Bruce Froemming, a prominent major league umpire who dedicated 37 years to officiating and holds the distinction of overseeing the third-most games in baseball history, has passed away at the age of 86. His son announced that Froemming died following an unfortunate fall at his home in Mequon, Wisconsin, where he sustained a head injury that led to brain bleeding, exacerbated by blood thinners he was taking.
Froemming began his journey in baseball as a semipro player before transitioning to umpiring. He kicked off his umpiring career in the minor leagues in 1958 at the young age of 18. His hard work eventually earned him a position on the National League staff in 1971, and he later joined the unified major league staff in 2000. He retired in 2007 after officiating a remarkable 5,163 games, a number that at the time placed him second in all-time games umpired to Bill Klem. He was ultimately surpassed by Joe West.
Throughout his career, Froemming was involved in many significant moments in baseball, including a record 11 no-hitters. One of the most notable came on September 2, 1972, when Milt Pappas of the Chicago Cubs almost achieved a perfect game, throwing his final pitch with only one batter walked. Froemming also officiated no-hitters by iconic pitchers such as Ed Halicki, Nolan Ryan, and José Jiménez, and he served as an umpire in five World Series.
After his retirement, Froemming continued to contribute to the sport as a special assistant to MLB’s vice president for umpiring. He is remembered not only for his extensive contributions to the game but also for his humility and patience, often emphasizing that being a good umpire involves learning from one’s mistakes.
Froemming is survived by his wife, Rosemarie Loch, along with their two sons, Steven and Kevin, a sister, a half-brother, and two grandchildren. His legacy in baseball will be cherished by fans, players, and fellow umpires alike.