdown or hitting the walk off homerun. However this week’s guest was drawn to the officiating side of sports.  Mr. Andy Fletcher grew up playing multiple sports, but it was the influence of his father that grew his love for officiating.

Andy discusses how he would go to dozens of games and see his father umping baseball or refereeing football and basketball and how this gave him the itch to do the same.  It was his senior year in high school that he officially got his first chance to ump a professional game.  At the young age of 17 he was invited to ump 3rd base at a Memphis Chicks game (the former double A team for the one time Montréal Expos.)  Andy describes how he was incredibly nervous but at the same time excited to get such a unique experience at such a young age.

Andy let his love of officiating grow and over the years he continued to ump and ref across all three major sports until he eventually settled on baseball.  An interesting fact Andy shared was that he really didn’t have a favorite team and really just enjoyed calling the game.  Andy continued to grind over 10 years in the minors before finally getting his call to big leagues one afternoon while standing in a mall.  He recalls how he was suddenly overcome with emotion and his lifelong dream of being a big league ump was incredibly coming true.

Since that day, nearly 25 years ago, Andy has went on to build quite the resume of games. He has umped in 2 World Baseball Classics, 2 All-Star games, 4 Wild Card Series, 3 Division Series, 1 League Championship Series and as of 2024 he can add the 5 game World Series between the Dodgers and the Yankees.  Andy’s story of hard work and climb to success is a true testament of what can be possible when you believe in yourself and give it everything you’ve got.

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This episode was recorded at SRP Studios and Produced by Shelby Row Productions LLC

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