It's great not to be a rookie anymore! All in all, my first year with the AFU was very successful. I handled about 100 assignments, doubled the size of my thighs, sweated alot, and learned more about baseball then I possibly could have imagined (the money came in handy too!).

           After being a player for many years, and a little league coach for several more, I thought I knew the game of baseball. Boy, was I in for a surprise! I now look at the game a whole new way. Rookie training for both rules and mechanics was challenging and enlightening. Thanks to Bob, Steve and the "Knights Of The Diamond & Dish" (the assignors) for their help both on and off the field. John Faust, Eddie Donoghue, Kevin Macpherson, John LaBarbera, Steve Rothschild and Tommy Corcoran, you guys are the best! And thanks to all of the veteran umps that I worked with during the course of the season. I will try to be as helpful and supportive to next years rookies as you were to me.

           I realize that the learning process has just begun. Though 90% of what I learned from the rule book will probably never come up in actual game situations, I need to become more comfortable with the rules and rule interpretation. I will strive to improve both my plate and base mechanics. From day "1" Bob taught us that we need to be relationship umpires. The way we run the game, and the way we handle the people we encounter, help us earn the respect we require to effectively officiate. I will work hard to always keep this in mind!

           The 1998 season was great. I look forward to an even better 1999. See you at pregame!

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Any member of the AFU that would be interested in writing an article about umpiring and would like to have them published on our web site please contact Dave Mekelburg AFU#9 at: info@americanfederationofumpires.com