Pat Moore recently returned home from an 18-game World Series baseball experience in Branson, Missouri. He wasn’t there as a player, coach, manager, journalist, broadcaster, fan or parent. Instead, he was one of 17 specially selected umpires from across the United States who worked this year’s Babe Ruth Major 70 World Series.
For 12 days in mid-August, Moore worked 18 games as an umpire, six of which were as the home plate ump. While in Branson, he umpired baseball games for two different age groups — 12U and 16U. It was a busy trip.
“On some days, I worked two games, and when I wasn’t working a game, I was often watching many of the baseball games,” said Moore, 49, who has now worked seven Babe Ruth World Series events as an umpire.
Moore noted that when he watches a baseball game at any level, he’s not just focused on the players.
“When I watch a game, I’m as focused on watching the performance of the umpires as I am the actual players in the game,” Moore said. “I am a better umpire when I watch more experienced umpires in action.”
One of the highlights of his Branson baseball experience was being selected to work the World Series championship game for the 12U age group.
“I was the right-field-line umpire for the championship game of 12U division between a Japanese team and the team from Altamonte Springs, Florida,” Moore said. “The team from Japan won.”
Moore’s performance as an umpire drew a rave review from Steve Tellefsen, the president and CEO of the Babe Ruth League.
“Pat was an outstanding umpire at the Cal Ripken Major 70 World Series,” Tellefsen said. “He handled himself with professionalism on and off the field, and his knowledge of the game and calm presence made him a tremendous asset to the umpiring crew. We were fortunate to have him there. Pat is a great representative for Babe Ruth League Inc. and projected such a positive image.”
Moore is a genuine baseball lifer. In addition to being a baseball umpire throughout the year, working nearly 200 games annually, he is the head coach of the varsity baseball team at Berean Christian School.
Moore also teaches geometry and statistics at Berean. He’s been the head coach at Berean for the last five years, and this is his 11th year teaching students at the school.
Moore’s reasoning for being a baseball umpire are the same ones that motivate him to be a coach.
“I love the game, and I like the chance to give back a little to a game that has given me so much,” Moore said.
While Moore’s travel expenses to and from Branson were paid for — as were his living expenses while in Branson — he was not paid anything for his professional expertise as an umpire on the baseball diamond. Rather, he was a true volunteer who remains passionate and dedicated to the game of baseball.
