You’re Outta Here

Umpire Joe West, seen here in happier times

Home plate umpire Joe West ejects two Shea Stadium television cameramen 40 year ago for showing replays of a close play at the plate after West calls out New York’s Hubie Brooks to end the fourth inning.

The Mets go on to beat the Atlanta Braves 3-1 with the victory going to Ron Darling, who inadvertently starts West’s meltdown with a two-out single to center that prompts Brooks to try and score from second base.

West in turn rules that the throw from Braves center fielder Dale Murphy to catcher Bruce Benedict beats Brooks to the plate.

Understandably, the Mets are upset by the call.

Equally understandable is that West being West, and that being the umpire, does not care about the Mets’ ire.

What gets West irate is when Sportschannel cable TV cameramen Doug Zimmer and Al Friedman show the replay of the close play to Mets third base coach Bobby Valentine and pitcher Mike Torrez.

Unlike today, Major League Baseball in 1984 does not allow replays to be seen in the dugout, thereby validating the oft-combustible West’s decision to toss out the cameramen.