MLB Umpires: Kerwin Danley becomes the first black crew chief

Breaking a barrier that should have been down long enough ago, Kerwin Danley isn’t perfect, but he isn’t a one-man MLB umpire circus, either.

There was a time when Kerwin Danley was a teammate and roommate of Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn at San Diego State. During 1983, as a first-team All-American outfielder, Danley achieved as a college player what Gwynn missed by five points as a major leaguer in 1994: a .399 traditional batting average.

Some would say this indicates a case of defining aspiration down, but Danley became an MLB umpire when he grew up. Others would consider the state of major league umpiring today and conclude Danley defied the law that says, in baseball, those who can, do; those who can’t, become umpires.

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Early enough in his major league umpiring tenure, Danley had the pleasure of being there to greet Gwynn at first base when Gwynn nailed his 3,000th major league hit. And, to give his old teammate a bear hug. Something you’d think would never happen otherwise between a player and an arbiter, considering how many of today’s umpires seem preternaturally disposed toward confrontation.

Kerwin Danley has become anything but the confrontational type. His is now a well-earned reputation for being the even-tempered man, which doesn’t mean what an ancient joke means–that he stays mad. Even-tempered and even in judgment. It’s helped bring Danley to go where no African-American has gone before, promoted proudly to major league umpire crew chief.

“I’m very honored, very excited to be the first. But it’s not just about me,” Danley told reporters about his promotion. “It’s much more than that. It shows African American kids there is something else they can make it in, besides playing.”

It sure took the Show more than long enough to make that happen. Likewise with elevating Alfonso Marquez to become the game’s first Hispanic crew chief to be born outside the United States. (Long-retired Richie Garcia, who preceded Marquez as an ump of Hispanic origin, was Florida born.)