Some news late in the evening from Major League Baseball and it doesn’t involve any of the 30 teams from coast to coast. According to Bob Nightengale at USA Today, one of the longest-tenured umpires in the MLB is preparing to hang up his chest protector- Ángel Hernández is set to retire tomorrow after a 34-year career spent in the big leagues.
Hernández last suited up behind the plate on May 9th when the Chicago White Sox faced the Cleveland Guardians at Guaranteed Rate Field. One of the most controversial umpires in today’s game, Hernández and the MLB have reportedly been working on a financial settlement as the veteran umpire seeks to retire off into the sunset much to the chagrin of players and fans alike.
Hernández has been one of the more polarizing figures in Major League Baseball to never don a team’s jersey, as the Cuban-born umpire has drawn the ire of fans, players, and coaches across three decades of working at the highest level.
Ángel Hernández to retire: Much-maligned MLB umpire calling it quits https://t.co/2m9QJNlkcl
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) May 28, 2024
In 2017, Hernández filed a lawsuit against the MLB alleging racial discrimination as the reason for being overlooked for the postseason and World Series assignments and for being designated as a crew chief. He also blamed Joe Torre, the MLB’s Chief Baseball Officer, as one of the main reasons for not being assigned to October baseball due to their numerous feuds during Torre’s managerial days. In 2021, a United States district judge ruled in favour of the MLB, essentially proving that Hernández wasn’t allowed to work in the postseason because he was bad at this job. Two years later, a federal appeals court refused to reinstate his case and upheld the decision.
The veteran umpire has been involved in numerous on-field incidents throughout his career, including having four of his five calls at first base overturned after video reviews during game #3 of the 2018 ALDS series between the Red Sox and Yankees due to his incorrect calls, drawing the ire of players and analysts alike. Earlier this season, Hernández was behind the plate for a Blue Jays/Yankees contest where he missed repeated strike calls that caught a majority of the plate, drawing boos from the hometown crowd. Throughout the years, Hernández has notoriously ranked low on the popularity polls amongst the players and coaches across the league.
Hernández retires after umpiring in two World Series (2002, 2005), seven league championship series, 12 division league series, and three All-Star games.
