Calhoun County, AL – Alabama high school umpires field raise proposal, but it won’t take effect until next year; umpire associations must decide whether to play ball in ’23
By Joe Medley
The possibility of a mass work stoppage by Alabama high school baseball umpires went on hold Thursday, as they field a proposal featuring a $25-per-game raise. The caveat? The raise would take effect next year, not for the 2023 season, as umpire associations around the state asked in November of last year and again, a letter to the AHSAA earlier this week.
The Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Central Board of Control would have to approve the raise at its next quarterly meeting, in April. Various umpire associations around the state will render their votes on whether to accept the proposal. For the East Alabama Baseball Umpires Association, that vote would come at the association’s weekly meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 1.
East Alabama Baseball Umpires Association president Cecil Garrison consulted the association’s board about the raise proposal, which arose from Thursday’s meeting of five baseball officials representatives, AHSAA executive director Alvin Briggs and AHSAA director of officials Ken Washington. Garrison said officials got a promise that would keep their pay current with that of their peers in Mississippi. There was also a proposal to form a committee of current and retired officials to report to the Board of Control.
How did the East Alabama board respond? “We’re going to work, but I really don’t know if we’re going to have the members this year to cover the games we’ve got,” Garrison said. “We’re down about 20 percent on membership, so we’re going to work the games we can work. There’s no promise there will not be cancellations during the season because of a shortage of umpires this year.” [read more…]
Al Muskewitz contributed information to this report.
