Interview Tomas Villegas Jr. – ESSL Umpire-In-Chief
When did you start to officiate and why did you start it?
I began to officiate Little League Baseball at Bitburg Air Base, Germany in June 1970. My 2 sons were scheduled to play a baseball game and came home crying because they could not play the game because the umpire who was schedule did not show up for the game. From that day forward I volunteered my time to umpire not only my son’s games but all the Little League games that year.
What was your most challenging situation as an umpire?
My most challenging situation as an umpire was in August 1976.
I was selected to umpire in the “Big League” Baseball World Series (part of Little League Baseball) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I did not know anyone there. I was picked up at the airport and taken to the “Yankee Clipper” Hotel in Fort Lauderdale. The next day I was picked up and met with the rest of the umpires who had been selected to officiate the series. There were 24 other umpires with 4 times more experience than I had. We umpired in 6 man crews just like in the Major League Baseball World Series. We umpired together for 7 days. The day prior to the Championship game, we all had a meeting in the hospitality room.
The Umpire-In-Chief a professional player in the Boston Red Sox farm system, talked about the selections he had made for the championship game in conjunction with all the team managers participating in the series, 12 total. He named the foul line and base umpires and left the plate umpire for last. He paused, and you could hear a pin drop and everyone was looking at each other and he named me as the home plate umpire for the championship game. I cried because I did not expect it, because of my lack of experience at the time. The teams participating were Taiwan and a team from Southern California. In 1976 the game was being televised live to Taiwan at $30,000.00 per minute. The final score 2-1 Taiwan.
What was your best and funniest moment?
I was in the United States Air Force at the time. The President of the Big League World Series wrote my Wing Commander at Bitburg Air Base and requested that my home of record be changed to Fort Lauderdale, Florida so I could return to umpire in the “Big League World Series”. Because as a visiting umpire I could only be invited one time. As a local umpire I could return. For 12 consecutive years I returned to umpire in the “Big League World Series”.
The funniest moment of my umpiring career was when the Rhein Main team was scheduled to play the Bitburg Team for the European Senior League Championship, of which my two sons were playing for. One of my son’s was pitching against his son on the Rhein Main team. The tournament director did not want me umpiring the game behind home plate. However the oppponent team coach told the tournament director, Tomas Villegas has to umpire the game behind home plate or they will not play the game.
In your opinion, what makes a good umpire?
A good umpire has to be dedicated and disciplined.
He needs to know the rules and mechanics of the game he/she officiates. Be fair, consistent and have no bias. Wears uniform in a proper manner and be approachable in all situations. He must carry himself properly and be professional at all times, under any circumstances.
What do you like when you officiate in the ESSL?
I like to officiate in the ESSL because of the camaraderie of the teams. They get along, closeness, solidarity and mutual support for each other. The players and the league are improving every year. The competition is getting better every season and the players are willing to learn and get better. Besides we have teams participating from different cultures and that makes it interesting and challenging.
I’m proud to be an umpire for the ESSL. The ESSL has come a long way from the first time I drove from Landscheid, Germany to Linz, Austria (14 hours) and we could only play 2 games because of the rain.
Tell us some highlights of your career as an umpire?
The highlights are too many to mention here, but I will name my top 10.
1. Big League World Series Home Plate Umpire, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
2. Commissioner of all USAFE Sports Officials in Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Fast and Slow Pitch Softball, Baseball, Soccer and Boxing, Germany
3. USA National Slow Pitch Softball Championships, Columbus, Ohio
4. Little World Series Umpire, Williamsport, Pennsylvania
5. Fast Pitch Softball Umpire, Pan American Games, San Juan, Puerto Rico
6. ASA Women’s Slow Pitch Championships, Rock Hill, South Carolina
7. Fast Pitch Softball Umpire, Macabiah Games, Tel Aviv. Israel
8. USAFE Sports Hall of Fame, Germany
9. ESSL Umpire-In-Chief
10. Saigon International Softball Classic, Vietnam
