Ron Kulpa
| 46 – Ron Kulpa | |
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Kulpa in 2011 | |
| Born |
October 5, 1968 St. Louis, Missouri |
| MLB debut | July 23, 1998 |
| Umpiring crew | |
| J | |
| Crew members | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Special Assignments
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Ronald Clarence Kulpa (born October 5, 1968) is an umpire in Major League Baseball. He wears uniform number 46. In 2015, he is working with fellow crew members Larry Vanover, Brian Knight and Vic Carapazza.
Umpiring career
Kulpa's professional umpiring career began in 1992 and he advanced to the Pacific Coast League in 1998. Kulpa was one of the 22 umpires promoted in the wake of the Major League Umpires Association's mass-resignation strategy in July 1999, and was named to the National League staff for the remainder of the 1999 season. When the umpiring staffs from the two leagues merged for the 2000 season, Kulpa began working in both leagues.
He has worked several MLB Special Events, including the All-Star Game (2001, 2015), Division Series (2001, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011), League Championship Series (2005, 2013, 2014), and World Series (2011).
For the 2015 season, Kulpa was assigned to Larry Vanover's crew along with Brian Knight and Vic Carapazza.
Controversies
Kulpa was head-butted by Carl Everett of the Boston Red Sox in 2000 during an argument about the location of the inner boundary of the batter's box.
Working first base in Game 3 of the 2011 World Series (his first World Series as an umpire), Kulpa controversially called St. Louis Cardinals hitter Matt Holliday safe after Holliday grounded into what would have been the second out of a routine double play in the game's fourth inning. Kulpa claimed that Holliday had arrived at first base prior to the tag from Texas Rangers first baseman Mike Napoli, although replays subsequently proved that Napoli had indeed tagged him out by a full stride, prior to Holliday's stumbling across the base and falling.[1] Kulpa later told a pool reporter after the game that he was aware Napoli had tagged Holliday, but he thought Holliday's foot was already on the base. He did not ask for a second opinion.[1] When the game ended, Kulpa reviewed the play on tape and admitted he should have called Holliday out. The Cardinals went on to win the game 16-7, and eventually won the Series in seven games.
On August 12, 2013, he ejected Rangers catcher A.J. Pierzynski for arguing a ball three call during pitcher Yu Darvish's bid for a perfect game against the Houston Astros. The perfect game was broken up moments later on an ensuing ball four pitch to Astros batter Jonathan Villar. [2]
Kulpa was involved in a controversial game at Yankee Stadium between the Yankees and the Red Sox on May 6, 2016, in which he called Andrew Miller's breaking ball to David Ortiz, which was low and well outside of the strike zone, a strike. Had Kulpa made the correct call, Ortiz would have walked in the game-tying run.
Notable games
Kulpa was the home plate umpire when Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander threw a no-hitter at Comerica Park vs. the Milwaukee Brewers on June 12, 2007.[3] Five days before Verlander's no-hitter, Kulpa called balls and strikes in a game between the Red Sox and the Oakland Athletics in which Boston pitcher Curt Schilling had a no-hitter until Shannon Stewart broke up the no-hitter with a single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning.[4]
Kulpa was the plate umpire for Henderson Álvarez's no-hitter on September 29, 2013.[5]
Personal
Prior to pursuing professional umpiring, Kulpa attended Florissant Valley Community College before transferring to Missouri Baptist College, where he played baseball.
See also
References
- 1 2 Kriegel, Mark. MLB loses chance to change for better FoxSports.com.
- ↑ "MLB Ejection 129: Ron Kulpa (1; AJ Pierzynski)." Close Call Sports and the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League. August 12, 2013.
- ↑ Verlander fans 12 in first Tigers no-hitter since '84 ESPN.com. Retrieved 24 July 2012
- ↑ Stewart breaks up Schilling no-hitter with 2 outs in 9th ESPN.com. Retrieved 24 July 2012
- ↑ Foxsports.com Retrieved 29 September 2013