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Steve Palermo | |
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| Born | Stephen Michael Palermo (1949-10-09)October 9, 1949 Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | May 14, 2017(2017-05-14) (aged 67) Overland Park, Kansas, U.S. |
| Education | Norwich University |
| Occupation | MLBumpire |
| Years active | 1977–1991 |
Stephen Michael Palermo (October 9, 1949 – May 14, 2017) was an Americanumpire inMajor League Baseball who worked in theAmerican League from 1977 to 1991. His field career ended when he was shot in the back following his decision to intervene and apprehend the assailants in an altercation outsideCampisi's, aDallas Italian restaurant. He wore uniform number 14 when the American League began using uniform numbers for its umpires in 1980, and the number was never reassigned to another AL umpire until after the AL and NL umpire staffs were unified by MLB in 2000.
Steve Palermo was born on October 9, 1949, inWorcester, Massachusetts. He studiededucation atNorwich University,Leicester Junior College andWorcester State College. While in school, he worked as a baseball umpire. Barney Deary, who headed Major League Baseball's Umpire Development Program, discovered Palermo working aLittle League all-star game. As a result, Palermo entered the league's development program where he trained for five years.[1]
His career as an umpire includes the1983 World Series, threeAmerican League Championship Series (1980,1982, and1989), the1981 American League Division Series and the1986 All-Star Game. In August 1991,The Sporting News ranked Palermo "Number 1" among American League umpires for overall performance. His first game as an umpire was the Toronto Blue Jays first ever game on April 7, 1977, at Exhibition Stadium. Palermo was the third base umpire for that game.
Palermo was one of the first American League umpires to never use the outside chest protector. Starting in 1977, all new AL umpires had to adopt the inside chest protector, which had been used in the National League for decades under the guidance of Hall of Fame umpireBill Klem. AL umpires on staff prior to 1977 weregrandfathered and could continue to use the outside protector. Among those umpires with Palermo in the AL Class of '77 wereDurwood Merrill andVic Voltaggio.
His career highlights also include umpiring two of the most famous games between theNew York Yankees and theBoston Red Sox. In1978, he worked theYankees'one-game playoff against theBoston Red Sox inFenway Park to determine the AL's Eastern Division winner. Palermo, serving as the third base umpire, signaled "fair ball" whenBucky Dent hit the game-changinghome run. On July 4, 1983, Palermo worked behind the plate forDave Righetti'sno-hitter against theRed Sox atYankee Stadium.Palermo was one of the umpires who caught Minnesota Twin pitcherJoe Niekro in the act of scuffing a baseball on August 3, 1987, in a game at Anaheim Stadium.[2]
Steve Palermo provided the umpire's voice inKen Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball, a1994Super NES baseball video game.
Palermo was frequently the target of fieryBaltimore Orioles' managerEarl Weaver's wrath.Jim Palmer, Hall of Fame Oriole pitcher, remembered that Weaver "second-, third-, and fourth-guessed every call Steve Palermo ever made in his whole career, which, by the law of averages seems a little harsh, since he had a one out of two chance on every pitch."[3]
On July 7, 1991, he and several friends, including fellow umpireRich Garcia, were dining atCampisi's Egyptian Restaurant inDallas after working aTexas Rangers game when they were alerted that two waitresses were being mugged in the parking lot. In an attempt to apprehend the assailants, he suffered a bullet wound to hisspinal cord, resulting in instantparalysis from the waist down. Palermo's umpiring career ended, and doctors told Palermo and his wife, Debbie, that he would probably never walk again. Through rehabilitation and determination, Palermo managed to recover, walking with the use of one small leg brace and a cane. He subsequently threw theceremonial first pitch in Game 1 of the1991 World Series, only three months after suffering his injury.
Bud Selig hired Palermo as a special assistant in 1994 and, in 2000, elevated him as a supervisor of umpiring for the league. From 1995 to 1997, Palermo worked part-time as an analyst forYankees games onMSG Network.[1]
Palermo died oflung cancer on May 14, 2017, inOverland Park, Kansas at the age of 67.[4]
In 2003, Palermo began serving as the Honorary Chairman of Assurant Employee Benefits' WillReturn Council. The Council annually presents theShining Star of Perseverance Award to individuals who overcome disabilities.[5] Palermo was also an honorary inductee into the Perseverance Hall of Fame.
In 1994, he won theArthur Ashe Courage Award.
Palermo served as honorary commissioner for theTee Ball game at theWhite House on July 24, 2005, in which children with physical disabilities participated; the game was part ofPresidentGeorge W. Bush'sWhite House Tee Ball Initiative.[6]
At the2012 All-Star Game inKansas City, Palermo accompanied the umpiring crew to the plate for special recognition.[7]