Tim McClelland has become one of the most respected umpires over his two decades of work. McClelland is one of the few umpires who works from one knee, but given his 6-foot-6 height, his grasp of the strike zone is not obstructed at all.
McClelland first came into the limelight in 1983, when he was the home plate umpire in the infamous "Pine Tar Game" between the Kansas City Royals and the New York Yankees. It was McClelland who picked up George Brett's bat, pointed toward the third base dugout and called Brett out because the pine tar extended past the 18-inch legal limit. McClelland kept his cool as Brett charged toward the umpire before being restrained by crew mates Joe Brinkman, Drew Coble and Nick Bremigan.
McClelland later worked the 1993, 2000 and 2002 World Series, and was behind the plate in Game 6 of the 2002 series when the Anaheim Angels rallied from a 5-0 deficit to win the game and eventually take the series the next night.
McClelland continued his stellar work in 2003 as he was the home plate umpire for the All-Star Game at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago and was the crew chief of the 2003 American League Championship Series, and was behind the plate for Game 7 when Aaron Boone won the series for the New York Yankees with his 11th inning home run.
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Posted November 6, 2003.
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