PROFILES

Sailing Off Into Retirement

By Steven L. Tietz

In early September, Jim Hennessey, 85, a retired softball and baseball umpire from Brookline, Mass., took a boat ride with family around Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard. He had a good time. “Everybody should put it on their bucket list,” he said.

Such activities have taken the place of officiating now and

people are a little bit sad about it, as Hennessey is one of those rare humans, a popular umpire who worked more than 7,000 games in a 63-year career.

“I always thought that they would have to take me out feet first,” he said, “because I still feel healthy. But it was time.”

Hennessey’s final effort came in late August. It was a Brookline men’s softball game, and he made the usual hard hour-and-a-half road trip over the turnpike.

The contest was well-attended and well-covered by media. Afterward, a local politician read a letter of commendation for Hennessey from the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

Furthermore, the league announced it has a new championship trophy named “The Henna,” the nickname everyone has for Hennessey. He gave a speech and more celebration followed afterward.

“I was very humbled by it all,” Hennessey said. “All I ever did was just try to do the best job possible and not make it about me.”

Hennessey grew up in Brookline and led the 1954 state title prep football team. He was a star athlete at nearby Northeastern University and earned a degree in education in 1959.

He came back to Brookline to teach high school English, history and physical education for 42 years while also coaching football and basketball.

He and his wife, Carol, raised six children (one a field hockey assigner), and now have 14 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Hennessey started officiating in 1959, mostly local baseball and softball. At his peak, it was five nights a week. He gradually slowed down to two per week in recent years.

“But I stayed in good shape,” he said. “I walk a lot.”

In short, he was a reliable presence, and his officiating motto was simple. “Ball, strike, fair, foul, out, safe,” he said. “If you say anything else, you’re probably saying too much.”

Even though he remains sharp, the long commutes made him think about retirement. Hip surgery last spring accelerated those thoughts, though he wanted to go out his way.

Carol was honest with him.

“It’s time, Poppa. It’s time,” she said.

He will miss all the people he’s worked with, but he will now have more time for the grandkids, trips to Florida and boat rides.

“I’m a local guy, born and bred here,” he said. “It’s been a great experience.” Steven L. Tietz is an award-winning journalist from Milwaukee. 

Jim Hennessey umpired more than 7,000 baseball and softball games. He retired after a game in August, the last in a 63-year career. He Makes the Calls and Answers Them

Lorenz Evans

Morton, Ill.

Lorenz Evans is the consummate fill-in, both on the baseball field and in the political landscape. He answered the call Aug. 19-21 when the Midwest League needed an umpire for a weekend series between Peoria and Quad Cities. The former minor league umpire also answered the call when Morton, Ill., needed a village clerk in 2021. “There was no one on the ballot,” Evans told the Peoria Journal Star. “By law, Morton had to have the position filled. I was an elected write-in. I only needed two votes to get in.” Evans made his minor league umpiring debut in 2017, worked the Midwest League All-Star Game and championship series and was promoted to the Florida State League in 2018 before taking a job with his college fraternity.

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR

A Loyal Serviceman and Official to His Corps

Jason Schneider Youngstown, Ohio

Jason Schneider has been able to enjoy his two loves: serving in the military and officiating. A special hands representative for the 76th Aerial Port Squadron, he has grown to enjoy officiating in his spare time. Schneider started officiating football in 2018. He soon added basketball and baseball. “I made a call to the guy who runs the college baseball umpires association, I sent in my application fee and in 2017 I started my first season with college baseball,” he said. After retirement, Schneider looks forward to spending more time with his son and seeing where baseball will take him with hopes of consistently umpiring Division I college baseball in the future.

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