2022 Umps Care Charity Bowling Tournament

Hello all,

Chris Marco is playing in the Umps Care charity bowling tournament during spring training on March 21 in Florida. Umps Care is the official non-profit charity of professional baseball umpires, providing emotional and financial assistance to youth and families in need across the markets of MLB/MiLB’s teams. The tournament is a fundraiser to help provide the following programs in 2022:

  • Build-A-Bear Workshop experiences to critically ill patients in children’s hospitals across the US and Canada
  • VIP baseball experiences for at-risk youth, children battling major illness and military families, (including visits in Triple-A Markets)
  • College scholarships for deserving young adults who were adopted later in life
  • Funding for short term assistance to umpires and their families in times of need

Obviously, MLB/MiLB is dominated by American-based teams, but Umps Care is active at Sick Kids Toronto on a consistent basis. Check out this piece Sportsnet ran during a broadcast in 2014 (https://www.facebook.com/UmpsCare/videos/10154232102255007/). Umps Care has been to Toronto every year since.

His spring crew is bowling in support of this great cause and he personally hopes to raise more than $120 for the crew. Please visit the crew page and consider making a donation if you are in a position to support.

His crew page: https://give.umpscare.com/fundraiser/3745484

Thanks for considering this.

2020 Umps Care Charity Bowling Tournament

Hello all,

Chris Marco is playing in the Umps Care charity bowling tournament during spring training on March 21 in Florida. Umps Care is the official non-profit charity of professional baseball umpires, providing emotional and financial assistance to youth and families in need across the markets of MLB/MiLB’s teams. The tournament is a fundraiser to help provide the following programs in 2020:

  • 1500 Build-A-Bear Workshop experiences to critically ill patients in children’s hospitals across the US and Canada
  • VIP baseball experiences for at-risk youth, children battling major illness and military families, (including visits in ALL 30 Triple-A Markets this year, a direct result of our fundraising efforts in 2019)
  • College scholarships for deserving young adults who were adopted later in life
  • Funding for short term assistance to umpires and their families in times of need

Obviously, MLB/MiLB is dominated by American-based teams, but Umps Care is active at Sick Kids Toronto on a consistent basis. Check out this piece Sportsnet ran during a broadcast in 2014 (https://www.facebook.com/UmpsCare/videos/10154232102255007/). Umps Care has been to Toronto every year since.

His spring crew are bowling in support of this great cause and he personally hopes to raise more than $120 for the crew. Please visit the crew page and consider making a donation if you are in a position to support.

Their crew page: https://give.umpscare.com/fundraiser/2691217

Thanks for considering this.

HBUA Alumni Selected to 2019 Playoffs; League Championship Series

Congratulations are again in order for Matt Blackborow, Steven Jaschinski and Chris Marco for their selection to their respective league playoffs and championship series to conclude the 2019 season.

Blackborow was selected to work the Gulf Coast League (Rookie) playoffs and League Championship series. This was to be Blackborow’s first career playoff assignment and championship series in his first season of professional baseball. However, the playoffs were cancelled due to Hurricane Dorian.

Jaschinski worked the Carolina League (High-A) North Division Championship Series as well as the League Championship Series. This was Jaschinski’s third career playoff assignment and championship series (2018 – Midwest League, 2017 – Northwest League) in his third season of professional baseball. Jaschinski has also been assigned to the Arizona Instructional League.

Marco worked the Eastern League (AA) East Division Championship Series as well as the League Championship Series. This was Marco’s fifth career playoff assignment (2018 – Eastern League, 2016 – Carolina League, 2015 – Midwest League, 2014 – New York-Penn League) and fourth career Championship Series (2016, 2015, 2014) in his sixth season of professional baseball.

Live Game Observations

As part of the HBUA’s commitment to its members and umpire development, the Executive approved a live-game observation process a few years ago. The process, as outlined in the HBUA Policy and Procedure manual, consists of an in-person live game observation by a dedicated observer followed by a post-game discussion and concluded with a brief written summation. The goal of these observations is to raise the overall standard of officiating within the HBUA, not to be critical of umpires or for observers to flaunt their experience and credentials.

As we transition into the fall, following the conclusion of the Eastern League playoffs, Chris Marco will be observing games in an effort to ensure as many members as possible receive at least one observation prior to the conclusion of the season. With only a few weeks left, we cannot guarantee all members will be seen. Any members highly interested in an observation should contact Chris (cmarco_5@hotmail.com) directly so that it may be prioritized.