MLB 2020: First Ever Black and Mexican-Born Umpire Crew Chiefs Appointed

Major League Baseball (MLB) announced on Thursday the appointment of Kerwin Danley, first black umpire crew chief, and the first Latino-born crew chief Alfonso Marquez, according to a published report in CNN.

MLB made history with the announcement and their respective appointments paves a way for blacks and Latinos to become even more significant in the league.

Danley is now 58 years old. He first joined the league as an umpire in 1992 and was hired full-time in 1998. He is one of the most respected and well-recognized umpires in the major leagues and not only in America, but in the whole world. 

Danley was an umpire in the World Series in 2008 and 2018. Not only that, but his achievement also includes umping two All-Star games. Danley is believed to have an adept knowledge and skill in baseball as he played during his college days at San Diego State. Moreover, he became part of the First-Team All-American in 1983. 

In addition, Alfonso Marquez who is now 47 years old is the first Mexican-born man to become an umpire in the Major Leagues in 1999. Even though Richie Garcia is the only other Hispanic crew chief, he was not born in Latin America, but in the United States.

When it comes to qualification, Marquez deserved top have the position. His achievements include three World Series and he also joined Jim McKean as the only crew chief in the MLB to have been born outside the United States.

Part of the announcement of the MLB on Thursday was also the appointment of Ramon De Jesus as a full-time Major League umpire. He is a native of the Dominican Republic. Moreover, he first joined the Minor League in 2009 and according to MLB he started working in Spring Training in 2016.

According to the Associated Press, there have been 10 black umpires in the Major Leagues who officiated games. A few of the Africa-Americans who are part of the MLB have also taken leadership positions in the organization, that includes the Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations, Peter Woodfork, and the late Chuck Meriwether. However, the presence of black umpires in the MLB may not be possible without the efforts of Emmett Ashford.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame said that Ashford first joined the Major Leagues in 1966 as the first African-American umpire. In an interview with Ashford in 1977, he said he experienced and had trouble getting into the stadium. This happened when former Vice President Hubert Humphrey was going to throw the first ball as part of the ceremony, he stepped in and said that he was the assigned umpire. However, the Secret Service who accompanied the Vice President said that there are no "Negro" umpires in the major leagues. However, this did not hinder Ashford from finally getting in the stadium. He told the Secret Service, "Well there WILL be a Negro umpire in the American League if you will let me into the park."

Thanks to Mr. Ashfords resilient efforts, MLB and other major sports, are now much more diverse. Our hats go off to him as well as Crew Chiefs Danley and Marquez.