Legendary MLB Umpire Bruce Froemming Passes Away at 86

Bruce Froemming, who officiated Major League Baseball games for 37 years and holds the record for working 11 no-hitters, has died at age 86. The veteran umpire passed away Wednesday after suffering a fatal head injury from a fall at his Wisconsin home.

A legendary figure in Major League Baseball has passed away. Bruce Froemming, who spent nearly four decades calling balls and strikes in the big leagues, died Wednesday at age 86, according to his son.

The veteran official suffered a fatal accident early Tuesday morning when he fell and struck his head on hardwood flooring at his residence in Mequon, Wisconsin. Steven Froemming said his father was rushed to Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital in Milwaukee, where he succumbed to brain hemorrhaging that doctors couldn’t control due to blood-thinning medication.

Froemming’s career behind the plate spanned an impressive 37 seasons, during which he officiated 5,163 games – ranking third in baseball history. His journey began as a teenage semiprofessional player who transitioned to umpiring in the minor leagues in 1958 when he was just 18 years old. After working his way through the ranks, he earned a spot on the National League umpiring crew in 1971, later moving to the consolidated major league staff in 2000 before hanging up his mask in 2007.

The Wisconsin native holds the unique distinction of working behind home plate for a record-setting 11 no-hit games throughout his career. His most memorable assignment came on September 2, 1972, when Chicago Cubs pitcher Milt Pappas came within one strike of a perfect game before walking pinch-hitter Larry Stahl, then completing the no-hitter by retiring Garry Jestadt on a fly ball.

Froemming also called three additional no-hitters from behind the plate, including performances by Ed Halicki in 1975, Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan in 1981, and José Jiménez in 1999. His distinguished career included assignments to five World Series.

Reflecting on his early days just before retirement, Froemming recalled his first professional assignment in Waterloo, Iowa: “I thought I was in heaven — on the ballfield, professional athletes, I was starting my professional career. But never did you dream at the time, ever even think of going to a big league ballpark, because you had so far to go through the minor leagues to even get a chance.”

He offered advice to aspiring umpires, emphasizing that success required “probably being patient with yourself. … You’re going to make mistakes early on.”

Following his retirement from active duty, Froemming continued serving baseball as a special assistant to Major League Baseball’s vice president of umpiring.

He leaves behind his wife, Rosemarie, whom he wed in 1957, along with sons Steven and Kevin, sister Cathy Seizer, half-brother Johnny Froemming, and two grandchildren.